The Bishop’s Mind: Christian Wisdom, Daily Devotionals & Empowering Messages for Kingdom Living

  Sowing Into the Spirit: Why Shame Is Not the Solution                                                                       "Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life."   Galatians 6:8 (KSB)    In the Kingdom of God, there's a foundational principle that governs how we live, thrive, and experience God's best. Sowing and reaping. This divine law isn't based on wrath, curses, or attacks from the enemy, it's based on the choices we make daily.  Our lives reflect the harvest of our thoughts, words, and actions. The apostle Paul tells us plainly: we can either sow into the flesh our ego, our lower consciousness, our sinful nature or sow into the ...

  Wisdom Is Knowing What to Do "Bear each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ... Each one should carry their own load."   Galatians 6:2, 5 (KSB)    God gives us wisdom. Wisdom is knowing what to do, and the truth is, sometimes we are not sure what that is especially when it comes to helping others or making major decisions. But the Bible gives us a promise: If anyone lacks wisdom, let them ask of God, who gives freely and without reproach. He will give you the clarity you need.  Sometimes the answer comes when we stand still and listen for that still, small voice. Other times, we need to seek wise counsel from spiritual leaders, pray in the Spirit, or journal through our thoughts until direction becomes clear. God's wisdom shows us what is ours to do and what is not.    There is a divine difference between carrying, caring, and casting. Jesus reminds us, “ Take My yoke upon you... for My yoke is easy an...

  The Kingdom Mandate: What It Truly Means to Give God Your All    In Matthew 13:44–46, Jesus gives us two powerful parables about the kingdom of heaven: "The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field."  - Matthew 13:44 "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it."  - Matthew 13:45–46    Jesus didn’t merely preach the gospel of Jesus Christ. He was the gospel of Jesus Christ. His life, ministry, death, resurrection, ascension, and return are all part of that gospel. But what He actively taught and proclaimed was the gospel of the Kingdom, a divine government and realm that demanded total surrender and yielded miraculous transformation.  He traveled from village to village, preaching and teaching abo...

  Where Is the Love?    One of my favorite duets is by Donny Hathaway and Roberta Flack: "Where Is the Love?" It asks, "Where is the love that you said you would give to me?" It's a timeless question and one that’s just as spiritually relevant today.    In Galatians 5 , Paul writes to the churches in Galatia about the contrast between the works of the flesh and the fruit of the Spirit. He helps believers understand how to discern what’s truly of God. And here's the spiritual compass: love is God's signature . "And envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God."   Galatians 5:21 (KSB)    Whatever you do whether it’s cooking a meal or making a major decision ask yourself: "Where is the love?" Is love your motive? Is love present in your tone, your actions, your intentions?  Paul’s letter urges us to determine whether we are operati...

  Let Me Be Spiritual (Galatians 6:1) "Beloved, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritually mature are to restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted."   Galatians 6:1 (KSB)    Galatians 6:1 offers a profound reflection on the true essence of spirituality. Paul draws a direct line between our response to sin and our spiritual maturity. He challenges us to consider how we react when we or others fall short. According to Paul, our spirituality is not only revealed by our righteous acts but also by how we handle failure, faults, and the sin that entangles us or those around us.  When we sin, do we own it, or do we excuse it? Do we confess it and return to God in humility, or do we hide in shame, blame others, or run from His presence? Your response reveals your depth. Do you live in condemnation, or do you receive God’s grace, mercy, and forgiveness? True spirituality is seen not in perfection but in repentance a...

  The Kingdom Mandate "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. When he found one of great value, he went away, sold everything he had, and bought it."  - Matthew 13:45–46 (KSB)    We don’t always get it right the first time. Sometimes we need to try again. Whether it’s a loan, a class, or a job application, setbacks happen. But just as we’re called to be patient with ourselves and others, God is patient with us. Jesus understood this. Remember the blind man He healed twice, first with partial sight, then full clarity. Healing didn't happen the first time; it happened the second time. So must our persistence reflect that divine patience.  In Matthew 13, Jesus shares multiple parables to teach about the Kingdom of Heaven because He knew people wouldn’t always understand on the first go. He repeats, “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like…” to emphasize the need to grasp the message through repetition. Like the man who sold e...