Friendship Primitive Baptist Church

04/01/2026

11/27/2025

03/24/2025

John 2:15-16
When He had made a whip of cords, He drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and the oxen, and poured out the changers' money and overturned the tables. And He said to those who sold doves, "Take these things away! Do not make My Father's house a house of merchandise!"
NKJV

What makes Jesus angry? It is only mentioned a few times in the Gospels. In this scene, the Lord is intervening on behalf of those exploited by money changers and priests. In other places, we see Jesus' anger against those traditions, unbiblical mindsets, and barriers that kept the people from experiencing the Lord's free gift of grace. It doesn't take much to see, even in our day, false teachers who live to exploit the flock of God's people.

What mindsets and behaviors do we engage in that God is seeking to cleanse from our temple as members of the body of Christ? The Lord sees in our lives those things that come before Him, which prevent us from experiencing the fullness of His freedom and joy. He is angry about those things that prevent us from getting the most out of our relationship with Him. The difficulties you are experiencing could be caused by the Lord's caring and correcting hands guiding you. So, for those of us who are His children, He lovingly allows us to be disciplined to free us up to be more purely connected to Him. Be courageous, friend, if the Lord has chosen to turn over a table or two in your life. It's because, as a loving Father, He wants you to have the very best in your relationship with Him.

Life Lesson:
Jesus is not mad at you. He's mad ABOUT YOU. And madly in LOVE WITH YOU.

Lord,
Thank You for taking the time to minister to me and turn over the tables of those things that are not pleasing in Your sight. I know it's because I'm Yours and because You want what is best for me, so You reach out and touch my life in these wonderful ways. Please help me continually receive the best You have for me in my life.
In Jesus' name. Amen.

03/11/2024

1 Peter 1:1
Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To the pilgrims of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,
NKJV

In 1 Peter 1, Peter describes the church at that time as "pilgrims." This could also be translated as "foreigners" or "aliens". The idea is that they are not of this world. In this statement, Peter is affirming an important Truth for all believers. This earth is not our home. When we believe in Jesus for salvation and are born again, we are born into a new nature. We begin thinking & acting differently. While our bodies may be here on earth, our thoughts are on Heaven, where we will one day live. Our bodies are called "tents" because they are temporary dwelling places.
If we are of Heaven, how should we live in this world? The answer is that we live for God. We invest our time, energy, finances, and anything else on earth into eternal things. God wants us to enjoy the blessings of this planet, but we should never hold on to them as if they are all we have. When Heaven is in our view, we can give our lives away without fear because we know that no matter what, Heaven waits for us on the other side.

Life Lesson:
While Christians may live on earth, our home is in Heaven.

Dear God,
Thank You for the hope of Heaven and the promise of an eternity with You. Please help me to remember Heaven is my home so that I can find peace even in difficult times. Lord, please use my time, money, and other resources for the Kingdom of God. Today, I desire to live for eternity.
In Jesus' name. Amen.