Matthew TwoSix:ThreeNine

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. John 13:34 NIV I don't know how many times I have read this verse. Today it hit me differently. Part of it jumped off the page. If there's a new commandment, what makes this different than the old ones?  They must have love in them, right? Nine of the ten commandments have "No" or "Not" contained in them. They tell us what we cannot do rather than providing us with positive direction.  This new commandment couldn't be a more drastic change from the ten commandments. Jesus doesn't say don't do this instead He says DO THIS! Jesus could have easily followed the format of the commandments and said don't hate others or don't ignore others. Instead He gave direction and said LOVE others.   This raises the question, what does it mean to love each other as Jesus loved us and how can we do that?  Be blessed and be a blessing Matt Ennis

Have you ever been praying and use the word "just"?  For example, I will say "God I just want to pray for so and so…" or "Heavenly father I pray that you just bring peace for so and so." I know I do quite a bit. Just is a word that I receive as a “less than” word.  It is like I am minimizing something or sharing that I have less. “I just have 95 cents” or in other words, “I only have 95 cents.” “I just made it” or in other words, “I barely made it”.  For this reason, I try to remove the word “just” from my prayers Just can be defined as exactly, barely, or only. How can one word have these different meanings?  The definitions of barely and exactly feel like opposites to me. However using the definition of exactly changes everything for my prayers.  Exactly makes my prayers specific and clearer.  “Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.” John 16:24 “Ask and it will be given to you; seek

There is one character in the story of the night of Jesus' arrest that sticks out. He seems insignificant to what is happening. He’s almost an interruption in the story. He is only mentioned by name in one of the four gospels, even though the description of what occurred is in all four gospels.  Malchus is his name. He works for the people who want Jesus dead. His job, with his compadres, is to seize Jesus and bring him back to the high priest. There he would be subject to questioning, a trial of sorts.  As Malchus and his posse are approaching, Peter takes action to protect Jesus. “With that, one of Jesus' companions reached for his sword, drew it out and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear” (Matthew 26:51). Jesus immediately tells Peter and the rest of his disciples to stop with the violence.  I wonder what Malchus thought at this point. I imagine his was in shock, I would guess he was surprised. He had just been attacked and surely is bleeding profus

  But Peter declared, “Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you.” And all the other disciples said the same (Matthew 26:35 NIV) The response above is what Peter said after Jesus tells him that he will deny knowing Jesus three times. This happens at the conclusion of the last supper. Just hours before Jesus is arrested and hauled away for by his accusers.   Sure enough Peter does just as Jesus predicted. Three times he disowns Jesus. He says, "I don't know what you're talking about." Then twice he says,"I don't know the man!" When I read that, I feel terrible. I can't believe Peter would do such a thing! How could he turn his back on Jesus? How could he disown Jesus? After all, Peter said, “Even if everyone else falls to pieces on account of you, I won’t.” Yet he does. Then I realize this is me, this is you. When we accept Jesus as our Lord and savior we are saying, “Even if everyone else disowns you, I will not!” Too often o

  Nails… a building material. A metal spike with a broad head used with a hammer to join two things together. Violent force is required to drive the nail into the materials being joined together. Typically multiple swings of a hammer are required and a physicist could easily calculate the force required to drive in that nail. Each hammer swing exerts about 100 lbs of force on the nail. Through Jesus’ crucifixion, the cross was joined together with our faith forever. A tool used for torture and death, now a symbol of forgiveness and restoration. Only Jesus could transform a barbaric killing machine into a promise of salvation and healing.   But He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on Him, and by His wounds we are healed. - Isaiah 53:5 Jesus endured excruciating pain and humiliation so that He could defeat death. With each powerful swing of the hammer, Jesus was affixed to the cross. 100 lbs of pressure at a