Jesus in Every New Testament Book

Because Christ is God’s message to us (Hebrews 1:1-3), different aspects of His character are highlighted in each New Testament book! I compiled the list below from several different non-copyrighted lists.

CHRIST IS:

In Matthew—the fulfillment of all O.T. prophecies 

See Precious Predictions of Christ.

Mark—the miracle worker, the Servant

Luke—the Son of Man Who understands what we feel 

John—the Son of God, the Word

See Make Sure You Know the Passages that Confirm Christ's Deity.

Acts—ascended Lord and giver of the Spirit

Romans—the justifier and the righteousness of God

1 Corinthians—the God of all comfort

See When You Can't Even Pray.

2 Corinthians—our righteousness

Galatians—our Redeemer from the curse

Ephesians—head of the church

Philippians—supplier of our every need

Colossians—the fullness of the Godhead

See There's No Doubt about Christ's Deity.

1,2 Thessalonians—the soon and coming King

1,2 Timothy—the Mediator between God & man

Titus—the truth

Philemon—the benefactor

Hebrews—the blood that covers sins

James—our pattern of faith and Great Physician

1,2 Peter—the Great Shepherd

1,2,3, John—everlasting love

Jude—the foundation of our faith

Revelation—Alpha & Omega, Beginning & End, King of kings and Lord of lords!  The One Who is coming again!

💙 Please check out the Bible Love Notes devotional Wisdom for Life. It  features one-minute devotions from Psalms and Proverbs and is on sale at reduced prices on Lifeway, Amazon, and CBD  

And please sign up for a free email subscription to Bible Love Notes online devotions HERE. 

Images: LaVista Illustrations.

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"Jumpers" – Christians Who Inspire and Scare Us

Some people jump boldly into evangelism! I admire their fervor and willingness to speak up even if they're rejected. I think they should be called "jumpers"!

What I mean by "jumpers" is those who evangelize with Peter-style personalities.

Peter was passionate, impulsive, and bold:

• He jumped out of the boat to join Jesus walking on the water (Matt.14:22-33).
• He jumped up and cut off a man's ear at Christ's arrest (John 18:10).
• He jumped off the boat when he saw the resurrected Christ on shore (John 21:7).
• On the day of Pentecost, it's no surprise he was the first one to jump to his feet and address the crowd (Acts 2). 
  

There are jumpers in the modern church too—wonderful, bold evangelists—passionate and effective. But they aren't the only "real evangelists." 

There were twelve very different apostles, and Peter was only one of them. 

And there are more than twelve ways to share Christ.

There's no use trying to be a jumper if we're not one, but we can't cop out by thinking we don't need to evangelize because the jumpers have got it covered.

Instead, let's ask God to reveal our style of evangelism and begin employing it!

Do you need some inspiration to share Christ? See We Need It: Courage.

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One easy way to participate in sharing Christ is by "liking" the Bible Love Notes Facebook page and liking and sharing the devotions we post. Or you can follow Bible Love Notes on Pinterest and share the devotions on your Pinterest page. If you're a subscriber, why not forward your favorite devotions to friends and encourage them to sign up for a free subscription.

I also encourage you to check out the Wisdom for Life devotional. It contains 100 one-minute devotions to challenge, encourage, instruct, and inspire your love for God's Word. 

It's a great gift for a new or mature Christian. 

Check out the great sales on Lifeway, Amazon, and CBD.

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Remembering the spirit behind 9/11

Have you ever wondered why Christianity is more despised than Islam even though Islam has inspired violence throughout history? 

People try to separate radical groups like Hamas from true Islam, but violence is commanded in the teachings of Allah and violence is represented in the lifestyle of their most revered prophet, Muhammad.*

As we remember "9/11" we need to realize that it is one in a long line of modern Islamic atrocities (see modern examples).

Most Muslims are kind and peaceful people, but the core teachings of Islam are a contradictory mixture of moral teachings interspersed with commands to kill non-Muslims. 

Sadly, peaceful Muslims are rarely willing to acknowledge the intolerance and violence in Islamic theology (source). 

But the evidence is clear: for example, the Qur’an commands Muslims to fight “the People of the Book” (i.e. Christians) and kill them if they don’t convert (Q 9:29-30). For more violent passages from the Qur’an, see Islam Is a Religion of Violence.

Violence is also present in Muslim teachings on marriage. The Qur’an allows men to beat their wives into submission (Q 4:34 Hilali-Khan), and female genital mutilation is a common practice in Muslim cultures. 

Christians are constantly discredited for our belief in biblical submission, but we rarely hear anyone discredit these Muslim attitudes toward women.

Why?

 

Because Satan creates false religions and controls the minds of unbelievers (John 10:10; 2 Corinthians 4:4), causing them to hate the true and loving God and protect and exalt false gods.

As we remember the tragedy of 9/11, let's:

✔ Pray for the salvation of Muslims. 

✔ Pray that people would quit sugar-coating the evil of Islamic teachings.

✔ Pray for former Muslims who've followed Christ and now face rejection, violence, and sometimes murder by their own family members (one example). 

See Divine Appointment in Timbuktu and Facing Family. 

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* See a list of those killed by Muhammad.

Are you aware that hundreds of French churches are being “quietly burned or damaged—in deliberate attacks.… Judging by the graffiti left behind in these attacks, a mix of ideologies appear to be behind them, ranging from those of anarchists, militant secularists, and radical Muslims, to even that of a small contingent of self-proclaimed Satanists” (source). Some of these churches were hundreds of years old, having survived multiple wars, but anti-Christian hatred has destroyed them.

Are you aware that Europe is being overwhelmed by a problem with rape, largely due to Muslim migrants, but officials hide the nationalities involved fearing charges of racism? For example, in Rotherham, England, 1400 girls were raped and trafficked by Pakistani Muslim gangs (source, 2023, source, 2024, BBC, 2024). I offer these three resources because you will find sources on the internet that deny that these rapes involved particular ethnic groups.

See also The Influx of Immigrants into Europe and the Increase in Sexual Violence, the review of a book written by a woman who was raised Muslim and now advocates for women's rights, exposing the mistreatment she received as a Muslim woman before escaping from her family. Or listen to her 5-minute video on YouTube: Is Islam a Religion of Peace.

People fear calling Islam to account because they fear revenge. But they have no fear of discrediting Christianity because we are taught to love our enemies, not kill them. 

✔ If someone claims Christianity is violent based on Old Testament wars, respond with the truths in this one-minute devotion: Were Old Testament Wars the Same as Muslim Jihad?

✔ If someone claims Christians are violent based on the Crusades, respond with the truths in this one-minute devotion: Half-Truths about the Crusades. 

✔ If someone claims that Muslims believe Jesus was a prophet, respond with the truths in this one-minute devotion: Why Muslims Can't Believe Jesus was a Prophet. 

It is difficult to find accurate information about the origins and legacy of Islam because Satan has blinded the minds of unbelievers (2 Corinthians 4:4). The internet is filled with more pro-Muslim propaganda than with accurate information. But Christians should be aware that the core teachings of Islam are a contradictory mixture of moral teachings interspersed with teachings promoting violence. And their most revered prophet Muhammad was a man of violence.

Besides the resources linked in this article, I also used the book, MUSLIM: What You Need to Know About the World’s Fastest Growing Religion, by Hank Hanegraaff, Thomas Nelson, 2017.

💙 Please check out The Bible Love Notes devotional Wisdom for Life. It  features 1-minute devotions from Psalms and Proverbs and is on sale at reduced prices on Lifeway, Amazon, and CBD  

And please sign up for a free email subscription to Bible Love Notes online devotions HERE. 

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At Every Age and Every Stage, Christ Offers Us Adventure!

If you've been reading Bible Love Notes for a while, you know that I moved about twenty times before I was married and about twenty times afterward. 

Recently, as my husband and I prepared for yet another major move, we admitted that our nomadic lifestyle has been difficult. For example, we have some wonderful longtime friends, but locally we're always the “new kids on the block,” not “fitting in,” always learning how to navigate a new location. 

In addition, as we've aged, each move has been more physically challenging. 

We can identify with Paul in 1 Corinthians 5 where he says we “groan” in our earthly bodies, looking forward to our heavenly home. But as long as we have breath, “Christ’s love compels us” to share the gospel.

Despite our lifestyle challenges, we've felt God's leading with each move. And we've thoroughly enjoyed the adventures.

Whether you've lived in the same town your whole life or been on the move like we have, I hope you realize that life in Christ is a challenging but wonderful adventure.

Why not take some time today to acknowledge the adventures God has brought you through, and ask Him to make you alert to any new adventures He has in store.

We never retire from our faith because we are meant to bear fruit at every age and stage of life, proclaiming the glory of our Lord (Psalm 92:12-15).  

So let's do it!!

To read about a similar devotion I wrote almost twelve years ago, see As Long as I Have Breath. And I also think you'll enjoy the additional insights in Aliens and Strangers.

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Special prayer request: After three great years ministering to the military families on Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas, God is moving us on again. We will be spending the next six weeks in Budapest, Hungary, where we lived from 2005–2010 doing ministry. We hope to reconnect with friends, and I plan to dedicate time to a special project I'll be announcing soon. 

Bible Love Notes won't skip a beat—we'll keep publishing devotions while we're in Hungary. During this time we also hope to get clarity about our next move, which we're hoping is our final home here on Earth! Please pray for us as this move has been challenging in many ways. 

It was preceded by two eye surgeries and some serious health concerns that proved to be false alarms. But that added stress to our already demanding schedule, and at our ages (73 and 74), these moves are already physically exhausting. 

We are so grateful for the friends who helped us, especially Chris and Amy!

There's never a dull moment in Christ! 😊Thanks for your prayers!!

💙 Please check out The Bible Love Notes devotional Wisdom for Life. It  features 1-minute devotions from Psalms and Proverbs and is on sale at reduced prices on Lifeway, Amazon, and CBD  

And please sign up for a free email subscription to Bible Love Notes online devotions HERE. 

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"Grammy, I Don't Love You Anymore"

We were on furlough from Budapest in 2006, and my first granddaughter Emma was three years old. Because I saw her so rarely, I couldn’t resist buying her little presents whenever we went out.

One evening Emma went to the grocery store with me, and she started asking me to buy her treats. But since it was close to supper, I kept saying "no."

Finally, she looked up at me and said, “I don’t love you, Grammy, cause you won’t buy me anything.” 

I bent down to her level, looked her in the eye, and said, “Emma, Grammy loves you even when I say no to you.” 

Emma was silent for the next few aisles. Then she tugged on my hand and said, “I love you, too, Grammy.” 

This situation reflects my relationship with God at times.

Sometimes I’m like a child who doesn’t know what’s best for her. I fail to grasp the truth that everything God gives and everything He withholds is motivated by His deep love for me and His wisdom and knowledge of the big picture of my life.

It's easy to thank God for His many blessings, but it's just as important to thank Him for what He withholds.

But most of all, we should thank Him for bending down to tell us He always loves us, even when He says no to something we want.

Today let's tug at God's hand and tell Him that we also love Him.

“Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.” 1 Thessalonians 5:18

💙 Please check out the Bible Love Notes devotional Wisdom for Life. It features one-minute devotions from Psalms and Proverbs and is on sale at reduced prices on Lifeway, Amazon, and CBD.  

And please sign up for a free email subscription to Bible Love Notes online devotions HERE. 

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The Mary & Martha Collection

Once each month we are sending subscribers a different collection of devotions to read on weekends or whenever you have a few extra minutes. Enjoy!

These 1-minute devotions address the important truths found in the Bible stories about Mary and Martha.

Did Mary and Martha Simply Have Different Personalities
This 1-minute devotion discusses the fact that it wasn't simply a difference in personalities that led Christ to compare Mary and Martha.

Extravagant Love
Don't miss this 1-minute devotion. It will inspire you with a look at extravagant love.

Give Your Agenda to the Lord – Luke 10:38-42
Are you too busy like Martha? This 1-minute devotion offers 3 ways to give up our agenda and sit at Christ's feet.

Martha Was Distracted But Mary Sat At Jesus’ Feet – Luke 10:38-42
The story of Mary and Martha gives us important principles about our attitude and priorities.

The Most Important Thing

Jesus made it very clear that He wasn't interested in fancy meals as much as in this one "necessary" thing. 

Why People Oppose Extravagant Love

Sometimes an argument sounds logical, but we need to be careful not to let it stop us from showing extravagant love for Christ.

💙 Please check out The Bible Love Notes devotional Wisdom for Life. It  features 1-minute devotions from Psalms and Proverbs and is on sale at reduced prices on Lifeway, Amazon, and CBD  

And please sign up for a free email subscription to Bible Love Notes online devotions HERE. 

An Old Blue Book and the Best Book in History

Years ago, I bought The Beautiful Tree of Life in a used bookstore in Budapest. I couldn’t resist the beautiful illustrations and 1891 copyright. 

I used it for six years as a mantle decoration but never read it. Then one morning, I woke up sad and discouraged. As I sat praying, my eyes were drawn to The Beautiful Tree of Life sitting on my mantle. 

Picking it up, I noticed one of its pages was marked with a small scrap of paper. Opening it, I read: 

“God Makes No Mistakes. If God sends you tribulation…you can be patient under it because you know God means the best for you.… In that comforting twelfth chapter of the Epistle of the Hebrews, we are specially assured that God makes no mistakes in the chastening tribulation which he sends to us.… It shall work out the peaceable fruit of righteousness.” (See note below.)

Tears rolled down my cheeks when I read this “word from the Lord” specifically for me at that moment of my day…that moment of my life. 

A book more than a century old somehow ended up in a Hungarian used bookstore in the early 2000s. I bought it because of its charming illustrations. A marked page went unnoticed for six years until the morning when I needed encouragement from God. 

This was an unusual morning in one sense, but not in another because every morning God speaks to me through my absolute favorite book, His Word (2 Timothy 3:16-17). 

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Note: The author of this book said God “sends” tribulation, which God sometimes does as part of His fatherly discipline. But many difficulties in our lives are things that God “allows” but does not send. Why do I make this distinction? Because some of our tribulation is caused by the sins of others or simply by our fallen world. See John 16:33 and Hebrews 12:1-13.

If you’d like to read the longer devotion I wrote about this situation ten years ago right after it happened, please see The Blue Book. It contains many of the illustrations from the book as well. 

💙 Please check out the Bible Love Notes book Wisdom for Life. It features one-minute devotions from Psalms and Proverbs and is on sale at great prices on Lifeway, Amazon, and CBD.  

And as always you can sign up for a free email subscription to Bible Love Notes online devotions HERE. 

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A Behind-the-Scenes Christian Who Sacrificially Served the Gospel

 
Miss Wetherford was superintendent of a girls' school in the late 1800's. When she heard of Rowland Bingham's mission work in Africa, she told him she had once offered herself for mission work but her church turned her down. 

“Since that time, I have been living for missions,” she said. 

Wetherford had saved everything she earned beyond what she needed for her bare necessities. And she'd also saved a small inheritance she'd received. 

When she gave it all to Bingham, he told her he couldn't take her last dollar. What if she had needs? 

“But what else can I do with it, Mr. Bingham? I feel God has earmarked it for you, so I cannot keep it for myself, can I?”  

Sometimes we underestimate the faith of “behind-the-scenes” Christians like this woman. She served the Lord sacrificially, and her words speak across the centuries, convicting us to examine our own hearts for the lost.

“Then Jesus explained: ‘My nourishment comes from doing the will of God, who sent me, and from finishing his work. You know the saying, “Four months between planting and harvest.” But I say, wake up and look around. The fields are already ripe for harvest. The harvesters are paid good wages, and the fruit they harvest is people brought to eternal life. What joy awaits both the planter and the harvester alike!’” John 4:34-36 

Let's make sure we are doing whatever God calls us to do, being willing to sacrifice time and resources for the harvest of souls.

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Read more about Rowland Bingham: Did They Die for No Reason? And read of another woman like Miss Wetherford: In God's Economy, Sometimes Less Is More.

This is a true story from Rowland Bingham, Into Africa's Interior by Janet and Geoff Benge

💙 Please check out The Bible Love Notes devotional Wisdom for Life. It  features 1-minute devotions from Psalms and Proverbs and is on sale at reduced prices on Lifeway, Amazon, and CBD  

And please sign up for a free email subscription to Bible Love Notes online devotions HERE. 

 

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I'm Not Listening

Today I'm sharing a devotion from my book Wisdom for Life. I hope you enjoy it!!

 

I was sitting in a coffee shop, studying Psalm 66, trying to grasp the meaning of verse 18: “If I had been aware of malice [sin, iniquity, wickedness] in my heart, the Lord would not have listened.” 

 

How can an omniscient, omnipresent God stop listening? 

 

Just then, a mother and her small daughter sat down at the table next to mine. You could tell they loved each other as the little girl climbed into her mother’s lap and began eating a large muffin. 

 

“Don’t take such big bites,” her mother warned. “You’ll make yourself sick.” 

 

The child glanced at her mom defiantly and stuffed the rest of the muffin into her small mouth. 

 

“Time out,” her mom said, moving her from her lap to the chair across from her. “You didn’t listen to me. You need to think about what you’ve done.” 

 

With a mouth full of muffin, the child began protesting. 

 

“I’m not listening,” her mother said calmly. 

 

Aha! I thought. That’s the meaning of verse 18. When we defy God, He puts us in a type of “time out” so we can consider what we’ve done and repent. 

 

He still loves us, but He stops “listening” to our excuses until we are ready to give up our rebellion and climb back into His lap. 

 

The psalmist understood the importance of confession, and that’s why he proclaimed, “God has listened; he has paid attention to the sound of my prayer. Blessed be God! He has not turned away my prayer or turned his faithful love from me” (vv. 19–20). 

 

For Further Thought 

How do 1 John 1:8–10; John 9:31; and James 4:3 reinforce this truth in Psalm 66:18?

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This is one of the 100 devotions in the Wisdom for Life devotional which I'm able to share to give my readers an idea of what to expect if they buy the book. If you want to read the story behind Wisdom for Life, you'll find it HERE. You might also like to read 10 Reasons You'll Love Wisdom for Life.

💙 In addition, it's a great time to purchase Wisdom for Life because you'll find some great sales on Lifeway, Amazon, and CBD.  I think you'll agree that it's a beautiful hardcover devotional priced lower than most paperbacks.

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Do We Really Think that Some People Are Without Hope of Salvation?

This Bible Love Note is a bit longer than the normal one minute. It will take you two to three minutes to read, but I think you'll find it helpful.

Hell is a difficult concept for people to grasp, and this is a question that often comes up: 

Some people are raised in pagan cultures where the gospel is never preached. They will never have the opportunity to trust Christ, so how could a good God send them to hell? 

My first response is this: Does this ever happen? 

God is, after all, in the business of miracles. Do we really think someone raised in a Muslim or Hindu country is beyond His reach?

I have a case in point—Rahab (Joshua 2-6).

Rahab was raised in a thoroughly evil city surrounded by the worship of false gods. There were no people of God in her city. Nor was she a rich woman who could study religion and history. She was a working woman, a prostitute, constantly surrounded by immorality.

What hope did she have?

She had this hope:

God loves mankind and wants everyone to be saved from hell. He doesn't promise that all will be saved but He certainly responds to true seekers (1 Timothy 2:3-4; Jeremiah 29:13).

Therefore, He puts clues to His existence everywhere:

✔ He puts a sense of right and wrong in everyone's heart (Romans 2:14-15).
✔ He reveals His divine character in creation. Every human being who looks at the beauty and design of nature knows there is a God (Romans 1:20).
✔ He reveals His power in other ways. In Rahab’s case, God made sure the people of Jericho heard about His power in the Red Sea miracle (Joshua 2:10).

Despite these loving messages sent to each man and woman on earth, most people refuse God’s invitation. But Scripture says those who refuse are "without excuse" (Romans 1:18-20). 

 

See Narrow Road Scenery.

No one in Jericho listened to God's voice except Rahab. But God refused to destroy the city until He rescued this one true seeker. He guided two Israelite spies to her door, and she made an incredible statement of faith (Joshua 2:10-11). This shouldn’t surprise us—God assures us that true seekers will find Him (Matthew 7:7-11), and Rahab was obviously a true seeker.

The Israelite spies thought they were on a fact-finding mission, but they were on a soul-finding mission when they sneaked into Jericho. What information did they need in Jericho anyway? They destroyed it miraculously by marching around the city walls and shouting (Joshua 6)!

 

See The Scarlet Cord.

God is interested in every individual—so interested that He will change the course of history to save a single prostitute. So why do we think thousands of people are dying without a chance to know Him?

Perhaps we have too high an opinion of man, assuming that everyone who hears God’s voice will answer. But we have a Bible full of proof and world history to confirm that man is more likely to reject the wonderful love of God than receive it.

Instead of challenging the concept of hell, perhaps we need to challenge our high view of man and our small view of God!

💙 Please check out the Bible Love Notes devotional Wisdom for Life. It features one-minute devotions from Psalms and Proverbs and is on sale at reduced prices on Lifeway, Amazon, and CBD.  

And please sign up for a free email subscription to Bible Love Notes online devotions HERE. 

 

 
 

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