What True Believers Look Like

1 John 2.2-6 observes, here’s how we can be sure that we know God in the right way: Keep his commandments. If someone claims, “I know him well!” but doesn’t keep his commandments, he’s obviously a liar. His life doesn’t match his words. But the one who keeps God’s word is the person in whom we see God’s mature love. This is the only way to be sure we’re in God. Anyone who claims to be intimate with God ought to live the same kind of life Jesus lived.

Who are the people who truly know and belong to the One true God? They are easy to identify. (more…)

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Pursuing Success is Our Nature

1 Chronicles 22.12-13 promises, that’s what will make you successful, following the directions and doing the things that GOD commanded Moses for Israel. Courage! Take charge! Don’t be timid; don’t hold back.

Everyone wants success, or at least the results of success. Fame and fortune, that’s the goal of all humanity. Success is defined by the applause of men and the material possessions we have accumulated. The greater the audience, the more likes, the greater the person. The more stuff, the more adventures, the greater the person. (more…)

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Living Lives of Significance

Amos 5.6 urges, seek GOD and live! You don’t want to end up with nothing to show for your life But a pile of ashes, a house burned to the ground. For God will send just such a fire, and the firefighters will show up too late.

It is natural for men to want to live a life of significance. All of us want to leave a legacy and be remembered for doing good. But what does it mean to live a life of significance? (more…)

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Passing the Eternal Test

2 Corinthians 13.5-9 challenges, test yourselves to make sure you are solid in the faith. Don’t drift along taking everything for granted. Give yourselves regular checkups. You need firsthand evidence, not mere hearsay, that Jesus Christ is in you. Test it out. If you fail the test, do something about it. I hope the test won’t show that we have failed.

In every endeavor where we measure performance we test. From academia to sports to the lab we test in order to determine strength, truth or ability. In Christianity, we tend not to test. (more…)

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How Do You Measure Obedience To God?

Jeremiah 13.8-11 mourns, GOD explained, “This is the way I am going to ruin the pride of Judah and the great pride of Jerusalem—a wicked bunch of people who won’t obey me, who do only what they want to do, who chase after all kinds of no-gods and worship them. They’re going to turn out as rotten as these old shorts. Just as shorts clothe and protect, so I kept the whole family of Israel under my care— GOD ’s Decree—so that everyone could see they were my people, a people I could show off to the world and be proud of. But they refused to do a thing I said.

God’s description of Israel is certainly apropos to many in the Church today. We don’t obey God, we do what we want to do, we chase after and worship no-gods. (more…)

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What Does YOUR God Require From You?

Joshua 4.23-24 observes, Yes, GOD, your God, dried up the Jordan’s waters for you until you had crossed, just as GOD, your God, did at the Red Sea, which had dried up before us until we had crossed. This was so that everybody on earth would recognize how strong GOD ’s rescuing hand is and so that you would hold GOD in solemn reverence always.

Holding God in solemn reverence always. What exactly does that mean? It certainly means honoring Him. How do we honor God? (more…)

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Receiving God’s Highest Payout

Revelation 22.12-13, records, Yes, I’m on my way! I’ll be there soon! I’m bringing my payroll with me. I’ll pay all people in full for their life’s work. I’m A to Z, the First and the Final, Beginning and Conclusion.

God has a payroll and He pays His people for their life’s work. Haven’t we already been paid for our work? Indeed, we have been paid for the work we have done for men. This is why men work, to receive their pay in order to have and do the things they really want. (more…)

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Living Well? By Whose Standard?

Psalm 90.12 asks God, Oh! Teach us to live well! Teach us to live wisely and well! Come back, GOD —how long do we have to wait?

What does it mean to live well? Man would define it by money enough to do as you please. To buy the things you need and want. To go to the places you desire. To do the things you want to do. Living well means freedom to have and do whatever you desire. To live well one must have money, a lot of money. (more…)

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Persevering in the Work of God

Revelation 14.12 comments, meanwhile, the saints stand passionately patient, keeping God’s commands, staying faithful to Jesus.

During hard times what should God’s people do? The same thing they have always done, for hard times have been part of the Church’s existence since its Founder was scorned, mocked and crucified. The Church is to always be working at winning men to God’s point of view through Jesus the Savior. (more…)

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