“By their fruits you will recognize them. Are grapes gathered from thorn bushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit.” (Matthew 7:16-18) Dear Friends – The “fruit” Christ refers to is not so much a piece of delicious produce to consume, but it is rather …
“We were under a burden far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired even of life. Indeed, we felt we were under the sentence of death, in order that we would not trust in ourselves, but in God.” (2 Corinthians 1:8-9) Dear Friends – Many of us have experienced the above words of Saint Paul in some manner or another; when a burden has entered our life that …
“Whoever sacrifices to any god, except to the Lord alone, shall be utterly destroyed.” (Exodus 22:19) Dear Friends – Humankind has managed over the centuries to create a voluminous amount of gods to be admired and worshiped, all of which are primarily beneficial to one’s own needs and interests. They have supplanted the respect due Almighty God with material idols of fame, fortune, and power, and the means to those …
“If your brother sins, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. And if he wrongs you seven times in one day and returns to you seven times saying, ‘I am sorry,’ you should forgive him.” (Luke 17:3-4) Dear Friends ~ Pointing out one’s sins to another is not an easy thing to do… in fact, it is one of the hardest things you will ever do because the consequences …