Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ. – 1 Corinthians 11:1, KJV It can be either very gratifying or very depressing when we compare ourselves to other people. If we are better off than the next guy, we might think very highly of ourselves. If we are not as well-off… Continue reading What are you using as your measuring stick?
Category: Understanding
Oh, the pain you could avoid if you’d just do things God’s way!
And they slew the sons of Zedekiah before his eyes and put out the eyes of Zedekiah and bound him in double fetters [hands and feet] and carried him to Babylon. – 2 Kings 25:7, Amplified Bible (AMP) While visiting my sister and her family for Christmas, I was reclining on a rather comfy couch… Continue reading Oh, the pain you could avoid if you’d just do things God’s way!
Who has control over God’s work in your life?
Behold…the just shall live by his faith. – Habakkuk 2:4, KJV Many people miss the fact that God’s people of the Old Testament, just like God’s people of the New Testament, were to live their lives by faith. Merriam Webster’s Dictionary defines “faith” as “strong belief or trust in someone or something.”* So, it follows,… Continue reading Who has control over God’s work in your life?
Beware of making an idol out of God.
The heads thereof judge for reward, and the priests thereof teach for hire, and the prophets thereof divine for money: yet will they lean upon the Lord, and say, Is not the Lord among us? none evil can come upon us. – Micah 3:11, KJV We must be wary lest we make an idol out… Continue reading Beware of making an idol out of God.
There’s a time to be a leader, and there’s a time not to be a leader.
He must increase, but I must decrease. [He must grow more prominent; I must grow less so.] – John 3:30, Amplified Bible (AMP) Sometimes, you just have to step aside for the good of the team. There are few things more sad in the sporting world than seeing a once-dominant player stay in the game… Continue reading There’s a time to be a leader, and there’s a time not to be a leader.
God isnt just going to give you heart peace. You’ve got to show Him that you want it.
Let him turn away from wickedness and shun it, and let him do right. Let him search for peace (harmony; undisturbedness from fears, agitating passions, and moral conflicts) and seek it eagerly. [Do not merely desire peaceful relations with God, with your fellowmen, and with yourself, but pursue, go after them!] – 1 Peter 3:11, Amplified Bible… Continue reading God isnt just going to give you heart peace. You’ve got to show Him that you want it.
Beware the trappings of a soup kitchen ministry.
Jesus answered them…you have been searching for Me…because you were fed…and were filled and satisfied. – John 6:26, Amplified Bible (AMP) Nobody knows better than Jesus how effective it can be to reach someone’s soul by first taking care of his/her physical needs. By healing the sick, casting out demons, and feeding the hungry, Chirst opened hearts… Continue reading Beware the trappings of a soup kitchen ministry.
God will hold you accountable for not caring about the souls of others.
…but his blood will I require at your hand. – Ezekiel 3:18, Amplified Bible (AMP) Let’s be brutally honest: most of us don’t believe Jesus’ words in Matthew 28:16-20 really apply to us. Oh, we give lip service to the importance of the Great Commission, and we give a mental nod to the idea that… Continue reading God will hold you accountable for not caring about the souls of others.
Here’s the final step in the process of making good, Bible-based decisions.
And let the peace (soul harmony which comes) from Christ rule (act as umpire continually) in your hearts [deciding and settling with finality all questions that arise in your minds… – Colossians 3:15, Amplified Bible (AMP) You are faced with a decision, and you are at a complete loss as to which path to take.… Continue reading Here’s the final step in the process of making good, Bible-based decisions.
How thankful are you, really?
Enter into His gates with thanksgiving and a thank offering and into His courts with praise! Be thankful and say so to Him, bless and affectionately praise His name! – Psalm 100:4, Amplified Bible (AMP) One recent Wednesday night, I had the privilege of teaching the lesson in our mid-week children’s church program. During the talk,… Continue reading How thankful are you, really?