Matthew 4:17 tells us, “From that time Jesus began to preach and say, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.’” That last phrase—“is at hand”—comes from a single Greek word, eggizó, which means to draw near. In Hebrews 7:19 and James 4:8, it carries the same weight: Come close. Step into fellowship. Enter into communion with God Himself. This is stunning! God isn’t merely gathering subjects— He’s inviting people to be His family! In Matthew 4:17, Jesus is announcing that the Father has set His plan in motion—calling men and women whose humbled, repentant hearts are ready to come close, to know Him deeply, and to trust His Son enough to let Him reign over their lives. And in that surrender, God promises something extraordinary: His protection, His guidance, and the very best ... Read More about The Kingdom of Heaven: The Best News You’ll Hear Today
When Life Falls Apart: The Ruth-Shaped Path Back to Blessing
The Book of Ruth has stirred my heart today in a way I didn’t expect! It’s a quick read—only four chapters—but its message has richly blessed my soul. It starts with Elimelech of Bethlehem, who decides to flee from the judgment of God on Israel during the time of the judges. Famine had come, which God promised would not fall on Israel unless they broke faith with Him—which they had. Faced with scarcity of food, instead of repenting and crying out to God as he should, Elimelech left his relatives, friends, and the land he inherited, and ran away to Moab, a people God had cursed (Deuteronomy 23:3), simply because he thought life would be better there—even though it was outside of God’s will. He took his wife, Naomi, and his two sons, who married Moabite (not Jewish) women. As the ... Read More about When Life Falls Apart: The Ruth-Shaped Path Back to Blessing
WHEN GOD’S WILL BECOMES OUR REFUGE
Matthew 4:7 — “Jesus said to him, ‘On the other hand, it is written, “You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.”’” The temptation intensifies. Satan has been granted permission to confront Jesus, and he doesn’t waste a moment. Now he drags the King to the highest point of the temple—a place where all of Jerusalem could witness whatever happens next. And then comes the shocking twist: Satan quotes Scripture! He uses God’s own promises of protection as a weapon, urging Jesus to leap from the temple roof. If Jesus jumps, God must save Him… right? It’s a temptation wrapped in religious language, all designed to lure Jesus into gaining instant fame—crowds, applause, a massive following—without ever going to the cross. But the real target is deeper. Satan is suggesting that ... Read More about WHEN GOD’S WILL BECOMES OUR REFUGE
The Will of God is our Greatest Treasure
Matthew paints a stunning picture in chapter4:2–4: “After fasting forty days and forty nights, He became hungry. And the tempter came and said, ‘If You are the Son of God, command these stones to become bread.’ But He answered, ‘It is written: Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” In this moment, Jesus—our King—steps into the wilderness to show us what life in the Kingdom really looks like. It's amazing that the enemy is allowed to strike at Him just as he strikes at us. And what is the temptation? Not something obviously wicked. Not something scandalous. It’s simply this: Do your own will. Take matters into your own hands. Stop waiting on the Father. You're hungry...make bread! Turning stones into bread was not sinful. Jesus would ... Read More about The Will of God is our Greatest Treasure
If Your Faith Hasn’t Changed You… Has It Really Saved You?
Matthew 3:7–8 — “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? Produce fruit in keeping with repentance.” The kingdom of heaven isn’t a place for spiritual pretenders. It’s a place where lives are transformed—from the inside out. God’s desire isn’t to polish up the old you; He wants to remake you into the likeness of Jesus. Think about that. New thoughts. New desires. New direction. Because the unmistakable proof of genuine faith is one thing: CHANGE. That’s why John the Baptist didn’t celebrate when the Pharisees and Sadducees showed up for baptism. He didn’t applaud their religious appearance. He exposed their empty motives. They wanted a religious merit badge… not a spiritual breakthrough. God wants to reshape our thinking until we carry the mind of ... Read More about If Your Faith Hasn’t Changed You… Has It Really Saved You?
Walking with Jesus: Stepping into the River
Matthew 3:5–6 “Then Jerusalem was going out to him, and all Judea, and all the district around the Jordan; and they were being baptized by him in the Jordan River, as they confessed their sins.” Picture it—crowds from every direction streaming toward the Jordan. Men, women, families—all stirred by the voice crying out in the wilderness. John’s message was simple, yet piercing: “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” And the people believed him. They longed to be part of what God was about to do. So, they came, confessing their sins, stepping into the muddy waters, letting John lower them beneath the surface as a sign that their hearts were turning toward God. But here’s the fascinating part: they weren’t actually entering the kingdom yet. Jesus would later say the kingdom ... Read More about Walking with Jesus: Stepping into the River