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John A Carroll

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May 1, 2018

Handling Spiritual Infants

The Apostle Paul exemplified the patience and grace of God in dealing with spiritual infants. Here are three ways we can be like him in our care of new and young believers. [Note: This post is based on last week’s reading:1 Corinthians]. Pen Pals Paul wrote this letter to the church in Corinth which he had established on his second missionary journey. We call it the “First Letter of Paul to the Corinthians” because it is the first one that we have in our Bibles. But this w

Dec 17, 2017

Silence in Heaven

Those who boast proudly before God now will someday learn to keep silence before Him. What should be our attitude toward God? Today’s Reading Obadiah; Revelation 8 Selected Verses The pride of your heart has deceived you, you who live in the clefts of the rock, in your lofty dwelling, who say in your heart, “Who will bring me down to the ground?” Though you soar aloft like the eagle, though your nest is set among the stars, from there I will bring you down, declares t

Nov 29, 2017

Keeping the Tension between Equality and Calling

The New Covenant brought a wonderful equality and calling in the Church unknown under the Old Covenant but created a tension we must maintain. Today’s Reading Ezekiel 41-42; Second Peter 1 Selected Verses When the priests enter the Holy Place, they shall not go out of it into the outer court without laying there the garments in which they minister, for these are holy. They shall put on other garments before they go near to that which is for the people. Ezekiel 42:14 Simeon P

Nov 24, 2017

Seeing Yourself Correctly

Seeing yourself correctly is important but here we meet someone with an inflated view of himself. Is your view of yourself clear and accurate? Today’s Reading Ezekiel 32-33; 1 Peter 1 Selected Verses “You consider yourself a lion of the nations, but you are like a dragon in the seas; you burst forth in your rivers, trouble the waters with your feet, and foul their rivers. Thus says the Lord God: I will throw my net over you with a host of many peoples, and they will h

Nov 22, 2017

Humility before God

It behooves every human being to learn humility before God. We can find a horrible example in the history of one nation that learned the hard way. Today’s Reading Ezekiel 27-28; James 4 Selected Verses Because you make your heart like the heart of a god, therefore, behold, I will bring foreigners upon you, the most ruthless of the nations; and they shall draw their swords against the beauty of your wisdom and defile your splendor. Ezekiel 28:6-7 Come now, you who say, “T

Nov 21, 2017

Two Kinds of Wisdom

There are two kinds of wisdom. They are very different. Which kind do you have? Learn how you can distinguish between them. Today’s Reading Ezekiel 24-26; James 3 Selected Verses For thus says the Lord God: Because you have clapped your hands and stamped your feet and rejoiced with all the malice within your soul against the land of Israel, therefore, behold, I have stretched out my hand against you, and will hand you over as plunder to the nations. And I will cut you off fro

Nov 20, 2017

The Man Who Stood in the Breach

Those who trust in the Man who stood in the breach should be filled with humility and gratitude which is evidenced by mercy and impartiality toward others. Today’s Reading Ezekiel 22-23; James 2 Selected Verses And I sought for a man among them who should build up the wall and stand in the breach before me for the land, that I should not destroy it, but I found none. Therefore I have poured out my indignation upon them. I have consumed them with the fire of my wrath. I have

Oct 23, 2017

What a Church Leader Needs

Local churches need leaders but what do those leaders need? Here we find a clear answer from the Apostle Paul and a vivid example from the Prophet Jeremiah. Today’s Reading Jeremiah 9-10; First Timothy 3 Selected Verses Correct me, O Lord, but in justice; not in your anger, lest you bring me to nothing. Pour out your wrath on the nations that know you not. Jeremiah 10:24-25 I hope to come to you soon, but I am writing these things to you so that, if I delay, you may know how

Oct 18, 2017

What God Wants

God needs nothing from us. Everything we have comes from Him and belongs to Him. But there is something He wants from us. Does He find it in you? Today’s Reading Isaiah 65-66; Second Thessalonians 1 Selected Verses Thus says the Lord: “Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool; what is the house that you would build for me, and what is the place of my rest? All these things my hand has made, and so all these things came to be, declares the Lord. But this is the

Aug 21, 2017

The Christian’s Identity: God’s Lowly Farmhand

God gives you a role in His work of growing disciples. But do you know your identity in the spiritual harvest? Are you taking yourself too seriously? Today’s reading Psalm 119:1-48; I Corinthians 3 Selected Verses Lead me in the path of your commandments, for I delight in it. Incline my heart to your testimonies, and not to selfish gain! Turn my eyes from looking at worthless things; and give me life in your ways.. Psalm 119:35-37 So neither he who plants nor he who waters

Aug 14, 2017

The Role of Government

What does God say about the role of government in the life of the Christian? Should a believer ever disobey the powers that be? If so, when? Today’s reading Psalms 99-102; Romans 13 Selected Verses I will look with favor on the faithful in the land, that they may dwell with me; he who walks in the way that is blameless shall minister to me. No one who practices deceit shall dwell in my house; no one who utters lies shall continue before my eyes. Psalm 101: 6-7 For rulers are

Aug 11, 2017

A Warning to Gentiles and a Promise to the Elderly

God uses two trees to give a warning and a promise about our relationships to each other and to Him. Expect fruitfulness. Beware of arrogance. Today’s Reading Psalms 90-92; Romans 11:1-21 Selected Verses The righteous flourish like the palm tree and grow like a cedar in Lebanon. They are planted in the house of the Lord; they flourish in the courts of our God. They still bear fruit in old age; they are ever full of sap and green, to declare that the Lord is upright;