Measuring our Work

Romans 12.11 commands us to never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically.image

Most men over 40 are pretty committed to working hard. We were raised that way. We remember buying our own school clothes, buying our first car and paying for college. Our parents didn’t have a lot and even if they did they required us to work for what we wanted as well.

Overall I would say we are the better for it. (more…)

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What God Wants From Us

Acts 26.20 simplifies the gospel to the Gentiles: that they should repent and turn to God, performingimage deeds consistent with repentance. So what does God want from us?

The Apostle Paul says three things are expected: repent, turn to God and perform good deeds. This is a much better message than we have heard from the televangelist or the people who knock on our doors with religious information.

The message from the Church to the Gentile over the past 50 or so years has been that God wants people to believe in Him and by believing in Him they will be saved. (more…)

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Our Focus Must Change

Mark 4.19 observes, all too quickly the message is crowded out by the worries of this life, the lure ofimage wealth, and the desire for other things, so no fruit is produced.

The problem in America isn’t God but His people not obeying God. The will of God is for the people of God to love Him first and most resulting in their working for Him to establish His Kingdom on earth as it is in heaven. (more…)

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Obeying God Means Loving People

Matthew 22.39 records God answering the question about which command is most important. Hisimage answer is unbelievable: A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.

Most of us envision God as a bit of an egotist. He wants to be worshiped by everyone, all the time. That’s what we would want if we were God.

While the One True God seeks worshipers, His first desire is to be loved. (more…)

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We Can’t Demand God Prove Himself; He Already Has

Matthew 16.4 observes, only an evil, adulterous generation would demand a miraculous sign, but theimage only sign I will give them is the sign of the prophet Jonah.

People always want God to prove Himself. God always wants people to demonstrate faith in Him. These two demands are in conflict with one another.

No matter what God has done for us its never enough. Yesterday is gone and today there is a new crisis for which we seek God to do something lest we fall away. (more…)

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Christians and Muslims Wage War Differently

Deuteronomy 33.11 asks, bless the ministry of the Levites, O LORD, and accept all the work of their hands. Hit their enemies where it hurts the most; strike down their foes so they never rise again.image

The Bible uses the language of war to describe the brokenness between man and God and man with man. War is necessary sometimes because of our refusal to love one another.

We needed to go to war against Hitler or his maniacal murderous schemes would have destroyed the world. We need to go to war against Islam since it refuses to exist as a religion of peace. Police need to go to war against criminals. (more…)

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Wishing for the End of the World

Revelation 19.10 describes, the essence of prophecy is to give a clear witness for Jesus.image

Too many Christians are hoping for the end of this world as we know it. Everyday we move closer to the end they say. Certainly that is true.

These Christians are weary of life’s difficulties and the rapid increase of godlessness everywhere in the world. I fear the motive is less a desire for Jesus and more of a desire to be done with a life that is less than fulfilling or happy or blessed. Why should God want to end the world? (more…)

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Who is this Jesus?

Isaiah 33.22 describes, the LORD is our judge, our lawgiver, and our king. He will care for us and save imageus.

This is both an apt and succinct description of the Christian God in Jesus Christ the Savior. While penned 1000 years before His arrival in human form, Isaiah saw God, and was commissioned with foretelling His coming as the Messiah or Savior of the world. (more…)

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