YOUR LIFE SPEAKS!

 

Tuesday, July 14, 2026

 

YOUR LIFE SPEAKS!

 

John 9:26-27

26 Then said they to him again, What did he to thee? how opened he thine eyes?

27 He answered them, I have told you already, and ye did not hear: wherefore would ye hear it again? will ye also be his disciples?

 

          A man who was blind from birth was healed by Jesus, the Jews immediately tried to discount his story. Some suggested he was an imposter but his mother said “we know this is our son who was born blind but we don’t know by what means he now sees. This marvelous story and can be found in John chapter 9.

 

          A personal witness is very powerful! The blind man was not a politician nor a theologian. He simply and truthfully told his story. Finally, in exasperation, he asks the Temple leaders “I have told you already, and ye did not hear: wherefore would ye hear it again? will ye also be his disciples? (John 9:27)

 

          Religion kicked him out of the Temple! Big deal! He had met Jesus and now he could see.

 

Dear Lord, let my life display such change that others will ask me how it happened. Let me tell the wonderful story of redemption simply and clearly. AMEN

 

MAKING RESTITUTION!

 

Monday, July 13, 2026

 

MAKING RESTITUTION!

 

Titus 2:9-10

9 Exhort servants to be obedient unto their own masters, and to please them well in all things; not answering again;

10 Not purloining, but shewing all good fidelity; that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things.

Luke 19:8

8 And Zacchaeus stood, and said unto the Lord; Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold.

 

          Restitution is the restoration of something that was stolen, lost, or damaged while under my care or responsibility. When Paul wrote to Titus, he uses the word purloining which simply means “taking something for personal use or stealing.” Exodus chapter 22 outlines some strict rules regarding “paying back” that which was taken.

 

          Liability insurance exists to counter the cost of paying back! It acknowledges liability, culpability, and guilt. The concept is drummed into our moral fiber from the first time our mother shouts “give that back. That doesn’t belong to you!”

 

          Some things we have taken can’t be restored because we have consumed them, lost them, or broken them beyond repair. Zacchaeus understood this and felt the pain of guilt when he met Jesus. He quite literally agrees to the terms outlined in Exodus 22.

 

          You can't be right with God while something is wrong between you and another person, and you are to blame for the conflict.

 

Matt 5:23-24

23 Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee;

24 Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.

 

Dear Lord, Thank you for paying my terrible sin debt. AMEN

 

THE GOD OF HOPE!

 

Sunday, July 12, 2026

 

THE GOD OF HOPE!

 

Rom 15:13

13 Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.

 

          Paul, writing to the Romans, offers multiple views of God. In Romans 15:5, He is the God of patience and consolation. The patience is His and the consolation is ours! Here the word “consolation” is paraklesis and is the same word that is translated “comforter” when Jesus promised the Holy Spirit in John 14:16. The word is made more powerful by using a definite article making it “THE consolation.” Consolation is in the person of Jesus Christ.

 

          He is the God of peace in Romans 15:33 and the word “peace” is eirene and indicates both quietness and prosperity. It also is preceded by a definite article which makes it “THE peace.” Peace, both quietness and prosperity, is in the person of Jesus Christ.

 

          In our text this morning, He is the God of hope. Here hope is elpis (el-pece’) and means both expectation and confidence. Once again, it is forcefully preceded by a definite article. The hope that we have in eternity is an expectant hope. It is like an “expectant” mother large with child. She is confident of delivery but uncertain of the date! Many signs, both visible and known only to her, assure her that her hope is well founded.

 

Dear Father, all around we see signs and evidence of your soon coming. Inside us also there is confidence that our hope is well founded. Thank you, Lord, that our hope, our peace and our consolation is firmly grounded in your person. AMEN