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Self-Love: The Antithesis of Christ
Even a cursory perusal of the news, Facebook posts, or Twitter feeds is witness to an abject lack of love in the world. How many of the snarky memes and angry comments build us up or seek the good of our neighbor? They rather seek their own good and go out of their way to tear down anyone of a different political persuasion these days. The lack of respect for others is truly troublesome. Is it any wonder Jesus said of the last days, "And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold." [Mat 24:12 ESV]
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Speak Life
Did you know that one of the best ways to speak life into any situation or heart is to speak truth? Particularly, God's truth. No, I am NOT talking about any word-of-faith-type theological ball of tangled yarn. I am simply saying that if you want to lend light and wisdom to a situation, or encourage someone to walk in faith and godliness, speak God's truth. Jesus said, "It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are Spirit, and they are life." [Jhn 6:63]
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Where is Your Focus?
Do you realize that out of all the children of Israel, only Caleb and Joshua entered the promised land? Their faith was in God, their focus on His strength. The people who grumbled and scared the entire assembly with their bad report had their focus on themselves, their lack, and also on their enemies, their seeming strength. The Israelites' entire focus was based on comparing their own ability against these "giants," instead of the power and faithfulness of Almighty God.
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Simon Says
Most of us have played the game Simon Says (at least if you've ever been a kid). Most psychologists and educators view this game as helpful to a child's development physically, mentally, and socially. But I was just pondering what would occur if we had an evil Simon who, instead of suggesting harmless actions like making a happy face or running in place, gave out more diabolical suggestions, like to hit a classmate or spit on the teacher. The thought then occurred to me that in the life of a Christian, we have an enemy very much like this. I am not so much talking about Satan himself, but the…
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Easy Does It. Or Doesn’t It?
Remember back, oh, fifteen years ago or so, Staples had an ad campaign featuring "The Easy Button?" I've been thinking about it quite a bit lately, wishing I had one to instantly fix any of my struggles and difficult situations that we all face in life. Can y'all relate? My flesh does not like to be challenged by having to roll up my sleeves, dig in, and exert myself. I LIKE easy.
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Remember the Gospel is GOOD News
Back in 1983, I was a junior in high school, and my eclectic musical tastes ranged from hard rock to the likes of Anne Murray's "A Little Good News." This song really spoke to my heart in so many ways because even at the ripe old age of seventeen, listening to the news of foreign wars, the woes of a bad economy, the uptick of robberies, gun crime, and senseless violence--just the constant barrage of bad reports--left me feeling tense and quite dismal. I longed for good news, like Anne mentions, about things like county fairs, children playing, and people truly caring. I guess most good news is not as…
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I Am Not Ashamed
Oh, speak to me not Of a higher being-- Mine has a name, It is Jesus, my King. An unnamed man did not die on the cross Or breathe his last at such high cost. He had a name unlike any other Force, or being, or "neutral" power. An unnamed man did not rise from the dead After they mocked while He suffered and bled... To raise us to Heaven and with Him reign As sons and daughters of the King again!
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He Invites Us to Sit at His Feet
Have you ever noticed that when God breathes, what seems impossible happens? I'm thinking of Adam, the Red Sea closing over Pharaoh's army, the starry host's existence, a valley of dry bones coming to life, and our very lives being sustained. How much more is the power of His God-breathed Word? He Himself says: "For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it…
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Orthodoxy Drift: How Semantics, Euphemisms, & Coined Phrases Influence the Church–Part III
This week, I'm picking up where we left off in the last post and forging ahead to the word "works" and how the semantics behind this word has caused a wide rift between Catholic and Protestant faith traditions and also seems to be shifting to what it was never meant to define, and, therefore, twisting God's truth. As for myself, the tension between Paul and James had left me feeling very confused at one time, because my whole heart was to please the Lord, but it felt like if I "worked," or served the Lord in any way, I would displease Him, and if I did nothing, that would displease…
