January 31, 2026

Jesus Heals Peter’s Mother-In-Law Of Fever

And when Jesus was come into Peter's house, he saw his wife's mother laid, and sick of a fever. And he touched her hand, and the fever left her: and she arose, and ministered unto them. Matthew 8:14-15

The story of Peter’s mother-in-law is found in Matthew, Mark, and Luke. There are a couple of things to observe here. When Jesus heals, there is no recovery time; you are completely well right then and there. That was the case for Peter’s mother-in-law; Jesus touched her hand, and her fever left her. She got right up and started ministering to them. From this portion of scripture, we now know that Peter was married, had a home, and it’s likely that Jesus stayed there with them. Another observation is that Jesus made sure his disciples’ families were comfortable and well cared for, freeing him to minister to others without worry. 

When you are doing God’s will, he takes care of your concerns; I can attest to that. We’ve had some near-tragic circumstances recently that would have taken me right out of the game, but God heard my prayers and the prayers of my family, and our family is still whole because of His mercy. What I recently learned, which I hope you take with you, is not to dismiss God’s still small voice. If you get weird thoughts or feel a check in your Spirit about something, do not neglect to acknowledge it, and if you can’t do anything about it, pray. It could be the Spirit prompting you to get involved to change the trajectory of an outcome. And, just like that, Jesus will step in, command his angels concerning you or your loved one, and what was meant to harm will be directed away from you or your family. We don’t know the power we have because we are tuned out and distracted by worldly cares; this is your wake-up call to plug into the Source and start living for God, leaving worldly cares behind for the greater good.  

January 30, 2026

Miracles Of Jesus

Jesus Heals a Man with an Unclean Spirit 

As a new topic of discussion in the steps of Jesus, it would be fitting to follow the miracles he performed as part of his ministry and as proof of his deity. I have already covered the first two, but I will mention them to keep the chronological order. If you remember, his first miracle was turning the water into wine at Cana for his mother Mary. The second recorded was healing the official’s son at Capernaum. From here on, I will cover the rest of Jesus’s recorded miracles, starting with his healing of a demon-possessed man as found in Mark 1 and Luke 4. 

Jesus was teaching on the Sabbath in a synagogue in Capernaum when a man with an unclean spirit disrupted him by crying out and identifying him as the Holy One of God!

Saying, Let us alone; what have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art, the Holy One of God. Mark 1:24

Jesus didn’t play any games with this demon and immediately commanded him to come out.

And Jesus rebuked him, saying, Hold thy peace, and come out of him. Mark 1:25

His fame began to spread throughout, and the people wondered who this man was who taught with such authority and commanded the spirits. We are so fortunate to have a compilation of all that Jesus did. Are there more writings hidden somewhere that we aren’t privy to? Maybe, but we have all we need in the pages of our Bibles to bring us to our knees in reverence of the One True God who walked among the people, teaching and performing miracles.

January 29, 2026

The Authority of Jesus 

And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine: For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes. Matthew 7:28-29

When Jesus taught, it was unlike anything they had heard before. His teachings were full of power, and his authority was sure. Because it was different, people flocked to him. They didn’t know who he was, but because he was God, his message came across boldly. There is no mincing words here; it plainly states that what he taught was doctrine, a set of beliefs we should adhere to. There are so many rules added by churches that it can be confusing; Jesus’s words are not confusing; they are clear and concise. There should be no misinterpretation, though there is. How do we compensate for that? We must listen to the still, small voice that guides us as we read the scriptures. If something feels unsettling, we should dig a little deeper into its meaning, ask for the Holy Spirit to clarify, and persist until we get the appropriate answer. The denominations have muddied the waters so much that unless you dig into the scriptures yourself, you WILL be misled. Don’t let others toy with your future like that. Be noble like the Bereans who combed through the scriptures to verify that what Paul was teaching was trustworthy and true. Your eternity is worth a little extra effort. Verify, then believe!

These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so. Acts 17:11

January 28, 2026

The Sermon On The Mount: Build Your House on the Rock 

Jesus’s Words:

Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. Matthew 7:24-25

When we traveled throughout Europe, we had two excellent examples of these types of houses, both in Italy. The first house would be likened to the homes in Venice, which were built on piers and were likely set upon limestone. Now they say it’s sinking, but not like we think, barely one to two millimeters per year. Then there is the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Whoever built it didn’t think this through and definitely didn’t build it upon a rock. Yes, it’s an old building still standing; however, it has had to be backfilled with modern concrete to keep it from toppling over. My guess is that the Catholic Church needed it to keep standing, so people would continue to pay for tours. We must apply these ideas about building to our lives, and we want our foundation to be secure; the only way to do that is to make Jesus our foundation. If you build on a worldly foundation, you’re like the Leaning Tower of Pisa, still standing but crumbling underneath. Jesus is kind of like Venice; the high tides come and wash the streets and fill the bottom floor with water, like the movement of the Holy Spirit. Venice is very beautiful and old like the Ancient of Days. Yes, I know it’s a stretch using Venice as a comparison. However, it works because it is still standing and has some incredible architecture that gives pause to a thinking person: it was built with hammer and chisel, using horse and carriage or boats to move the stones across the water. Seems a little far-fetched, doesn’t it? What do I know? 

This is the conclusion of the Sermon On The Mount, it is not the conclusion of Jesus’s steps, so we will keep digging in and learning from him so we can get our lives right, with our trajectory toward him alone. 

January 27, 2026

The Sermon On The Mount: I Never Knew You 

Jesus’s Words:

Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. Matthew 7:21-23

Well, isn't that a scary thought? We always tell people how simple it is to come to Jesus, but we don't tell them that their lives must show a visible change as proof of their salvation. It's not a big show; it's a drastic turn from evil intentions to good works. I'm not saying you need works to get there; that rests solely on Jesus, it's not of yourself; it's a gift. Once Jesus calls you, your life becomes a lifelong self-improvement project, and you should show strides toward sanctification in the early stages of your salvation. The people Jesus is talking about in the scripture are those who have probably based their income on the name of Jesus, only use his name to make a buck, were insincere, and likely never believed in him. Even if you aren't making money off his name, but expect to enter heaven without any improvement to your life, he's talking to you. He doesn't expect us to be perfect, because he knows we aren't, but he does expect us to be serious about him, not using his name as a "get out of hell free card!" He's telling us here that it won't work. It might be a good idea to assess your life and get serious about Jesus. You don't want to come to the end and hear him say, "I never knew you, depart from me."

January 26, 2026

The Sermon On The Mount: A Tree and Its Fruit 

Jesus’s Words:

Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. Matthew 7:15-17

We all have to be on guard against believing everyone who claims to be teaching Jesus' words. Now more than ever, we must know God's word so we can challenge anyone who carefully includes tiny bits of falsehoods amongst the truth. Their message may seem on point, but that one little discrepancy could taint the entire message. These false teachers and prophets are counting on you being ignorant of scriptures so they can lead you down the pathway of destruction; they are sent by Satan to mock and confuse you.  You don't have to be a scholar, but basic knowledge of God's word is essential. No one knows everything there is to know, but having Jesus and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit will get you further than any false teacher. Their father is the devil, and he is full of lies. The conclusion of this is that you will know them by their fruit; a good tree will produce good fruit, but a bad tree will produce evil fruit. Always use caution; it's better to be a little skeptical at first and listen intently to their words until you are convinced of their character. 

January 25, 2026

The Sermon On The Mount: The Golden Rule

Jesus’s Words:

Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets. Matthew 7:12

This rule is straightforward: Treat others the way you want to be treated. There is a sad story of a church that went through a resizing, to put it mildly, and people were observed showing their true colors rather than restraining their emotions. Whether the person they were communicating with was good or bad, their behavior should have shown Jesus' refining power, not Satan's hold, primarily when the person being spoken to was someone loved and respected by the observers. To show disdain for anyone that we know God has loved is more hurtful to the one spewing hatred. We don't always know what causes issues in church or even in our personal lives. Still, in a lot of cases, all it takes is the weakness of one person, a slight opening, for the enemy to work his way in and cause a disruption, so rather than feel hatred for that person, we need to feel sorry for them that they've opened themselves up for use by Satan. Give them the grace that you hope to receive if you are ever on the other side of such behavior. Life is hard enough when dealing with the unsaved; even so, treat others the way you expect to be treated. However, when it's your brother or sister in Christ, go beyond that and treat them like Jesus is standing there watching, because he is. 

January 24, 2026

The Sermon On The Mount: Ask, and It Will Be Given 

Jesus’s Words:

Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. Matthew 7:7-8

Ask, seek, knock. In other words, pray, pray, pray. Do you get the feeling that Jesus wants us to be constant in prayer? Pray, fast, and if you want something, ask! We ask God for a lot of things, but some things might not be good for us, so you can expect those prayers to go unanswered. He can see where they lead, and it may not be healthy for us. However, don’t stop asking, keep knocking at his door, and pester Him. He would rather hear you begging than not hear from you at all. It might take a while, but He will eventually answer you. I’ve had childhood prayers answered as an adult, things that I never fathomed He would ever answer, and they were big prayers for material things, not just spiritual things. Ask for it, even if it seems outlandish, because you never know God’s intentions for your life, and it’s better if you’ve asked for it before He gives it to you, because then you will recognize His provision. 

January 23, 2026

The Sermon On The Mount: Judging Others

Jesus’s Words:

Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. Matthew 7:1-2

The disciple is not above his master: but every one that is perfect shall be as his master. Luke 6:40

Occasionally, you will find yourself in a situation that calls for discernment. When you think all is well, the enemy will rear his ugly head and show you the truth. It can be a good thing because even though the sorting process is painful and the burning off of the dross seems like a loss, it isn't; pure gold is showing itself clean and pure, and the only loss is the trash that shouldn't have been there in the first place. Are we part of the dross? Let's hope not. We don't always know the whole truth about what causes a breakdown; all we know is how we should react to it. We must be careful not to act as a judge in this situation, because, believe me, we have no right to judge someone's character when we have issues with our own. God help the people who place themselves in the position of a righteous judge when they are barely wet behind the ears, still feasting on milk, and haven't even started on solid food. The gist of this is to be careful; if you aren't 100% free of any unrepentant, ongoing sin, you have no right to judge anyone, and even if you're squeaky clean, you will look like a Pharisee or a Sadducee if you sit in the place of judgment. No one wants to be compared to them.  Jesus is our judge; let him sort out the details. He is the only one righteous enough to sit in that position.

January 22, 2026

The Sermon On The Mount: Do Not Be Anxious 

Jesus’s Words:

But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof. Matthew 6:33-34

Anxiety is probably one of the everyday things that we've all dealt with at some point in our lives. It doesn't take much to set it in motion and cause us to overthink our situation, and yet we cannot always control the outcome, even though we may try, which in turn causes us more anxiety. Jesus wants us to let it go, live in peace, and trust him. One thing I practice that helps me let go is thinking through to the worst-case scenario, which for me might be jail or death. Jail might be bad, but death wouldn't be bad because of my salvation. After I get that out of my head, I can forget about it because it is unlikely my worst-case scenario will happen. All we need is Jesus, so if our entire life is torn apart, but we still have Jesus, and he has promised never to leave or forsake us, then we have it all. Living with someone anxious is a different story; they can cause you stress if you don't react to their anxiety the way they think you should; keep your peace anyway because you can't control their feelings; that's Jesus's job. Things happen in God's time, so there's nothing you can do about it anyway, so you may as well keep your peace.

January 21, 2026

The Sermon On The Mount: Lay Up Treasures in Heaven 

Jesus’s Words:

But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. Matthew 6:20-21

What are some of the treasures you can store in heaven? Though they have little value here on earth, they may be a currency that gains significant interest in the kingdom of heaven. Paul lays this idea out very nicely to the Galatians in this verse:

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23

Jesus speaks well for himself and doesn’t need Paul to clarify his commands, but to give us more context in this matter and provide extra substance to his words, we can see that the fruits of the Spirit are a commodity worth trading in and collecting as our treasure for the kingdom of heaven. We have no choice but to deal in earthly treasure; otherwise, we couldn’t eat or have a shelter. However, if you want something that has lasting value, collect the fruits of the Spirit; they are more valuable than anything else and are approved by Jesus as a treasure that won’t rust or devalue. These spiritual fruits should be easy for the Christ-follower to collect and store in heaven, and they line up perfectly with the godly life we should all be leading. 

January 20, 2026

The Sermon On The Mount: Fasting

Jesus’s Words:

That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly. Matthew 6:18

As with giving and praying, fasting shouldn’t be a spectacle or observable by men. Fasting is a private thing between you and God. Once you make others aware of what you are doing, it loses its meaning, and you receive no reward. However, if you do it right, keep it private, God will reward you openly. Fasting is good for you and should be practiced often. It gives your body time to reset, burn off the bad cells, and replace them with new cells, a process called autophagy. It clears out the waste and helps to renew your mind. The sad thing is that you don’t hear much about fasting from the pulpit, even though it is an essential part of being a Christ-follower. If it weren’t important, Jesus wouldn’t have mentioned it. You don’t have to go full bore to begin with; start small and work your way up to total food elimination. You might start by cutting out sugar or bread, and if successful, the next time you eliminate more. Another way to fast is intermittent fasting, where you skip meals and eat only once a day; it’s not that hard, and eventually you’ll get used to it. You will realize that God stands right beside you as you walk out this discipline. You will be surprised at how clear His voice becomes, and you hear Him like never before. Don’t dismiss something because you don’t understand it; look it up; there’s plenty of information out there that will help get you started. 

January 19, 2026

The Sermon On The Mount: The Lord’s Prayer

Jesus’s Words:

After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. Matthew 6:9-13

Jesus gave us a beautiful prayer. I pray his prayer daily, and when my words aren’t there, I offer him back his own. God expects us to meet with Him privately, not with long-winded prayers that drag out the content to be heard. It’s better to get to the point rather than make our prayer a show. Think about children, when they need something, they don’t give you a song and dance, they tell you straight, I’m hungry, or my head hurts. Our Father expects us to meet with Him like a child to a parent. When my heart is heavy, sometimes words aren’t enough, but my tears reach heaven quicker than any other expression. 

Hear my prayer, O LORD, and give ear unto my cry; hold not thy peace at my tears: for I am a stranger with thee, and a sojourner, as all my fathers were. Psalms 39:12

The point of this scripture is to be real because God sees you as you are. Remember that trying to impress others who are just dust and ashes like you is futile. God is our source, not others.

January 18, 2026

The Sermon On The Mount: Giving To The Needy

Jesus’s Words:

But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth: That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly. Matthew 6:3-4

Obviously, you use social media, or otherwise you wouldn’t see my devotional. So, you know as well as I do that there are people who video their giving to the underprivileged and tout it to anyone who watches. It is those people who receive all their reward right here on earth, and whatever treasure they would have had was eaten up by their need for notoriety rather than actually helping people in need. Personally, I like watching those videos and seeing how people receiving a handful of cash react to having their lives changed. However, God sees it differently: He wants us to give in secret, not put it on display for the world to see. Like prayer and fasting, it is our duty to give, but we must do it from the heart and not be compelled by the reward. Those who see your giving will provide you with praise, but when you keep it secret, God, whom I would rather receive my reward from, will reward you openly. It doesn’t get any better than that. Give from your heart, but don’t tell anyone, and watch how God works that out in your life. 

January 17, 2026

The Sermon On The Mount: Love Your Enemies 

Jesus’s Words:

Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; Matthew 5:43-44

We are the children of our Father and must strive to be like Him. It’s easy to love those who love you, but it is more courageous and rewarding to love your enemies. This command can be tough, especially when you’ve been mistreated, and all you want to do is lash out or treat them the way they treated you. Not only are we to love them, but we are also to pray for them. If you must look at it in a way that makes you feel like you’re getting back at them, think of it this way: with every prayer or piece of help you give them, it’s like putting hot coals on their head. 

If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink: For thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, and the LORD shall reward thee. Proverbs 25:21-22

We must be kind, even to our enemies. The reward will be beyond measure, and they will be held accountable for any damage they’ve caused us. God sees and knows all the trouble we faced and will recompense the wickedness we’ve had to deal with. 

January 16, 2026

The Sermon On The Mount: Oaths

Jesus’s Words:

But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God's throne: Nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King. Matthew 5:34-35

Jesus is talking about oaths, not foul language, in this passage. You should refrain from using foul language, but in this case, it means to swear to God or the earth, or even your head. Jesus is expanding on the third commandment:

If a man vow a vow unto the LORD, or swear an oath to bind his soul with a bond; he shall not break his word, he shall do according to all that proceedeth out of his mouth. Numbers 30:2

Don't do it, just don't do it! We are very weak people, and something new comes along that sends us down a different path, maybe one we like better, and that's it; we break our oath. You've heard it said, "I swear to God this is true." I immediately think they are lying, and now they have broken a commandment and will suffer the consequences of their action. God takes oaths seriously, so if you decide to make one with Him, you had better be ready to keep it.  

January 15, 2026

The Sermon On The Mount: Divorce

Red Letters - Jesus’s Words

It hath been said, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement: But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery. Matthew 5:31-32

I looked up other verses and dug into the Greek wording and definitions because this is one of those hard-to-swallow passages for many. Especially with these verses and others in Matthew 19, I believe he was showing us how hard it is to keep the commandments. We can do our best, but it’s impossible. Infidelity is probably the least of our worries about a bad marriage; physical and mental abuse are as much, if not more, reason to walk away from a marriage. I would rather subject my body to the sin of adultery than stay married to an adulterer or abuser. I know that many people put up with such nonsense, and my heart goes out to them, though I know that Jesus comforts them as they live their lives that way, but because of his sacrifice, we don’t have to. He’s telling those listening to his sermon that if they want to get into heaven without him, which he knows is impossible, they would have to live a life entirely without sin. This information does not give you a license to go out and divorce your spouse, but it does provide some comfort for those who already have, or are living in an adulterous or abusive marriage, and are trying to hang on for dear life because of these words. Remember, Jesus is so forgiving and will mark your trespasses as “not guilty” when you stand before him in judgment.

January 14, 2026

The Sermon On The Mount: Lust

The way Jesus exposes the scripture is far beyond what I’ve learned from teachers in the past. Though I’ve read it many times, I’ve never linked his sermon to the commandments. The portion of Jesus’s sermon about lust directly correlates with the seventh commandment: Thou shalt not commit adultery. He makes it very clear that lusting after someone who’s not yours corrupts the mind. But, here is the kicker, you will pay for the lust of your mind with your body. He says it is better to cut off the part of your body that sins rather than send your whole body to hell. If you don’t understand what that means, it means that just desiring someone other than your spouse is the sin of adultery. The enemy has definitely seared our minds when it comes to the adultery commandment by making us believe that it’s okay to look upon another’s body and desire it as long as we don’t act upon it. He takes it a step further, making it even harder to obey. Control your emotions! Satan knows how to entice people into hell by flaunting gorgeous people on television and in the movies. Don’t fall for his cunning schemes. Focus on Jesus, and those desires will likely disappear. 

Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart. Matthew 5:27-28

January 13, 2026

The Sermon On the Mount: Anger

Did you know that Jesus associates unjust anger with the sixth commandment, “Thou shalt not kill? Being mad at someone for a mistake or something unintentional crosses that line and deserves the same punishment as a murderer. Here are his words:

But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire. Matthew 5:22

Jesus doesn’t even want to hear from you until you’ve made amends. The term brother could mean anyone, especially someone inferior, such as a child or an employee. This portion of scripture, Jesus’s words, reminds us that we should control our reactions and not venture into spiritual killing in our hearts with our words. Demeaning someone because they aren’t on point or cross into “your lane” by mistake doesn’t deserve your anger; Jesus is very clear about that. I know many Christ-followers who need to listen to this teaching and take it to heart. There is such a thing as righteous anger, and Jesus used it on occasion, but he knew where the line was drawn. We aren’t as righteous as he was, so proceed carefully if you intend to use that as an excuse for bad behavior. Control your reactions, because the punishment of anger could be the same as murder.

January 12, 2026

The Sermon On the Mount: Fulfilling The Law

Jesus didn’t come to destroy the Law of Moses. He was the perfect example; he showed us the way it was supposed to be done. Not only did he say he came to fulfill the law, but he said that until heaven and earth pass away, the law is still in place. He also says that anyone who breaks one of them or teaches people that it’s okay to break them will be least in the kingdom of heaven. Are we to ignore what Jesus said and listen to those who tell us we don’t have to keep the law? Read it for yourself. I copied and pasted the words of the King James Version of the Bible, and these are printed in red, indicating that they are Jesus’s words.

Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them,the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 5:17-19

Though he fulfilled the law, heaven and earth haven’t passed away; we’re still residing here. What am I missing? Not only did he teach us to follow the law, but he made it clear and even stricter. I’m a rule follower, and I know I’ve broken some of them. Knowing the truth of the scripture, I feel even more grateful than ever that he covers my sins and washes them away. Do your best to walk in a manner worthy of our Savior and give the world a good example of a follower of Christ.