Because of Israel’s repeated unfaithfulness to God throughout the Old Testament, we might expect to find a revenge story revealing God’s anger and punishment. Instead, in the book of Ruth, we find a story of God’s unfailing love. As we’ll discover, understanding why...
Loving God completely influences us to love other people. Loving other people sounds like a good idea but can become difficult and complicated. What does it look like when we love other people extravagantly? Read Matthew 22:37-40. How would loving God completely...
When we love each other, life certainly changes for the better. But, loving people and receiving love from others can be complicated and risky. This essential quality is what Jesus identified as a distinguishing marker of our identity in him. What would LifePoint...
Jesus calls us to be a unique people in his church. When our character is shaped by God’s love for us, our lives will become shaped by our love for God and for others. We take our first step to discovering how “We” is greater than “Me” by loving God. What does it look...
Joseph must have been excited to get married but crushed when he learned his fiancée was pregnant (and he was not the father). After listening to a messenger from God, Joseph was reassured that Mary was miraculously pregnant and would fulfill God's promise by giving...
Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. 1 Peter 4:8 (NIV) ecently, I was tidying my house when one of my six-year-old’s ‘masterpieces’ accidentally found its way into the trash. A meltdown ensued, partly...
Vacation Bible Saved Yet faith comes from listening to this Good News—the Good News about Christ. Romans 10:17 (TLB) W ith Vacation Bible School season in full swing, and my young grandchildren currently living with us, lately my mind drifts easily to my own childhood...
The twists and turns of life can sometimes feel like an assault on our confidence that God is good. Doubts can begin to surface, directing our attention away from God and negatively impacting our relationships with Jesus Christ and others. In these instances, we must...
Filled to the Measure And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may...
We’ve just come through a time of gift-giving and joy. Of course, the most significant gift of all was God’s gift of Jesus to the world. We find this profound truth simply stated in what might be the most famous of all Bible verses: John 3:16. Maybe this verse is so...
God’s plan for humanity is grand in scope and scale! It also seems at least mildly absurd. The all-powerful God of all creation enters the world as a helpless baby. And his final days on earth are spent in humiliation and suffering—becoming sin for a sinful human...
God invites us to authentically express what we’re feeling when we ponder life’s realities. Many of these expressions are recorded for us in the Psalms—the songbook of the Bible. Psalm 8 is a Psalm of praise. In it, David encourages us to instinctively look up and...
The arrival of God to earth could have been the most extravagant welcome ever seen—an all-out effort for an over-the-top celebration. But it didn’t happen that way. A few private announcements confirmed the arrival of Jesus, the long-awaited Messiah. But the Savior’s...
God's love for us is a gift.God’s love for us is a gift. It’s not something we could ever earn. It isn’t based on anything WE’VE done. It’s all about what HE’S done for us! This is why God sent Jesus. This is why Jesus died on the cross. When we put our faith in...
Jesus is the example.Jesus is the very BEST example of humility. He gave up everything to come to earth and save us! After Jesus died and came to life again, people talked about what He did. They talked about the way He treated people—with love and compassion. They...
Churches United in Serving Churches along 140 and Reisterstown Road collaboratively responding to our community during the COVID-19 pandemic. See how you can get involved at Love140.us. Participating Churches If your church is not listed but would like to participate,...
A Love Letter 1 John 4:7-21 appy Valentine's Day! I started to write this week and realized that God's love letter to us speaks more eloquently than any words I could put to paper. Two truths stuck out to me as I read the following verses: 1) God...
Lovingkindness and Truth Your lovingkindness and Your truth will continually preserve me. Psalm 40:11 ecently I read through the book of Psalms and was struck by how many times the psalmist pairs the two words lovingkindness and truth. In addition...
The term “Wisdom Literature” acts as a large umbrella covering a wide scope of writings found in the Bible. It includes prayers, songs, proverbs, stories, romance, philosophy and lament. Some of these works deal with great universal questions of meaning and purpose...
One of the last things Jesus told his disciples was that they should love one another the way he loved them. It sounds really good, and it is. But how did Jesus love his disciples, and what does that mean for how we love others? Great things happen when we love....
It seems like money is an obsession in our culture. Whether it’s lottery winners or superstars with giant contracts, many people are fascinated by those who “have it all.” Our view of money says a lot about us. And God’s view of money says a lot about God. While money...