John 4:39-42

Dear Brethren,

Good Morning!

Every Christian has a Treasure he is to share. Every Christian has a Truth he is to proclaim. Every Christian has a Friend he is to introduce to others. This Treasure, this Truth, and this Friend is Jesus Christ. The question for you and I is this: Are we telling others about Jesus Christ?

During the life of Jesus, there was a Samaritan woman whom Jesus taught. Jesus met this woman at a nearby well. Jesus surprised and shocked this woman because of what He knew concerning her. At the end of their discussion, the woman returned to the city and told others about Jesus. (cf. John 4:1-30)

The big question is this: What happened when the Samaritan woman returned to the city and told others about Jesus? Because the Samaritan woman testified of what Jesus had done, many of her fellow Samaritans believed in Jesus. As Jesus continued to teach the Samaritans, many of the Samaritans continued to believe that Jesus was "indeed the Christ, the Savior of the world."

Are you and I following the example of the Samaritan woman? Are we taking the good news (gospel) of Jesus Christ to our friends, family members, strangers, etc.? Jesus Christ has done something wonderful and amazing for you and me. Jesus died on the cross of Calvary so that we might be saved. Jesus washed all of our past sins away. We must be telling others about Jesus Christ, "the Savior of the world."

Here is John 4:39-42 presented for your consideration.

39 And many of the Samaritans of that city believed in Him because of the word of the woman who testified, “He told me all that I ever did.”

40 So when the Samaritans had come to Him, they urged Him to stay with them; and He stayed there two days.

41 And many more believed because of His own word.

42 Then they said to the woman, “Now we believe, not because of what you said, for we ourselves have heard Him and we know that this is indeed the Christ, the Savior of the world.”

In Love,

John Duvall

Mark 10:17-22

Dear Brethren,

Good Thursday Morning!

Are you seeking eternal life with God in heaven? If so, then you are in good company. Throughout time, followers of God have sought eternal life in heaven. One such person was the rich man found in Mark 10:17-22. In this story, the rich man ran up to Jesus and asked, "Good Teacher, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?"

How important was eternal life to the rich man? According to the story, the rich man had kept all the commandments of God. He was a faithful follower of God. Can you and I say the same thing? Can we say that we have kept all the commands of Jesus Christ? We should be able to make such a statement, if truly eternal life is important to us.

Sadly, Jesus found the rich man lacking. Jesus told the rich man to sell all that he had, give to the poor, and follow Him. It would seem that what the rich man was lacking went much deeper than outward obedience. The rich man had a weakness for earthly possessions and was unwilling to make the necessary sacrifices to truly serve God.

Does Jesus find you and me lacking in our service to Him? We must look deep within our hearts to see whether or not we have made the necessary sacrifices to follow Jesus Christ. We should not say, "I attend all the worship services and Bible classes. What do I still lack?" We must never look at our obedience and say, "It is enough." We must go deeper to the very depths of our desires and will.

If the Lord finds us lacking, what are we going to do? Will you and I make the necessary changes or are we going to walk away sorrowfully? In the end, the decision is ours to make. Let us all choose to love and serve God with all our hearts, souls, minds, and strengths. Only then will we be willing to serve God without any reasons to walk away sorrowfully.

Here is Mark 10:17-22 presented for your consideration.

17 Now as He was going out on the road, one came running, knelt before Him, and asked Him, “Good Teacher, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?”

18 So Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God.

19 You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery,’ ‘Do not murder,’ ‘Do not steal,’ ‘Do not bear false witness,’ ‘Do not defraud,’ ‘Honor your father and your mother.’”

20 And he answered and said to Him, “Teacher, all these things I have kept from my youth.”

21 Then Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “One thing you lack: Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow Me.”

22 But he was sad at this word, and went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.

In Love,

John Duvall

Psalms 63

Dear Brethren,

Good Wednesday Morning!

Our relationship with our Father in heaven is a relationship that all Christians should cherish. It is a relationship of love, admiration, support, and comfort. David was such a person who cherished his relationship with Jehovah God.

In David's life, he sought after the Lord because his soul thirsted after and longed for the Lord. David would look for the Lord in the sancutary because he wanted to see the Lord's power and glory. David recognized that the Lord's longingkindness was better than life. As a result, David praised the Lord and lifted up his hands in the name of the Lord. At night, David would remember the Lord and think about the Lord. David rejoiced because he knew the Lord had been his help. David followed closely behind the Lord, knowing the Lord would help to hold him.

Can you and I say that we have the same relationship as did David with the Father in heaven? Do we thirst after and long for the Lord? Do we praise the Lord for all that He has done for us? Do we think about the Lord when we go to bed at night? Are we following closely behind the Lord, trusting Him to hold us up? Only you and I can answer these questions for ourselves. However, let us all strive to have the same desire, trust, and admiration for the Father in heaven. Consider how much better and comforting our lives could be.

Here is Psalms 63 presented for your consideration.

1 O God, You are my God; Early will I seek You; My soul thirsts for You; My flesh longs for You In a dry and thirsty land Where there is no water.

2 So I have looked for You in the sanctuary, To see Your power and Your glory.

3 Because Your lovingkindness is better than life, My lips shall praise You.

4 Thus I will bless You while I live; I will lift up my hands in Your name.

5 My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness, And my mouth shall praise You with joyful lips.

6 When I remember You on my bed, I meditate on You in the night watches.

7 Because You have been my help, Therefore in the shadow of Your wings I will rejoice.

8 My soul follows close behind You; Your right hand upholds me.

9 But those who seek my life, to destroy it, shall go into the lower parts of the earth.

10 They shall fall by the sword; They shall be a portion for jackals.

11 But the king shall rejoice in God;Everyone who swears by Him shall glory; But the mouth of those who speak lies shall be stopped.

In Love,

John Duvall

1 Peter 2:13-17

Dear Brethren,

Good Morning!

Do you always stop at those pesky STOP signs when you are driving? The STOP sign is a part of our system of traffic laws. The leaders of our land put traffic laws into place to make driving safe within our land. Traffic laws bring order and structure to our driving network. However, more importantly, our traffic laws are LAWS. That is why you will receive a traffic citation if a police officer witnesses you running a STOP sign.

What is your view regarding the laws of our land? Do you find yourself obeying the government at all times or do you find yourself slipping past the law of the land when you can get away with it? If you find that your attitude toward obeying the law of the land is somewhat lacking, then consider the words of Peter in 1 Peter 2:13-17. Peter taught Christians to sumbit to "every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake, . . ." So, the next time you are tempted to run that STOP sign or break another law of the land, remember the words of the apostle Peter.

Here is 1 Peter 2:13-17 presented for your consideration and application.

1 Peter 2:13-17

13 Therefore submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake, whether to the king as supreme,

14 or to governors, as to those who are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and for the praise of those who do good.

15 For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men—

16 as free, yet not using liberty as a cloak for vice, but as bondservants of God.

17 Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king.

In Love,

John Duvall

Mark 10:23-27

Dear Brethren,

Good Monday Morning,

In the book of Mark 10:17-22, we see the story of the rich man to whom Jesus told to sell all that he had and follow Him. In that story, the man went away sorrowful because he was rich. Following that encounter, Jesus said, "How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God!"

Why is it hard for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God? Is it the riches themselves or the person's love for the riches that hinder their entrance into the kingdom? The answer is found within one's love and desire for riches. In the story of the rich man, the man with riches was unwilling to sell his possessions and follow Christ. The rich man was too attached to his riches; he placed too much trust in his riches. Such attachments to riches will make entering the kingdom of God difficult. Instead of being attached to riches, a rich man should see his riches as simply tools to aid him in life. He should be able to live with or without the riches, trusting only in the Lord.

Here is Mark 10:23-27 presented for your consideration.

Mark 10:23-27

23 Then Jesus looked around and said to His disciples, “How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God!”

24 And the disciples were astonished at His words. But Jesus answered again and said to them, “Children, how hard it is for those who trust in riches to enter the kingdom of God!

25 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”

26 And they were greatly astonished, saying among themselves, “Who then can be saved?”

27 But Jesus looked at them and said, “With men it is impossible, but not with God; for with God all things are possible.”

Proverbs 7:1-5

Dear Brethren,

Good Morning!

In the book of Proverbs, King Solomon taught his sons to heed commands and instructions. While Solomon used the phrases "my words," "my commands," and "my law", he was referring to the commands and law given by God. Solomon taugh his sons to keep God's words, treasure God's commands and to carry with them God's law.

In Proverbs 7:1-5, we see two primary lessons. First, we see the need to teach our children to keep and treasure God's words and commands. We must instruct our children to carry God's law with them throughout their lives.

The second lesson applies to you and I. We must make certain that we are keeping God's words, that we are treasuring God's commands, and that we always carry God's law with us.

By keeping God's words, treasuring God's commands, and carrying God's law with us, we will be prepared to say no to any and all temptations which would lead us away from our heavenly Father.

Here is Proverbs 7:1-5 presented for your consideration.

Proverbs 7:1-5

1 My son, keep my words, And treasure my commands within you.

2 Keep my commands and live, And my law as the apple of your eye.

3 Bind them on your fingers; Write them on the tablet of your heart.

4 Say to wisdom, “You are my sister,” And call understanding your nearest kin,

5 That they may keep you from the immoral woman, From the seductress who flatters with her words.

In Love,

John Duvall