Did you know that when you walk into the room, everything changes? Why - because if you are a follower of Jesus, you have the Holy Spirit living inside you. Right before Jesus ascended into heaven, He left us with a two-part promise about the Holy Spirit. “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” (Acts 1:8 ESV) The room doesn’t change because of you and me; it changes because the power of the…

How do you see the world around you? Do you see the glass as half-full or half-empty? When you first meet someone, do you fixate on their flaws or their strengths? When an unexpected circumstance arises, do you think the sky is falling, or are you optimistic about the future? How we see the world around us goes a long way in shaping our ability to meet people right where they are in their mess. If we struggle to find even a small glimmer of positivity in a person…

The Athenians found themselves in a constant pursuit of novelty. They had an unquenchable craving for everything new. However, their never-ending pursuit of wisdom and intellect left them with a void in their souls that worldly pleasures could not fill. It is this void that Paul inserts himself into proclaiming with great compassion the gospel message of Jesus Christ.

Like the people of Athens, we all have a void inside our soul that only Jesus can fill. We can try in vain to fill this void with…

On his second missionary journey, Paul arrives in Athens all alone. His companions, Silas and Timothy, had stayed behind in Berea after helping Paul escape from the hands of the agitated Jewish leaders who had come from Thessalonica (Acts 17:13-15). Upon his arrival, Paul is exasperated at the overwhelming sight of idolatry in Athens. What we see today as…

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In verse 10, Paul’s prayer is that the saints would be filled with God’s knowledge and wisdom so that day by day, their lives would be pleasing to God, bearing fruit for his kingdom. But, what does it mean to “walk in a manner worthy of the Lord?” Before we look closer at the word “worthy” in this text, let’s zoom in on the word “walk.” Some translations of verse 10 interchange the word walk with “live.” The Greek word used here…

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Why is Paul’s heart so stirred to pray without ceasing? I would argue it is because of gratitude! Despite imprisonment (Colossians 4:3), his heart is full of joy and thanksgiving for the saints in Colossae, a church that he likely never visited but certainly wanted to (Philemon 1:22). Paul’s care for the Colossian church is on full display when he writes, “for I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you... and for all who have not seen me face to face” (Colossians 2:1). Paul echoes a similar message of thanksgiving and prayer in Ephesians 1:16 when he writes, “I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers.” He desperately wants both churches to…

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Sometimes in life, we have to look back before we can move forward. Focusing in on the first two words of verse 9, “And so,” which translates in the Greek “dia touto” or alternatively “because of this.” The point is that these two seemingly meaningless words direct our focus back to the hopeful report Paul receives about the saints at Colossae in verses 3-8. “And so” is literally the bridge that connects…

When I was young, I was afraid of the dark, unfamiliar noises and heights. As I grew up, so did my fears. As an adult, I have struggled with fear related to personal safety, missing out, not having enough money, and heights (I guess I never grew out of that one). How about you, what are you most afraid of?

Psalm 27:1 says, “the Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?” Just a few verses later, David reminds us that in the face of any fear, our response should be…

The psalmist David knew God’s voice intimately. He also understood the benefit of rest and how it unlocked God’s peace. Consider these words that he composed, “I will say to the Lord, my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” (Psalm 91:2 ESV) God offers this same refuge and strength to us today if we will only…

On the sixth day, God provides enough food for two days allowing His people the opportunity to rest on the seventh day. Moses makes it clear that they would not find God’s provision in the field on the seventh day. However, only some of God’s people are obedient to the new instructions for the sixth day. The text is unclear why some of the people still went out to gather on the Sabbath. Was it because…