Loving Jesus Style

  Scripture 1 Peter 5:7 (NIV) 7  Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. Devotion: Life in today’s world is filled with overwhelming demands, constant changes, and uncertainties about the future. We often find ourselves weighed down by anxiety—whether it’s worrying about our families, our jobs, our health, or the state of the world. Amid these pressures, 1 Peter 5:7 offers us a powerful invitation and a gentle reassurance: “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” These simple words remind us that God does not intend for us to carry our burdens alone. Instead, He invites us to hand them over to Him, trusting in His deep, personal care for each one of us. The imagery of “casting” is striking. It’s not a tentative hand-off; it’s an act of surrender, like throwing something heavy onto strong shoulders. God doesn’t just tolerate our worries—He welcomes them. He wants us to be honest about the anxieties that keep us up at night or distract...

An Overview of the Message, Themes, and Structure Introduction The Book of Micah is one of the twelve minor prophets in the Old Testament , attributed to the prophet Micah of Moresheth . Micah prophesied during the reigns of Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah (approximately 8th century BCE), a period marked by political turmoil and social injustice in both Israel and Judah . The book comprises seven chapters and presents a compelling message of judgment, hope, and restoration, balancing warnings against sin with promises of redemption. Historical Context Micah’s ministry took place during a time of national crisis. The northern kingdom of Israel faced imminent destruction at the hands of the Assyrians, while Judah was threatened both externally and internally. Social inequalities, corruption among leaders, and neglect of the covenant were rampant. Micah, a contemporary of Isaiah , spoke into this context, addressing both Samaria (Israel’s capital) and Jerusalem (J...

  Romans 12:3-6 (NIV) For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. Devotion: Romans 12:3-6a reminds us of the beautiful diversity within the body of Christ and calls us to humility and unity as we use the gifts God has given each of us. Paul encourages the Roman believers—and us today—to resist the temptation to think too highly of ourselves. Instead, we are urged to view ourselves with “sober judgment,” understanding that our abilities, talents, and spiritual gifts are not of our own making, but are graciously distributed by God for the goo...

Scripture: Romans 15:1-4 (NIV) 15 We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves. 2  Each of us should please our neighbors for their good, to build them up. 3  For even Christ did not please himself but, as it is written: “The insults of those who insult you have fallen on me.”  4  For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide, we might have hope . Devotion Romans 15:1-4 addresses the core of the Christian community and the role of Scripture in our lives. Paul ’s urging encourages those strong in faith to bear with the weaknesses of others, not to seek personal gain but to support others in love. This passage challenges us to shift our focus from self-interest to the well-being of our neighbors, following the example of Christ himself. Christ did not live to please himself; instead, he bore the burden...

  A Thanksgiving Day Devotional 2025 "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights , with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning." — James 1:17 (KJV) As we gather around tables laden with abundance this Thanksgiving Day, we do well to remember the theological foundation of gratitude. Thanksgiving is not merely a pleasant tradition or a pause in our busy lives—it is a spiritual discipline rooted in recognizing God's sovereignty and goodness. The Source of All Blessings James reminds us that every good gift originates from above, from the Father of lights. This is no poetic exaggeration but a theological reality. The food on our tables, the loved ones gathered around them, the very breath in our lungs—all flow from the hand of our Creator. "For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things" ( Romans 11:36 ). In our modern age, we are tempted to credit human ingenuity, economic syst...

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life ." — John 3:16 (KJV) There is a reason this verse has been called " the Bible in miniature " and "the gospel in a nutshell." In these twenty-five words, we find the complete drama of redemption: God's character , man's condition , Christ's mission , and salvation's means . Let's examine this text with the care it deserves. "For God so loved the world..." The original Greek word here is kosmos —the ordered universe, but also fallen humanity in rebellion against its Creator . This is crucial: God's love is not mere sentiment or emotion. It is the sovereign, holy love of the Creator toward His creation, even in its fallen state. This love is not because the world deserves it—Scripture is clear that "there is none righteous, no, not one" ( Romans 3:10 ). Rather, ...