October 21, 2025
Jesus is the light of the world, and His light shines upon all, but people will have vastly different reactions to Him. What is your response to the Light?
John writes in the opening of his gospel, “In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men. The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it” (John 1:4-5 NASB95). Jesus stepped in to this dark world as a blazing beacon of light. What was the response of the darkness? They didn’t comprehend it. What do we learn from this? Don’t be surprised if the world cannot grasp who you are or what you stand for. John continues, “There was the true Light which, coming into the world, enlightens every man” (John 1:9) Those who will step into the light of Jesus will find enlightenment. God will shine light into their hearts and onto their path.
In John 3, we learn more about how people respond to the Light. “This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil. For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. But he who practices the truth comes to the Light, so that his deeds may be manifested as having been wrought in God” (John 3:19-21). We learn some profound truths here. Why will some people refuse to come to Jesus? It is because they don’t want the light shining on how they are living. If we live in darkness we can come to love the darkness and desire to remain in it. What a dangerous situation to be in! It is like spiritual Stockholm syndrome, where abused captives begin to love their captor. What else can we learn from these verses? We should not be surprised if the world hates us. It is the nature of darkness to hate the light, and we are light in the Lord (Ephesians 5:8).
But there is also good news here. We see that those who practice the truth will come to Jesus. It may not always be comfortable for us to come, because the light does expose our sinfulness. But those who love truth will come. And even those who are walking in darkness can choose to come, as you and I did. Not everyone in darkness wants to remain there.
Let us be encouraged by the offer of Jesus, made to all people: “Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, ‘I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life’” (John 8:12) Let us continue to follow Jesus and let Him light up our world.
—Scott Colvin
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Posted by Scott Colvin
September 23, 2025
In John chapter five, Jesus healed a lame man who was lying by the pool of Bethesda. This man had been ill for 38 years and Jesus healed him by simply telling him to get up, pick up his pallet and walk. (John 5:8) While one might expect that this great miracle and blessing bestowed on this man would induce great rejoicing in those who heard of it, quite the opposite occurred. Jesus healed the man on the Sabbath day, and because of that, the Jewish leaders persecuted Him. They even sought to kill Him. Why? Because Jesus said these words: “… ‘My Father is working until now, and I Myself am working.’” (John 5:17 NASB95)
Why did this statement so enrage the Jews? The next verse explains: “…because He not only was breaking the Sabbath, but also was calling God His own Father, making Himself equal with God.” (John 5:18 NASB95) They were not wrong. Jesus was indeed claiming equality with God, and in His teaching in the following verses, He reinforced this claim very clearly in multiple ways. But how is Jesus’ claim to be working on the Sabbath a claim of equality with God?
The creation account in Genesis tells us that on the seventh day (the Sabbath) God rested from His work which He had done (Genesis 2:2-3). God made the Sabbath for man as a day of rest, but does God work on the Sabbath? He certainly does. People are born and people die on the Sabbath. The sun shines, the rain falls, and the crops grow on the Sabbath day. People can be healed from disease on the Sabbath. We could multiply examples. Aren’t all of these things the work of God? In fact, if God stopped working on the Sabbath day, the entire universe and everything in it would cease to exist!
So, when Jesus said that He works on the Sabbath just as God does, He was clearly claiming to be more than a mere human. Man was to rest on the Sabbath, as commanded. But just as God has the divine prerogative to continue His work on the Sabbath, Jesus, too has that divine prerogative! Thus, He made Himself equal to God!
What is the takeaway for us? If Jesus is God (and He is!) we had better listen very carefully to His word! Because Jesus is God, He also has the right and the ability to judge, to raise the dead and to give eternal life to whomever He wishes (see John 5:19-29). Jesus said to the Jews of that day, and His words remain true today, “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life.” (John 5:24 NASB95). Are you listening to the words of Jesus and believing in Him? Jesus is God the Son! Let us listen to His almighty voice!
—Scott Colvin
Leave a Comment » | following Jesus Christ, Jesus called God, John 5:17-18, John 5:24, Sabbath | Tagged: Bible, Breaking the Sabbath, Christianity, faith, God, Jesus, Jesus' claims to be God, John 5, Sabbath, The Deity of Jesus, The Divinity of Jesus, Was Jesus God? | Permalink
Posted by Scott Colvin
August 19, 2025
In John chapter 4, Jesus spoke these profound words to the Samaritan woman after asking her for a drink of water from the well: “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, ‘Give Me a drink,’ you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water.” (John 4:10 NASB95) The woman is initially confused and perhaps a bit resistant, but Jesus continues, “… Everyone who drinks of this water will thirst again; but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him shall never thirst; but the water that I will give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life.” (John 4:13-14 NASB95) What does this mean? Let’s take a closer look.
We learn more about this living water in chapter 7, when Jesus stands up at the feast and cries out, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, ‘From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.’ But this He spoke of the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were to receive…” (John 7:37-39a) So, we see that the living water Jesus is offering is a reference to the Holy Spirit. The Spirit of God is like a fountain or a river of water that flows from our inner being.
There is a thirst within all people, modern and ancient, for something that will satisfy the soul. There is a yearning for meaning and wholeness. Man tries to fulfill this desire with earthly things—worldly pleasures, wealth, career, substances, and the like—but these things will never take away the inner longing. The thirst will always return. But what Jesus is offering is a never-ending source of life that will truly satisfy. The Spirit of God, dwelling within us, brings satisfaction. He brings joy and peace! He brings true life! With the Spirit dwelling within us, our souls become like well-watered, fruitful gardens which bring forth His beautiful fruit. The water is a blessing not only to our own souls, but as it flows forth, it brings refreshment to those around us.
But notice that we have to come to Jesus for this living water. We have to ask Him. We have to believe in Him (and continue to believe). If we spend our lives living with one foot in Jesus and one foot in the world, we will deprive ourselves of the living water. But if we will continue to trust in Jesus and follow His voice, He will grant life and peace through His Spirit. The living water will spring up to eternal life.
—Scott Colvin
Leave a Comment » | contentment, Holy Spirit, John 4:10-14, John 7:37-39, living waters, spiritual life, the gift of the Holy Spirit | Tagged: Bible, God, Holy Spirit, how to be content, inner being, Jesus, John 4, John 7, living water, refreshment for the soul, rivers of living water, satisfied soul, woman at the well | Permalink
Posted by Scott Colvin
August 7, 2025
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God.” (John 1:1-2 NASB95)
These opening words of the gospel of John have been thought of by many as an overture that beautifully introduces the coming symphony. These words frame how we are to see and understand the rest of John’s gospel. With the phrase, “In the beginning,” John calls to mind the opening words of Genesis which tells us about God’s creation of the universe. Here in John’s gospel, we will be told of a new creation which God is bringing about through the Word. “In the beginning was the Word.” The Word already existed in the beginning. John wants us to know that the Word is not a created being but existed from all eternity.
“The Word was with God.” Not only did the word exist from the beginning, but He existed in the closest possible fellowship with God, so much so that it can be said, “The Word was God.” John is not saying that the Word had some divine qualities, but that the Word “is fully God.” (NET) The Word, in His essence, was fully deity, just as God the Father is. Or we might say, what God is, the Word is.
Who is the Word that John speaks of? We find that answer in verse fourteen which says, “And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14 NASB95) As this sentence indicates, and the rest of the gospel shows us, the Word is Jesus Christ. And so, we learn this profound truth: Jesus is God. He is God the Son. Everything that God is, Jesus is. As the author of Hebrews says of Jesus, “And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power…” (Hebrews 1:3 NASB95)
God has expressed Himself to mankind through the Word. God has revealed to us who He is by sending His Son Jesus to “tabernacle” among us. Jesus is the exact representation of God’s nature. When we look at the glory of Jesus, we see the glory of God. And Jesus, as I write, is upholding all things by the word of His power.
Given all of this, what an amazing thought it is that God in the flesh came down to die for us. Through the death of God the Son, those of us who have received Him have received eternal life. We have become children of God. We have been born again as a new creation. Let us praise God for this amazing truth.
—Scott Colvin
Leave a Comment » | Jesus, Jesus as the Word, Jesus called God, John 1:1-3 | Tagged: Bible, Christianity, Deity of Jesus, faith, God, In the beginning was the Word, Jesus, Jesus is God, Jesus is the word, John 1, John 1:1, prologue of John, the word | Permalink
Posted by Scott Colvin
May 9, 2025
Everyone wants to live “the good life,” but what does that mean? Many think the good life is being wealthy, living in comfort, or retiring early. Some think the good life is one of partying and fun. Some may think it is found in a very successful career. How would you define the good life? And how can you obtain it?
Listen to these inspired words of David:
“Do you want to really live? Would you love to live a long, happy life?
Then make sure you don’t speak evil words or use deceptive speech.
Turn away from evil and do what is right. Strive for peace and promote it.” (Psalm 34:12-14 NET)
So, how can we really live? First, we must control our speech. We need to choose to not speak evil. Evil words include things like gossip and slander. It would include words that are spoken in a fit of anger that wound another person. Things like these can make our lives miserable (by our own doing) and rob us of the good life. We must also choose to not speak words that are deceitful. Lying or misleading people with our words brings much trouble and sorrow. On the other hand, using words that are filled with love, with truth, and encouragement will not only bless those around us, but will bring God’s blessings into our lives.
Second, to really live, we must turn away from evil. We live in a world that is full of evil. You and I must choose not to participate in deeds of darkness, and we must strive to not let it influence us or our families. But it is not enough to turn away from evil. We need to also do what is right. We face the choice to do right or wrong on a daily basis. If you want to really live, choose what is right! Then the rich blessings of God will flow into your life.
Finally, to really live, we need to strive for peace and promote it. How does one promote peace? By being humble toward others, by speaking with gentleness and grace, by being patient with others, and by forgiving those who have wronged us—just as the Lord forgave us. We promote peace by refusing to keep a record of wrongs and by choosing to not harbor resentment and bitterness toward others. When we fail to pursue peace, we will bring a lot of sorrow into our own lives. But if we will follow the way of peace, we will be richly blessed. Those who sow peace will reap its beautiful fruit.
How might we summarize these instructions? Live like Christ. Reflect His love. Those who do will find true life!
—Scott Colvin
Leave a Comment » | evil, good, peace, Psalm 34:12-14, the tongue | Tagged: Advice for a good life, Bible, Christianity, faith, God, How to have a good life, Jesus, Living the good life, Psalm 34 | Permalink
Posted by Scott Colvin
May 2, 2025
Our faith and our salvation are built upon the resurrection of Jesus Christ. The historical fact of His resurrection cannot be over emphasized. There is no way in which we could speak of it too often, for it is the critical component to everything we believe. As Paul writes to the church at Corinth (who were doubting the resurrection of the dead), “But if there is no resurrection from the dead, not even Christ has been raised; and if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is vain, your faith also is vain… and if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If we have hoped in Christ in this life only, we are of all men most to be pitied.” (1 Corinthians 15:13-14, 17-19 NASB95) Without the resurrection of Christ, our faith is meaningless, we are still in our sins, and we have no hope for the future.
But the fact is, “Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who are asleep.” (1 Corinthians 15:20, NASB95) This is the glorious fact! Jesus was raised! There are many powerful and convincing proofs of this fact. There are many eyewitness accounts of this fact. We can be assured that His resurrection is real, and our faith can rest solidly in this reality. And because He is alive, we too are alive! Because He is risen, we have been raised with Him and seated with Him in the heavenly places. (Ephesians 2:6) Because He is risen, we are now dead to sin and alive to God. Because He is risen, one day we too will be raised with a glorious new body. Because He is risen, we have hope of seeing our loved ones who have died in the Lord again.
Jesus is alive! And we have been made alive with Him! Shouldn’t this truth have a major impact on our lives? How should we now live? As Paul writes, “Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. (Colossians 3:1-3 NASB95). We should now continue to seek the things above, setting our mind on heavenly things rather than earthly things.
How should we now live? We should continue to put to death our earthly ways. (Colossians 3:5) Immorality, greed, anger, slander, lying, and the like should all be rooted out of our lives with the help of God’s Spirit.
How should we now live? By putting on the qualities of the resurrected life: Compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, forgiveness, and love. (Colossians 3:12-14)
Let’s rejoice on this day! Jesus is alive, and we live with Him! Let us now walk as those who are alive from the dead!
—Scott Colvin
Leave a Comment » | 1 Corinthians 15:13-19, 1 Corinthians 15:20, Colossians 3:1 | Tagged: 1 Corinthians 15, Bible, Colossians 3, easter, hope, Jesus, new life, resurrection, resurrection of Jesus, the resurrected life | Permalink
Posted by Scott Colvin
December 3, 2024
Why did Jesus speak in parables? This is a good question and one that the disciples of Jesus also pondered. “The disciples came and said to Him, ‘Why do you speak to them in parables?” (Matthew 13:10 NASB95) Jesus’ answer is very interesting. “Jesus answered them, ‘To you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been granted. For whoever has, to him more shall be given, and he will have an abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has shall be taken away from him.’” (Matthew 13:11-12 NASB95) Luke reports Jesus’ answer in this way: “…To you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God, but to the rest it is in parables, so that seeing they may not see, and hearing they may not understand.” (Luke 8:10 NASB95)
Most people think that Jesus spoke in parables in order to make things clearer for the listeners. This is only part of the reason. It is true that the parables help us, as disciples of Jesus, to more clearly understand and retain His teaching. When we think about the parable of the sower, or the parable of the talents, or the parable of the prodigal son, we immediately remember the deep spiritual meaning that lies beneath the simple stories.
But there is another important reason that Jesus spoke to the crowds in parables. It wasn’t so that the message would be clarified but obscured! Read the passages above again. Jesus said that some have been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom, and some have not. Therefore, He spoke in parables so that while seeing and hearing, they will not be able to understand. This leads us to another important question: To whom does God grant understanding, and from whom does He withhold it? And why?
There is a warning here from Jesus that we all need to heed today. Jesus goes on in Luke 8 to say this: “So take care how you listen; for whoever has, to him more shall be given; and whoever does not have, even what he thinks he has shall be taken away.” (Luke 8:18 NASB95) Take care how you listen! Some will encounter the word of God and care little about it. They will hear the words of God, but they do not care to really listen carefully. These will not progress any farther in their spiritual journey. In fact, it is these who will go backwards spiritually, for whatever he thinks he has shall be taken away. But to those who love the word of God, who want to know more, who want to apply it to their lives—to them God will grant more spiritual understanding. They will move forward with God because they take care how they listen! May each of us approach God today with a heart to hear His word.
—Scott Colvin
Leave a Comment » | Luke 8:10, Luke 8:18, Matthew 13:10-12, parable, Parable of the Sower | Tagged: Bible, faith, Hearing the word, Jesus, parable, Parable of the Soils, Parable of the Sower, parables, Why did Jesus speak in parables? | Permalink
Posted by Scott Colvin
November 19, 2024
Repentance is an extremely important concept all throughout the scriptures. To repent is to turn away from sin. There can be no salvation without it. Repentance leads to life (Acts 11:18). Our God is rich in kindness, and His kindness leads us to repentance (Romans 2:4). God does not wish for anyone to perish, but for all to come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9). Because God is rich in mercy and kindness, He gives all people, everywhere, time to repent.
But that time is not unlimited. God has proven again and again that He is very longsuffering, but He has also proven again and again that eventually He will bring judgment on the unrepentant, even among His own people. God punished His own people many times in the Old Testament because of their hardened, unrepentant hearts. God punished people within the church in New Testament times as well. The self-proclaimed prophetess in the church at Thyatira, Jezebel, comes to mind. Jezebel was teaching and leading the servants of Christ into immorality and idolatry, and therefore Jesus says of her, “I gave her time to repent, and she does not want to repent of her immorality. Behold, I will throw her on a bed of sickness, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of her deeds.” (Revelation 2:21-22 NASB95) Jesus gave her time! But time was up. She made it clear that she did not want to repent, and so the judgment of Christ was coming. Judgment was also imminent for those who joined her in sin, but Jesus, in His great patience and mercy, gave them a little more time for repentance.
You and I need to take the lesson to heart. Let us never think lightly of God’s kindness, patience, and tolerance. Let us not test God, nor harden our hearts and stiffen our necks toward His word. Rather, let us be thankful for His mercy, listen to His word, and turn away from sin. God desires for all people to come to repentance. Thanks be to God for providing the way to complete forgiveness and abundant life through His beloved Son. Let us not delay in coming to Him!
—Scott Colvin
Leave a Comment » | grace, Jezebel, mercy of God, repentance, Revelation 2:21-22, Thyatira | Tagged: Bible, faith, God's grace, God's kindness, God's mercy, Jesus, judgment, repentance | Permalink
Posted by Scott Colvin
November 12, 2024
This article is a call for our younger men to begin preparing themselves to serve as elders in the church. Elders (also referred to as shepherds, pastors, bishops, or overseers) have a very critical role to play in the life and health of the church. And since becoming an elder takes years of spiritual preparation, the church should always be looking ahead and thinking about how to prepare faithful men for this role.
We can read about the qualifications of elders in 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1. Let’s take a look at some of the qualifications and consider how a man might prepare himself to fulfill them. First, it is important to note that aspiring to be an elder is a good thing. Paul wrote, “It is a trustworthy statement: if any man aspires to the office of overseer, it is a fine work he desires to do.” (1 Timothy 3:1 NASB95) The work of an overseer is often difficult and comes with very weighty responsibilities. In light of this, it is important that there is a desire to take on this work. Elders need to serve willingly and eagerly, not under compulsion. (1 Peter 5:2)
Second, an elder must be able to teach (1 Timothy 3:2). He must hold fast to the faithful word and be able to encourage sound teaching and refute false teaching (Titus 1:9). An elder, then, must be a man who is deeply rooted in the truth. An aspiring elder must prepare himself through serious, ongoing study of the word of God. People’s souls will depend on you faithfully holding fast to the teaching.
An elder must be one who “manages his own household well, keeping his children under control with all dignity (but if a man does not know how to manage his own household, how will he take care of the church of God?) (1 Timothy 3:4-5 NASB95) The training ground for an elder is the family. The one who aspires to be an elder must aspire to lead his family in the ways of God.
Finally, an elder must be a man who is himself walking with God. Looking through the lists of qualities in 1 Timothy and Titus we see many descriptors of the kind of man he should be: temperate, prudent, respectable, hospitable, gentle, peaceable, a lover of what is good, free from the love of money, not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not addicted to wine, not a bully (pugnacious). In short, he must be a man who is being led by the Spirit of God. He should be a man who has been walking with the Lord for many years; a man whose character has been transformed by the Lord.
It is a good thing for our men to aspire to this work. If you feel the desire to serve as an elder one day, I encourage you to begin preparing now. And if you do not desire this work, I still encourage you to strive for these qualities, for they are wonderful qualities for each of us to pursue. May God raise up godly men among us to serve our congregation in this way.
—Scott Colvin
Leave a Comment » | 1 Timothy 3:1-7, elders, Titus 1:5-9 | Tagged: Bible, Christianity, church, elders, Jesus, overseers, pastors, preparing elders, qualifications of elders, qualities of elders | Permalink
Posted by Scott Colvin
November 12, 2024
In his sermon in Acts chapter 17, Paul reveals some magnificent things about the true God of heaven to a group of Athenian philosophers who did not know God. Paul tells them that God made the world and all things in it. He tells them that God does not need to be served by humans as if He needed anything. No, God is the one who serves mankind by giving us everything we need—life and breath and all things. He tells them that it is God who made all mankind and determined where they would live.
But why has God been so kind and generous to all people in these ways? This brings Paul to his central point. He said it was so “that they would seek God, if perhaps they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us…” (Acts 17:27 NASB95) God has poured out His blessings on all so that we would seek Him! What a profound truth it is that God wants all to search for Him, and He wants all to find Him!
And what a profound truth it is that God does require that we search, that we grope for Him, feeling our way toward Him to discover who He is. God does not reveal the wonders of Himself to just anyone. He only reveals Himself to those who will seek Him. God has been very clear about this throughout scripture. Take this verse, for example: “How blessed are those who observe His testimonies, Who seek Him with all their heart.” (Psalm 119:2 NASB95) Or take the words of Jesus as another example: “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.” (Matthew 7:7 NASB95) Or consider this verse, where Paul explains that in Jesus “… are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.” (Colossians 2:3 NASB95) You see, the treasures of God’s wisdom and knowledge are not available to just anyone. They are hidden in Christ. God desires that we do some digging before He will allow access to these blessings.
But the beautiful thing is that God will allow us to find Him. He wants to be found. He wants a relationship with you and me. The question for us is, are we still searching for Him? Even if we have already found Him, there is still more to be found. We must continue to dig deeper to explore even more of the beauty and the delight that is found in God and in His beloved Son. May God lead us ever deeper into Himself!
—Scott Colvin
Leave a Comment » | Acts 17:27, Colossians 2:3, Matthew 7:7 | Tagged: Bible, Christianity, faith, Finding God, God, Groping for the Lord, Jesus, Paul in Athens, Seeking God | Permalink
Posted by Scott Colvin
while today 