Temptations!

For Wednesday, April 15, 2026:

Luke 4:1b-2a NLT: “Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, where he was tempted by the devil for forty days.”

This was a major event in Jesus’ life. He must have talked about it, retold the story many times. He had not yet called the 12, and yet they write about it.

It’s the classic battle between good and evil. Satan’s goal is to derail anything God is for. Truth and honesty are prime targets. Lust and greed are high on Satan’s list. He offers authority and influence, worthless because Jesus already has those traits. In the end, Jesus refuses each of Satan’s offers, countering with scripture: “You shall not tempt the Lord your God.”

Satan should have just given up. Was God’s Son ever going to oppose his Father? I think not! And yet Satan has to try. It’s in his job description! Jesus refuses Satan’s offers, and that fits his job description. Our job as Christians is to do what Jesus did. Be nice, be kind, love our neighbors, and most of all love the Lord and all that he stands for!

Many temptations will confront us in this life, and our job is to reject Satan and side with Jesus. He was heaven-sent to deal with mankind’s sin issues. He carried away our sins, leaving believers unblemished, spotless in God’s eyes, and eligible for residence in God’s eternal heavenly Kingdom!

Keep your eyes on the prize!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

The Father’s House

Truth and Freedom Church

Move that Mounain!

For Sunday, April 12, 2026:

Mark 11:22-23 NLT: Then Jesus said to the disciples, “Have faith in God. I tell you the truth, you can say to this mountain, ‘May you be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ and it will happen. But you must really believe it will happen and have no doubt in your heart.”

All believers have supernatural powers. Most never use them. The question becomes one of motivation. Why do we want to move the mountain into the sea? What is the purpose? Perhaps it’s a metaphor for other things.

We are called to heal the sick. Stopping the growth of cancer might be the mountain we’re sent to move. Raising the dead would certainly qualify, but we can’t override God’s decision to call a person home. Many Christians have never seen a demon, but if you have, it’s scary. Not casting them out would not be an option. Getting that job done would be monumental.

Jesus told us to love the Lord and love our neighbors. Loving your neighbor might involve moving a mountain. We should do whatever is needed to make their lives better. Then, because we’re following Jesus’ instructions, our lives will be better!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

The Father’s House

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Truth & Freedom Church

Compassion!

For Wednesday, January 14, 2026:

Hebrews 13:2 NLT: “Don’t forget to show hospitality to strangers, for some who have done this have entertained angels without realizing it!”

How we live our lives on earth is (among other things) a test of our compassion. I hope everyone reading this gets at least 50% on this test. 80 or 90% would be better. Only Jesus scores 100%!

Most of the civil laws and rules to which we conform are manmade laws, not God’s laws. Other than God giving the Promised Land to His Chosen People, I don’t believe he drew any lines on a map. We’re all citizens of planet Earth, and our Creator wants us all to get along. Historically, mankind hasn’t been very good at it!

Jesus said we should love the Lord and love our neighbors. God is always first. Our neighbors could be next door, in our city, state or country, or the country across the ocean. God created a lot of people to populate the planet!

Even when a man-made law is violated, we need to remember that the perpetrator is still one of God’s creations. The ones who appear wrong to us were still made in God’s image, and should be treated with love, kindness and respect.

I remember a scene from a movie. As a couple of religious types walked down the street, they encountered a falling-down drunk begging for food. His clothes were torn, he was dirty, and intoxicated beyond belief. One of the religious leaders commented as they passed, “That man is a disgrace. He needs to get his life together.”

The other replied, “Perhaps the Lord’s testing your compassion!” Guilty!

Dear Lord, please give us more compassion than criticism, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Pastor Norton Lawellin

The Father’s House

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Truth & Freedom Church

Love!

For Tuesday, November 18, 2025:

John 15:12 NLT, Jesus speaking: “This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you.”

Jesus didn’t issue a lot of commandments. He mainly did the right things for the right reasons, honoring God the Father and respecting his fellows. If we simply do what Jesus did – imitate his behavior – we’d all be on the right track.

Many Christians, especially those fluent in theological detail, can over-complicate things. Jesus told us to love God and love our neighbors, which was restating Old Testament principles. Nothing new there. Since Jesus took away our sins, making it possible for us to spend the hereafter in God’s presence, he told us to share this Good News with others. In fact, make them into disciples. Coach others until they’re all-in believers!

As a teenager, I told my pastor, “I think being a Christian is all about love.” He told me that it’s way more complicated than that. I still think I was right!

So be nice, be kind, be helpful, step up if you can lighten someone else’s burden. Look for the next right thing to do. I used to see little bracelets with the letters WWJD reminding us to ask, “What would Jesus do?” Still a good plan. If you do what Jesus did, you won’t be wrong!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

The Father’s House

Truth and Freedom Church

Second Coming!

For Sunday, November 2, 2025:

Luke 21:25 NLT: “Everyone will see the Son of Man (Jesus) coming on a cloud with power and great glory.”

Jesus is referring to the end times scenario. His arrival will not be a secret – everyone on earth will know. This will be a time of great joy for believers and immense fear for those who rejected the Son. In an instant, the world will recognize Jesus as being God’s Son, and our decision to believe will be confirmed.

Up to this point, what believers have is a promise of salvation. But Jesus says that when we see these signs, “Stand and look up, for your salvation is near!” Excited yet? What has been prophesied will occur right before your eyes! If you’re a believer, Jesus has already put your name on a room in heaven. Everything’s ready.

And isn’t that our goal, to live in harmony with our Creator? We are to love the Lord and love our neighbors. That’s why we share this Good News with everyone. God says, “The more, the merrier!” (or something like that!) God’s desire is that everyone would repent and return. He really wants everyone to join him in the hereafter.

So friends, accept Jesus’ invitation. Reject all wickedness. Kick Satan out of your life. Send his demons down the road. I don’t care where they land – they can go into pigs for all I care. (That’s what Jesus did!) Keep your eyes on the light; keep your eyes on the prize – eternity in the presence of the Lord! Hope to see you there!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Presence of Jesus!

For Saturday, August 30, 2025:

Mark 14:7 NLT, Jesus speaking: “You will always have the poor among you, and you can help them whenever you want to. But you will not always have me.”

Jesus knew his time on our planet was limited. And his point is that if you have the opportunity to speak with the Son of God, or perhaps sit down and take a meal with him, to always exploit that event. You may never get another chance.

Remember when Martha remained in the kitchen while her sister Mary sat at the feet of Jesus. If the Master is teaching, you’d better take a chair and listen!

In fact we all need to be intentional about learning. Knowledge about God, Jesus, heaven and the Kingdom is gained bit by bit. So we all need to read our Bibles, listen to sermons, and fact-check the sermon against what the Bible says. Truth is God’s opinion on everything!

We are to love the Lord and love our neighbors, but loving our neighbors never takes precedence over loving the Lord!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship