“I am on trial for the hope and resurrection of the dead!” Acts 23:6
What do you believe so strongly that you would be willing to die for? I asked myself this question years ago as a young pastor…
Footprints
"Set up for yourself roadmarks, Place for yourself guideposts; Direct your mind to the highway, The way by which you went" Jeremiah 31:21.
In a book I’m currently reading, the author recounts a time he was hiking over fresh snow. He observed the various animal footprints, but then noticed human footprints. It soon became apparent that these were his footprints; he had been traveling in circles. Without a map or compass, he became disoriented.
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All One in Christ Jesus
"For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's descendants, heirs according to promise" Galatians 3:26-29.
Few passages have more significance and application than these verses, so let’s unpack them.
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What Does The Lord Require Of You?
"He has told you, O man, what is good; And what does the LORD require of you But to do justice, to love kindness, And to walk humbly with your God?" Micah 6:8.
It’s an answer in the form of a question, much like a popular television game show. God reminds His people of what He previously stated as to what is good, and they are three succinct requirements.
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I Ate Them
"Your words were found and I ate them, And Your words became for me a joy and the delight of my heart; For I have been called by Your name, O Yahweh God of hosts" Jeremiah 15:16.
This verse seems especially appropriate to consider this Thanksgiving weekend. Most of us have indulged, and probably overindulged, in a sumptuous feast. We likely found great pleasure in all that we consumed.
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Hold Firm
Emptying Yourself
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Many have viewed these verses largely from a doctrinal and theological perspective. The previous verse qualifies how we should view them: “Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus” Philippians 2:5. As He was in the form of God, so are we. As He did not count equality with God something to be grasped, neither should we. As He emptied Himself to take on the form of a servant, so should we. We too, in our human form, are called to radical obedience.
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Bless The LORD, O My Soul
The Psalmist offers us specific reasons for gratitude. Yahweh, our Father, pardons, heals, redeems, crowns, and satisfies. Our great need for redemption and restoration is that which He richly supplies. Not only that, He goes so far as to "crown" us with lovingkindness and compassion, and satisfy us with good things all our years. In essence …
Be On Alert
"And He came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, ‘So, you men could not keep watch with Me for one hour? Keep watching and praying that you may not enter into temptation; the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak’" Matthew 26:40-41.
The true test of character is in the critical times. Moments of crisis and challenge are when we are most tempted to compromise values and beliefs.
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The Water Will Flow
The Implications of Living in God’s Love pt. 3
The Implications of Living in God’s Love pt. 2
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There is an expression you may have heard that goes something like "the apple doesn't fall far from the tree", which is usually used to mean that a son is quite like their father in one or many ways. Sometimes it is used to praise someone who has shown virtue, other times it is used to lament how vices are handed down like heirlooms no one wants. John, similarly, calls those who have virtue from living in the love of God, children of God.
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Light & Darkness
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Light and dark have often been used metaphorically to distinguish between two diametrically opposed entities, such as good and evil. Sometimes, they are used to show a balance of two necessary things (i.e., yin and yang in Chinese philosophy). In the case of John's first letter, however, it is a dividing line that cannot be crossed. If you love God, who is light, you cannot love the world, which is in darkness.
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His Lovingkindness
A Proverb a Day Keeps the Folly at Bay #3
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(Proverbs 18:11, ESV) says that "[a] rich man's wealth is his strong city, and like a high wall in his imagination." On the surface, Solomon seems to suggest that a person who has gained wealth has put themselves in a good position–setting themselves up for a life free from worry. But is this what Solomon was getting at and is this how we should view wealth?
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A Proverb a Day Keeps the Folly at Bay #2
A Proverb a Day Keeps the Folly at Bay
The Good, the Bad, and The Humble
Figurative Rather Than Literal Mountains
"Truly I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, `Be taken up and cast into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says is going to happen, it will be granted him. Therefore I say to you, all things for which you pray and ask, believe that you have received them, and they will be granted you. Whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father who is in heaven will also forgive you your transgressions." Mark 11:23-25.
If faith can move mountains, the landscape should appear differently….
Grow Up ... & Become Like A Child
"Truly I say to you, unless you are converted and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever then humbles himself as this child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven" Matthew 18:3-4.
The priority is not immaturity, but teachability. It is no coincidence that an account of an unteachable rich young man is recorded in the next chapter…