Jesus gave further explanation of the difference between a good fruit bearer and one who produces bad fruit. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes nor figs from thistles. A healthy tree bears good fruit and a diseased tree bears bad fruit. 

No matter who hosts the gathering, participants usually pitch in with various family favorites. The added dish is sometimes enmity, though, as personalities and ideologies clash. As we ponder the menu and the participants, let’s plan to be led with the fruit of the Spirit.

Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is a great listener — the best listener the world will ever know. And He continues to listen to those who surrender to Him in repentance and faith, and to Christians as we praise Him and pray in confession, thanksgiving, and supplication.

While He walked this earth, Jesus posed many questions, both to His followers and those on the periphery (which included combative Jewish leaders and even Roman militia). Jesus’ questions were pointed and when they landed on listening ears, His queries led Jesus’ audience on an introspective journey to truth —toward Himself (John 14:6).

Twelve Important Questions Jesus Asked

Every question our Lord asked is important, but when pressed to choose just 12, it’s easy to land on the following. I pray the lessons Jesus taught through these questions in the Gospels fill your heart and mind with His truth and goodness.

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As human beings created in the image of God, our souls were given by God when He breathed life into the first man — Adam. No breath of God, no life.

You’re pregnant – congratulations! This is an emotional time of rejoicing, praying, thanksgiving, praying, planning, and praying. The repetition of praying is intentional because as with every circumstance in life, our first duty and privilege is to come before the Lord in prayer. Yet all Christians sometimes fall short of words when we pray. Thank God we have the Holy Spirit, who intercedes for us when words fail us (Romans 8:26).

May the following 10 prayers encourage you during the time God is using you to birth a new soul. (I am using a little girl for the prayers so they don’t get awkward with parentheses, etc. If you’re having a boy, congratulations and feel free to personalize it for him!)

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Our view of God and His timing is from a human perspective. Most of us have been conditioned to a fast-paced life, from daily activities to our needs and wants, we want it all now. Waiting, therefore, is hard. God’s promises are the height of excitement for us because we know He will bring about what He says He will do.

The first specific mention of harvest is Genesis 8:22, when the Lord God makes the Noahic Covenant and said “seedtime and harvest will never cease” as long as the earth remains. Another covenant, another promise of a harvest, this time as a new beginning for the post flood world.

As we mourn his passing from this life on earth, we rejoice he is home with Jesus, the Savior He faithfully proclaimed and served for over fifty years while pastor of the Atlanta church.

Jesus is called the Lamb of God and the Last Adam. These two titles help us understand how Jesus’ death paid the penalty for our sin. As the Lamb of God, He fulfilled the Law as the perfect sacrifice. As the last Adam, Jesus brought life to all who believe in Him through repentance and faith.

1 John 1:9 tells us when we sin, He is faithful and just to forgive us and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Yes, He is displeased, but He is a forgiving and just Father.

Jesus has revealed our sins and has forgiven every one of them. How very humbling. Pray for your non-believing family and friends to see how He has changed you! Good Lord willing, God will draw them to Himself through our Lord Jesus (John 6:44).

God’s Word etches His truth on every soul who reads it. There is no getting past the truth of the Bible, for God can use it to draw men to Himself. Whether it’s through the public preaching and proclamation of Scripture, one-to-one sharing, via articles and teaching like this, or reading the text, God’s Word never returns to Him empty.

No matter what the world foists upon us, God is greater and His plans are far above any human consideration. God truly has the whole world in His mighty, unfailing hands.