Many modern Christians are more concerned with making a good impression than with making a real difference. ‘Being nice’ ranks right up there with serving Christ. The common church-goer may be more dedicated to etiquette than ethics. Doing things the right way has superseded doing the right things. Being liked is often more important than being Christ-like.

Getting man’s approval at any cost is the modern form of Baal worship... and it must be eradicated. 

Seeing with eyes of faith enables me to “walk by faith.” What do I see in faith? I see “the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around.” It is an amazing angelic vision, imparting the assurance of ultimate victory for me and the people I love. I can overcome my small problems because Jesus daily comforts my troubled heart.

When Moses stood before the God of Israel at the burning bush in the wilderness of Horeb, the Lord commanded him, “...remove your sandals from your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground” (Exodus 3.5).

Anywhere God displays Himself is “holy ground.” 

This podcast is an overview of week 21 in the Word Traveler Bible reading plan and covers the following chapters in the Old and New Testaments:

I Am as You Are

The boy inside a man’s body doesn’t care about consequences. He just wants what he wants and convinces himself he won’t be happy without it. 

The difference between a man and a boy is this a man’s ability to delay gratification. A boy cannot do that. and falls apart when he can’t get what he wants.

A real man fully understands and graciously accepts that “you can’t always get what you want.” He is learning to become free from the bondage of childish desires.

A man of God places his faith in Christ and believes “you get what you need” when you need it.

Don’t trust everyone who calls himself a “brother.” 

Ben-Hadad was not a brother to Ahab. He was an enemy of Israel who pretended to be part of the family to save his life. Ahab was just stupid enough to believe him. Eight years later Ahab lost his life in a battle against “brother Ben-Hadad.” 

That’s how the king of Israel was repaid for showing mercy to a so-called “brother.”

I was a salesman for most of my later career. I used to wake up unemployed every single morning. I trusted then, and still trust, the same Jesus who multiplied the fish and loaves and fed thousands of hungry followers in the first century A.D. He will feed my family and me today.

I choose to approach this day with confident expectation: “Give us this day our daily bread” (Matthew 6.11). I know the God who owns “the cattle on a thousand hills” (Psalm 50.10) can give me another sale. I believe in the miracle of divine multiplication.

A young prophet from Judah failed to trust the word of the Lord in his heart. Paul warned us against false reliance and blind faith one thousand years later:

“But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel otherthan the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned!”Galatians 1.8 NIV

Don’t let anyone talk you out of what Jesus told you is true.

This podcast is an overview of week 20 in the Word Traveler Bible reading plan and covers the following chapters in the Old and New Testaments: