Loving Jesus Style

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, ...

 Don’t be a Hypocrite Scripture: Matthew 7:3-5 (NIV) “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye ? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye. Devotion: As we consider Matthew 7:3-5, we encounter a powerful and practical lesson from Jesus about human tendencies toward hypocrisy and judgment. In this passage, Jesus uses a vivid image: someone is quick to spot a tiny speck in another person’s eye while ignoring the large plank in their own. It’s a striking metaphor that challenges us to look at our own lives before criticizing others. This teaching is not just about avoiding harsh judgment or minding our own business. It’s about humility and honesty with ourselves. We often find it easy to spot ...

    The Book of Jonah is a brief narrative found in the Hebrew Bible and the Christian Old Testament . It tells the story of the prophet Jonah , whom God commands to go to the city of Nineveh and preach repentance to its inhabitants because of their wickedness. Instead of obeying God's command, Jonah attempts to flee by boarding a ship traveling in the opposite direction. While at sea, a violent storm threatens to destroy the ship. The sailors, realizing the storm is supernatural, cast lots and discover Jonah is the cause. At Jonah's request, they throw him overboard, and the sea calms. Jonah is then swallowed by a great fish or whale , where he spends three days and nights. From the belly of the fish, Jonah prays to God, expressing repentance and gratitude for deliverance. God commands the fish to release Jonah onto dry land. Jonah then proceeds to Nineveh, proclaiming the message of impending destruction. Surprisingly, the people of Nineveh, from the king down t...

Scripture: Matthew 18:1-5 (NIV) At that time, the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who, then, is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven ?” He called a little child to him and placed the child among them. And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me. Devotion: In Matthew 18:1-5, Jesus teaches His disciples—and us—a deep lesson about what it truly means to be great in the kingdom of heaven. The conversation begins with a simple yet revealing question: “Who, then, is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” The disciples, like many of us, cared about status, recognition, and importance. But Jesus responds in a way that probably surprised them. Instead of naming those with power or influence, He calls a little child and places that child among...