Steve's Blog
I am the living one. I died, but look—I am alive forever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and the grave. Revelation 1:18 (NLT)
Jesus holds the keys of death and the grave. Possession of the keys indicates authority. The Resurrection was more than an event fixed in history two thousand years ago, it represents a fundamental change in man's relationship with God. God, through Christ, paid the penalty for our sin and conquered death and the grave. There is no domain excluded from his autho...
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Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. 1 Peter 3:15 (NIV)
This is my story. It’s not as dramatic, or as traumatic as other people’s testimonies, but it illustrates God’s goodness and his faithfulness.
To provide context I need to go back to about 2 months before I was born. My mother was riding in the backseat of a car that was involved in an accident. This was before the days of seatbelts and other safety restraints, and...
These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world. 1 Peter 1:7 (NLT)
Without testing, there will always be room for doubt regarding the genuineness, durability, and even practicality of anything. Certainly, companies take sho...
The warfare we’re engaged in, you see, isn’t against flesh and blood. It’s against the leaders, against the authorities, against the powers that rule the world in this dark age, against the wicked spiritual elements in the heavenly places. Ephesians 6:12 (BFE)
Jesus told us that in the last days we would hear of wars and rumors of wars. We know that throughout history, times of complete peace have been rare, if not nonexistent. Arguments for pacifism are at times compelling, and yet there h...
For the eyes of the Lord roam throughout the earth to show himself strong for those who are wholeheartedly devoted to him. 2 Chronicles 16:9 (CSB)
The expression, “Don’t put all of your eggs in one basket” has been around for centuries. It advises that it is unwise to place all of your resources, hopes, dreams, even faith in one place, or in one person.
In parts of the world, it is relatively easy to persuade someone to “accept Christ” into their life. The problem is that they simply add...
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You live in a world of deception. In their deception they refuse to know me. This is the Lord’s declaration. Jeremiah 9:6 (CSB)
God’s words through Jeremiah ring true today. Ours is a world of deception. If we are reading a mystery novel or watching a magic act, deception can be entertaining. But it can also be deadly. Previously, we read:
“Beware of your neighbor! Don’t even trust your brother! For brother takes advantage of brother, and friend slanders friend. They all fool and defraud ea...
But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peace-loving, gentle, compliant, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without pretense. James 3:17 (CSB)
Is there any doubt that this world needs more wisdom? In every sphere and arena of life, we can find devastation, and heartbreak because leaders and people have failed to acquire or utilize wisdom.
We must also remember that there is true wisdom, and false wisdom. What some think is wisdom, is really foolishness: For the wisdom of this...
O our God, won’t you stop them? We are powerless against this mighty army that is about to attack us. We do not know what to do, but we are looking to you for help.” 2 Chronicles 20:12 (NLT)
It does not require genius, or great spiritual discernment to understand that we live in turbulent times. In the United States, again we are hearing that this is the most important election of our lifetime. Didn’t we hear that 4 years ago?
King Jehoshaphat, a godly king, realized that Israel faced an en...
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And as God’s grace reaches more and more people, there will be great thanksgiving, and God will receive more and more glory. That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day. 2 Corinthians 4:15–16 (NLT)
Famed football coach, Lou Holtz, said, “In this world you're either growing or you're dying so get in motion and grow.” Others have expressed this idea as well, but nevertheless it is a truth that we ignore at our peril.
As long as we are i...
Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12:2 (NIV)
As Christ-followers we should be different from the world, but in reality, it can be uncomfortable to be a nonconformist. Yet, it is the only way for us to be able to test and approve “what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”
Various translations shed even more light o...
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It is important to have role models in our lives, but we can also learn from people in the Bible, and in history. Peter is someone to whom we can relate because even though he failed at times, he kept on going. He wouldn’t give up.
Peter was at the center of everything. The first one to speak up to respond. He did things that no one else dared to do. Peter did nothing small. He had big wins and big losses. Still, we should desire to be like Peter.
Peter Responds to Jesus
One day as Jes...
You have been believers so long now that you ought to be teaching others. Instead, you need someone to teach you again the basic things about God’s word. You are like babies who need milk and cannot eat solid food. Hebrews 5:12 (NLT)
When babies are born, parents have expectations about their development. For example, babies can walk as early as 9 months, and most are walking by 16 months. According to experts, most children start to say their first words around 12 months, and typically by ag...
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Therefore, my brothers and sisters, make every effort to confirm your calling and election. For if you do these things, you will never stumble, and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 2 Peter 1:10–11 (NIV)
Have you been confirmed? No, we are not talking about the religious ceremony where young people are admitted to Communion. Peter is asking us to confirm our calling and election. Why is this important?
The Word of God is the seed w...
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The Lord our God has secrets known to no one. We are not accountable for them, but we and our children are accountable forever for all that he has revealed to us, so that we may obey all the terms of these instructions. Deuteronomy 29:29 (NLT)
What is accountability, and why are people averse to being held accountable? Deuteronomy tells us that we will be accountable for everything that has been revealed to us.
The dictionary defines accountability as “the obligation to report, explain, or...
I appeal to you, dear brothers and sisters, by the authority of our Lord Jesus Christ, to live in harmony with each other. Let there be no divisions in the church. Rather, be of one mind, united in thought and purpose. 1 Corinthians 1:10 (NLT)
Their disagreement was so sharp that they separated. Acts 15:39 (NLT)
The apostle Paul made a wonderful appeal to the Corinthian church. Their objective is to live in harmony with each other, and that there be no divisions in the church. As Christ-foll...
So, he got up from the table, took off his robe, wrapped a towel around his waist, and poured water into a basin. Then he began to wash the disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel he had around him. John 13:4–5 (NLT)
Do we ever get to the place where we are too important or big to do certain jobs for the cause of Christ? Do we refuse to get our hands dirty? At times we may not be the most suitable person, but it should never be because we are too proud, and the job too humbling.
Any tim...
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Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days. Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do. Ephesians 5:16–17 (NLT)
Getting older should change our perspective on life. When we are young, and the majority of our life is still in front of us, the value of time can be lost to us. One of my favorite quotations is from missionary C. T. Studd: “Only one life, ’twill soon be past, only what’s done for Christ will last.”
Whether we are young, or older (please not...
Pride leads to disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom. Proverbs 11:2 (NLT)
June is the month when people speak of pride as though it were a good thing. The Bible paints a different picture concerning pride. Pride may actually be the deadliest of the seven deadly sins.
An attitude of pride was associated with the fall of Satan (Ezekiel 28:14–15; Isaiah 14:12–15). King Solomon in Proverbs repeatedly addresses the dangers of pride. Pride comes before disaster, and arrogance before a fall....
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Isaac dug out again the wells that were dug during the lifetime of his father Abraham. The Philistines had closed them up after Abraham’s death. Isaac gave them the same names his father had given them. Genesis 26:18 (CEB)
It is noteworthy that two essential elements of life, breath, and water, are symbolic of the Holy Spirit. Understanding this relationship, the enemy of our souls seeks to disrupt our supply. In Isaac’s day, the Philistines, (representative of this world) sought to cut off t...
Then Jesus told this story: “A man planted a fig tree in his garden and came again and again to see if there was any fruit on it, but he was always disappointed. Finally, he said to his gardener, ‘I’ve waited three years, and there hasn’t been a single fig! Cut it down. It’s just taking up space in the garden.’ “The gardener answered, ‘Sir, give it one more chance. Leave it another year, and I’ll give it special attention and plenty of fertilizer. If we get figs next year, fine. If not, then you...
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Do everything without complaining and arguing, so that no one can criticize you. Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people. Philippians 2:14–15 (NLT)
As I write today, millions eagerly anticipate the upcoming solar eclipse. The bright light of the sun will be momentarily dimmed or obscured. The sun is usually the brightest light in our sky, illuminating the natural world. Specific cultural or entertainment centers...
As he rode along, the crowds spread out their garments on the road ahead of him. When he reached the place where the road started down the Mount of Olives, all of his followers began to shout and sing as they walked along, praising God for all the wonderful miracles they had seen. “Blessings on the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven, and glory in highest heaven!” But some of the Pharisees among the crowd said, “Teacher, rebuke your followers for saying things like that!” He ...
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I have given them your word. And the world hates them because they do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world. I’m not asking you to take them out of the world, but to keep them safe from the evil one. They do not belong to this world any more than I do. John 17:14–16 (NLT)
Jesus prayed for his disciples and us before he went to the cross. In preparation for his departure, he tells the Father that he has prepared the disciples by giving them the words of the Father. He a...
Everyone must submit to governing authorities. For all authority comes from God, and those in positions of authority have been placed there by God. Romans 13:1 (NLT)
As Christ-followers, we have dual citizenship. Peter tells us that we are citizens of heaven and earthly countries. As believers, how should we perform our civic duty? Some of them are prescribed to us by the country’s laws, but we also have responsibilities beyond those because we represent our Lord and Savior as his ambassadors...
Don’t you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win! 1 Corinthians 9:24 (NLT)
What Paul says in this verse could be challenging or discouraging, depending upon our perspective. What is our goal, and what is the prize? Nothing of significance is accomplished without a goal. To compete as an athlete in the Olympic Games requires dedication and sacrifice that does not occur accidentally or casually. The same thing is true of our spiritual lives.
At...