Justin Carlton

Oh Come Let Us Adore Him

"Oh, magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together!" Psalm 34.3 "And Mary said, 'My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked on the humble estate…

Psalm 34:3 (ESV), Luke 1:46 (ESV), Luke 1:47 (ESV), Luke 1:48 (ESV), Luke 1:49 (ESV)

Rejoice!

"Rejoice in the Lord evermore, and again I say rejoice!" Paul's exhortation to the Philippians at the conclusion of the epistle is, quite simply, a call to rejoice in all seasons - good, bad, mediocre.…

Philippians 4:1 (ESV), Philippians 4:2 (ESV), Philippians 4:3 (ESV), Philippians 4:4 (ESV), Philippians 4:5 (ESV), Philippians 4:6 (ESV), Philippians 4:7 (ESV), Philippians 4:8 (ESV), Philippians 4:9 (ESV), Philippians 4:10 (ESV), Philippians 4:11 (ESV), Philippians 4:12 (ESV), Philippians 4:13 (ESV), Philippians 4:14 (ESV), Philippians 4:15 (ESV), Philippians 4:16 (ESV), Philippians 4:17 (ESV), Philippians 4:18 (ESV), Philippians 4:19 (ESV), Philippians 4:20 (ESV), Philippians 4:21 (ESV), Philippians 4:22 (ESV), Philippians 4:23 (ESV)

The Fullness of God

Paul's prayer for the Ephesians is completeness as believers. The requests which he lifts in this passage encompass several foundational components which mature believers must possess, but the key element…

Ephesians 3:14 (ESV), Ephesians 3:15 (ESV), Ephesians 3:16 (ESV), Ephesians 3:17 (ESV), Ephesians 3:18 (ESV), Ephesians 3:19 (ESV), Ephesians 3:20 (ESV), Ephesians 3:21 (ESV)

Unity

When asked what was the greatest command, Jesus answered, "Love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength." But He didn't stop with that answer: "...and the second is like it:…

Philippians 2:1 (ESV), Philippians 2:2 (ESV), Philippians 2:3 (ESV), Philippians 2:4 (ESV), Philippians 2:5 (ESV), Philippians 2:6 (ESV), Philippians 2:7 (ESV), Philippians 2:8 (ESV), Philippians 2:9 (ESV), Philippians 2:10 (ESV), Philippians 2:11 (ESV), James 4:1 (ESV), James 4:2 (ESV), James 4:3 (ESV), James 4:4 (ESV), James 4:5 (ESV), James 4:6 (ESV), James 4:7 (ESV), James 4:8 (ESV), James 4:9 (ESV), James 4:10 (ESV), James 4:11 (ESV), James 4:12 (ESV)

Blessed with Every Spiritual Blessing (My Identity in Christ, pt. 2)

Sometimes the old hymns are such clear illustrations of the teachings of Scripture. The Gaither hymn “Family of God” includes the following lines in the first verse: “Joint heirs with Jesus as we travel…

Ephesians 1:1 (ESV), Ephesians 1:2 (ESV), Ephesians 1:3 (ESV), Ephesians 1:4 (ESV), Ephesians 1:5 (ESV), Ephesians 1:6 (ESV), Ephesians 1:7 (ESV), Ephesians 1:8 (ESV), Ephesians 1:9 (ESV), Ephesians 1:10 (ESV), Ephesians 1:11 (ESV), Ephesians 1:12 (ESV), Ephesians 1:13 (ESV), Ephesians 1:14 (ESV), Ephesians 1:15 (ESV), Ephesians 1:16 (ESV), Ephesians 1:17 (ESV), Ephesians 1:18 (ESV), Ephesians 1:19 (ESV), Ephesians 1:20 (ESV), Ephesians 1:21 (ESV), Ephesians 1:22 (ESV), Ephesians 1:23 (ESV)

Armor for Every Situation

Perhaps the most illustrated passage of the New Testament, Ephesians 6 stands as one of the more visible metaphors for spiritual growth. At the core of the armor of God chapter is the presupposition that…

Ephesians 6:10 (ESV), Ephesians 6:11 (ESV), Ephesians 6:12 (ESV), Ephesians 6:13 (ESV), Ephesians 6:14 (ESV), Ephesians 6:15 (ESV), Ephesians 6:16 (ESV), Ephesians 6:17 (ESV), Ephesians 6:18 (ESV), Ephesians 6:19 (ESV), Ephesians 6:20 (ESV)

Simple Faith

In his Daily Readings, Spurgeon wrote, "Take care that thy faith is of the right kind—that it is not a mere belief of doctrine, but a simple faith, depending on Christ, and on Christ alone." American…

Ephesians 5:1 (ESV), Ephesians 5:2 (ESV), Ephesians 5:3 (ESV), Ephesians 5:4 (ESV), Ephesians 5:5 (ESV), Ephesians 5:6 (ESV), Ephesians 5:7 (ESV), Ephesians 5:8 (ESV), Ephesians 5:9 (ESV), Ephesians 5:10 (ESV), Ephesians 5:11 (ESV), Ephesians 5:12 (ESV), Ephesians 5:13 (ESV), Ephesians 5:14 (ESV), Ephesians 5:15 (ESV), Ephesians 5:16 (ESV), Ephesians 5:17 (ESV), Ephesians 5:18 (ESV), Ephesians 5:19 (ESV), Ephesians 5:20 (ESV), Ephesians 5:21 (ESV), James 2:14 (ESV), James 2:15 (ESV), James 2:16 (ESV), James 2:17 (ESV), James 2:18 (ESV), James 2:19 (ESV), James 2:20 (ESV), James 2:21 (ESV), James 2:22 (ESV), James 2:23 (ESV), James 2:24 (ESV), James 2:25 (ESV), James 2:26 (ESV)

Content or Contempt?

Situational living is part of the Christian walk - the daily denial of self in order to meet challenges with patience and joy. As Paul put it to the Philippians, we should be "content in every situation"…

Philippians 4:10 (ESV), Philippians 4:11 (ESV), Philippians 4:12 (ESV), Philippians 4:13 (ESV), Philippians 4:14 (ESV)

My Identity in Christ

Typically, we identify ourselves with those things by which we want to be known - tastes, talents, education, profession, etc. We want to be known by the best possible reputation. As believers in Christ,…

Ephesians 1:1 (ESV), Ephesians 1:2 (ESV), Ephesians 1:3 (ESV), Ephesians 1:4 (ESV), Ephesians 1:5 (ESV), Ephesians 1:6 (ESV), Ephesians 1:7 (ESV), Ephesians 1:8 (ESV), Ephesians 1:9 (ESV), Ephesians 1:10 (ESV), Ephesians 1:11 (ESV), Ephesians 1:12 (ESV), Ephesians 1:13 (ESV), Ephesians 1:14 (ESV)

The Priority of Prayer

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, / and do not lean on your own understanding. / In all your ways acknowledge him, / and he will make straight your paths. / Be not wise in your own eyes; / fear…

The Priority of Ministry

Jesus set the perfect example for the way after which we should model our lives. He came to serve, not to be served (Matt 20.26-28, Luke 22.27), a distinction which speaks not only to His perfect love…

Luke 10:1 (ESV), Luke 10:2 (ESV), Luke 10:3 (ESV), Luke 10:4 (ESV), Luke 10:5 (ESV), Luke 10:6 (ESV), Luke 10:7 (ESV), Luke 10:8 (ESV), Luke 10:9 (ESV), Luke 10:10 (ESV), Luke 10:11 (ESV), Luke 10:12 (ESV), Luke 10:13 (ESV), Luke 10:14 (ESV), Luke 10:15 (ESV), Luke 10:16 (ESV), Luke 10:17 (ESV), Luke 10:18 (ESV), Luke 10:19 (ESV), Luke 10:20 (ESV), Luke 10:21 (ESV), Luke 10:22 (ESV), Luke 10:23 (ESV), Luke 10:24 (ESV), Luke 10:25 (ESV), Luke 10:26 (ESV), Luke 10:27 (ESV), Luke 10:28 (ESV), Luke 10:29 (ESV), Luke 10:30 (ESV), Luke 10:31 (ESV), Luke 10:32 (ESV), Luke 10:33 (ESV), Luke 10:34 (ESV), Luke 10:35 (ESV), Luke 10:36 (ESV), Luke 10:37 (ESV), Luke 10:38 (ESV), Luke 10:39 (ESV), Luke 10:40 (ESV), Luke 10:41 (ESV), Luke 10:42 (ESV), Luke 19:10 (ESV), Colossians 3:12 (ESV), Colossians 3:13 (ESV), Colossians 3:14 (ESV), Colossians 3:15 (ESV), Colossians 3:16 (ESV), Colossians 3:17 (ESV), James 2:17 (ESV), James 2:18 (ESV), James 2:19 (ESV), James 2:20 (ESV), James 2:21 (ESV), James 2:22 (ESV), James 2:23 (ESV), James 2:24 (ESV), James 2:25 (ESV), James 2:26 (ESV)

Greatness

"An argument arose among them as to which of them was the greatest. But Jesus, knowing the reasoning of their hearts, took a child and put him by his side and said to them, 'Whoever receives this child…

Luke 9:46 (ESV), Luke 9:47 (ESV), Luke 9:48 (ESV), Philippians 2:1 (ESV), Philippians 2:2 (ESV), Philippians 2:3 (ESV), Philippians 2:4 (ESV), Philippians 2:5 (ESV), Philippians 2:6 (ESV), Philippians 2:7 (ESV), Philippians 2:8 (ESV), Philippians 2:9 (ESV), Philippians 2:10 (ESV), Philippians 2:11 (ESV)

Treasures of the Heart: Do they incorporate, include, or tolerate the cross?

"And he said to all, 'If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake…

Luke 9:23 (ESV), Luke 9:24 (ESV), Luke 9:25 (ESV), Luke 9:26 (ESV)

Thinking Like Jesus

"But he said to them, 'You give them something to eat.' They said, 'We have no more than five loaves and two fish—unless we are to go and buy food for all these people.'" (Luke 9.13) Our plans do not…

Suffering Is a Cause for Praise

"I waited patiently for the Lord; / he inclined to me and heard my cry. He drew me up from the pit of destruction, / out of the miry bog, / and set my feet upon a rock, / making my steps secure. / He…

Job 1:1 (ESV), Job 1:2 (ESV), Job 1:3 (ESV), Job 1:4 (ESV), Job 1:5 (ESV), Job 1:6 (ESV), Job 1:7 (ESV), Job 1:8 (ESV), Job 1:9 (ESV), Job 1:10 (ESV), Job 1:11 (ESV), Job 1:12 (ESV), Job 1:13 (ESV), Job 1:14 (ESV), Job 1:15 (ESV), Job 1:16 (ESV), Job 1:17 (ESV), Job 1:18 (ESV), Job 1:19 (ESV), Job 1:20 (ESV), Job 1:21 (ESV), Job 1:22 (ESV), Psalm 40:1 (ESV), Psalm 40:2 (ESV), Psalm 40:3 (ESV), Psalm 40:4 (ESV), Psalm 40:5 (ESV), Psalm 40:6 (ESV), Psalm 40:7 (ESV), Psalm 40:8 (ESV), Psalm 40:9 (ESV), Psalm 40:10 (ESV), Psalm 40:11 (ESV), Psalm 40:12 (ESV), Psalm 40:13 (ESV), Psalm 40:14 (ESV), Psalm 40:15 (ESV), Psalm 40:16 (ESV), Psalm 40:17 (ESV), James 1:1 (ESV), James 1:2 (ESV), James 1:3 (ESV), James 1:4 (ESV), James 1:5 (ESV), James 1:6 (ESV), James 1:7 (ESV), James 1:8 (ESV), James 1:9 (ESV), James 1:10 (ESV), James 1:11 (ESV), James 1:12 (ESV), James 1:13 (ESV), James 1:14 (ESV), James 1:15 (ESV), James 1:16 (ESV), James 1:17 (ESV), James 1:18 (ESV), James 1:19 (ESV), James 1:20 (ESV), James 1:21 (ESV), James 1:22 (ESV), James 1:23 (ESV), James 1:24 (ESV), James 1:25 (ESV), James 1:26 (ESV), James 1:27 (ESV)

The Error of "Green" Christian Living

"No one after lighting a lamp covers it with a jar or puts it under a bed, but puts it on a stand, so that those who enter may see the light." (Luke 8.16) Even in the darkest places, the smallest amount…

Degrees of Sin or Degrees of Judgment?

Jesus was accused by the Pharisees of being a drunkard and a glutton (Luke 7.34) for frequently dining with tax collectors and prostitutes. They expected His ministry, if it were real, to take on a form…

Luke 7:31 (ESV), Luke 7:32 (ESV), Luke 7:33 (ESV), Luke 7:34 (ESV), Luke 7:35 (ESV), Luke 7:36 (ESV), Luke 7:37 (ESV), Luke 7:38 (ESV), Luke 7:39 (ESV), Luke 7:40 (ESV), Luke 7:41 (ESV), Luke 7:42 (ESV), Luke 7:43 (ESV), Luke 7:44 (ESV), Luke 7:45 (ESV), Luke 7:46 (ESV), Luke 7:47 (ESV), Luke 7:48 (ESV), Luke 7:49 (ESV), Luke 7:50 (ESV)

Discouragement: The Fruit of Self-Reliance

Everyone gets discouraged. No matter how stern our temperament or firm our resolve, humanity is saturated in failures and disappointments. One moment of weakness, one second of discouragement, and our…

Luke 7:18 (ESV), Luke 7:19 (ESV), Luke 7:20 (ESV), Luke 7:21 (ESV), Luke 7:22 (ESV), Luke 7:23 (ESV)

Love isn't tough ...when they love you in return.

It isn't difficult to love someone who will appreciate your efforts. Love "hopes all things, endures all things," and ultimately "never fails" (1 Cor 13.7, 8). At the point where affection or service…

Luke 6:27 (ESV), Luke 6:28 (ESV), Luke 6:29 (ESV), Luke 6:30 (ESV), Luke 6:31 (ESV), Luke 6:32 (ESV), Luke 6:33 (ESV), Luke 6:34 (ESV), Luke 6:35 (ESV), Luke 6:36 (ESV), Luke 6:43 (ESV), Luke 6:44 (ESV), Luke 6:45 (ESV), 1 John 3:16 (ESV), 1 John 3:17 (ESV)

The Worship Lifestyle

Our existence is not measured by social or fiscal successes, the amount of joy we experience, or even the number of lives we touch. We are not defined by the candor of our existence. Quite to the contrary…

Luke 6:25 (ESV)

The God who forgives does not come in sizes.

We are in danger of worshipping a god whom we create. Though we may know the truth of God's Word, we constantly place our God in a box. We have an unfortunate tendency to compartmentalize the Father,…

Luke 5:24 (ESV), 1 Timothy 2:5 (ESV)

Am I willing to give up what I want for what He requires?

Paul tells us to "make our requests made known to God" (Phil 4.6). James likewise admonishes, "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God" (Jas 1.5). God encourages us to bring or needs, concerns,…

Luke 5:12 (ESV), Luke 5:13 (ESV), Luke 5:14 (ESV), Luke 5:15 (ESV), Romans 8:25 (ESV), Romans 8:26 (ESV), Romans 8:27 (ESV), Philippians 4:4 (ESV), Philippians 4:5 (ESV), Philippians 4:6 (ESV), Hebrews 4:15 (ESV), 1 John 5:13 (ESV), 1 John 5:14 (ESV), 1 John 5:15 (ESV)

His Strength Made Perfect in Our Weakness

God's sovereignty is manifested in our failures as much as our successes. Though we attempt to make the right decisions, we will constantly fail in our endeavors if we do not lean into the strength of…

Isaiah 40:28 (ESV), Isaiah 40:29 (ESV), Isaiah 40:30 (ESV), Isaiah 40:31 (ESV), 1 Timothy 1:16 (ESV), James 1:2 (ESV), James 1:3 (ESV), James 1:4 (ESV)