Recent content by RiverOL

Conscience "David was conscience stricken after he had counted the fighting men, and he said to the Lord, 'I have sinned greatly in what I have done. Now, O Lord, I beg you, take away the guilt of your servant. I have done a very foolish thing.'"1 David was conscience stricken because he knew...

The primacy of love 1 Corinthians 13" ... the greatest of these is love." (v.13) The fruit of the Spirit is just one aspect of the Spirit-filled life. It is an over-simplification, but the work of the Holy Spirit in the life of a Christian moves in two important directions -- to produce...

Life with Christ (17 November 2018) Morning Encounter: Read: God loves you and has chosen you as his own special people. So be gentle, kind, humble, meek, and patient. Put up with each other, and forgive anyone who does you wrong, just as Christ has forgiven you. Love is more important than...

Irresponsible Worry And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?—Matthew 6:27 Something’s coming. Doesn’t it always feel like that? Maybe it’s something financial . . . maybe work-related . . . maybe health-related . . . definitely bad. And so, we worry. I...

The "harvest of the Spirit" Galatians 5:13-26 "The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control." (vv.22-23) We begin today a detailed study of the fruit of the Spirit -- the nine ingredients which go to make up Christian...

Letting Go of the Past The Apostle Paul said, "Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus."1 At some...

Doing What Is Right For reading & meditation - Philippians 2:15-16 ""... continue to work out your salvation ... for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose."" (vv. 12-13) We ended yesterday by saying that the biblical response to all of life's problems is to...

Your Life Purpose The Apostle Paul said, "I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus."1 "Stephen Covey once said, 'Be sure that, as you scramble up the ladder of success, it is leaning against the right building.' Many people work hard to...

Daily Retreat: Lost and Found (16 November 2018) Morning Encounter: Read: Tax collectors and sinners were all crowding around to listen to Jesus. So the Pharisees and the teachers of the Law of Moses started grumbling, “This man is friendly with sinners. He even eats with them.” Then Jesus...

Two Men - Different Reactions For reading & meditation - 2 Corinthians 12:1-10 ""... 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.'"" (v. 9) We must spend another day examining this very important issue of why it is that some non-Christians seem to respond better to...

Keeping company with Jesus Right back in the early church in Acts, we see desire for more of God linked to activities that help people to 'keep company with Jesus'. They devoted themselves to the Apostles' teaching, broke bread and prayed together. They shared possessions and practiced...

'But some doubted…' I've always been intrigued by the words 'they worshipped him; but some doubted' in the story at the end of Matthew. (Matthew 28.16-17). I find it helpful to recognise that doubt sits between belief and unbelief and has more to do with a lack of certainty rather than...

Characteristics of Maturity, Part II Discussing characteristics of maturity we noted yesterday that having a well-integrated emotional life and accepting personal responsibility for every area of life are both essential characteristics of maturity. Today we will mention two more key...

The "Inner-Stances" For reading & meditation - 2 Corinthians 4 ""We are handicapped on all sides ... we may be knocked down but we are never knocked out!"" (vv. 8-9, J. B. Phillips) Why is it that while the same things can happen to us all, they may not have the same effect upon us all? The...

Daily Retreat: Two Ways to Live Morning Encounter: In this second part of the week we will give you some verses of Scripture to reflect on as you continue to retreat with God. Read: God blesses those people who refuse evil advice and won’t follow sinners or join in sneering at...