evangelism / obedience

God’s Message Awaits God’s Messengers

Amos 3.8 observes, The Sovereign LORD has spoken— so who can refuse to proclaim his message?image

The answer to Amos’ question seems to be most of the people of God. This was true in the day of Amos and it is true today as well. Why does this appear to be true?

As in Amos’ day, so few know the message of the Lord. This would not be true if the people of God were constantly declaring God’s message even as they lived that message. What is God’s message? (more…)

0 Comments
November 14, 2016
Christian Living / obedience

The Election is Over, Now What?

Hosea 12.6 begs, so now, come back to your God. Act with love and justice, and always depend on Him.image

The election is over so now what do we do? Will Donald Trump solve all of our ills as a country? The resounding answer needs to be, ‘no’ if we are going to move ahead as a country and ‘make America great again.’ The quagmire we find ourselves isn’t the result of government action or inaction primarily. The situation we find ourselves in as a nation is the result of the way we as a nation have chosen to live and behave.

So what should we do now? Exactly what God says to do as summarized by Hosea. Act with love and justice and always depend upon Him. How do we do this? (more…)

0 Comments
November 9, 2016
heaven / Judgement / obedience / Uncategorized

What Does God Hate?

Hosea 9.15 observes, The LORD says, All their wickedness began at Gilgal; there I began to hate them. I will drive them from my land because of their evil actions. I will love them no more because all their leaders are rebels.image

Gilgal was a holy place. It was where Joshua landed with the people of Israel when he miraculously crossed the Jordan river into the promised land. It was the place where Samuel the prophet would make the will of God known to those who needed His judgement.

Gilgal was where God changed His mind about Saul being king as a result of Saul disobeying God by offering the sacrifice only the priest was to perform. Perhaps it is this last act that Hosea refers to when describing the leaders history of rebellion. (more…)

0 Comments
November 3, 2016
Christian Living / Judgement / Theology

How to Know God Personally

Hosea 6.3 laments, Oh, that we might know the LORD! Let us press on to know Him. He will respond to

Retro key and opened book
Retro key and opened book

us as surely as the arrival of dawn or the coming of rains in early spring.

When we think of God what do we think of? Our experience of Him personally combined with our teaching about Him will determine the thoughts we have about God as well as our behavior toward God.

The word God means, He Who is above all, the One Who is to be revered, honored and obeyed because He is perfect, wonderful and responsible for all that is, was or ever will be. Does that definition of God seem congruent with our thoughts about God or our behavior before God? Most likely not. (more…)

0 Comments
November 1, 2016
Prayer / Uncategorized

Praying with Results

Daniel 10.12 encourages, don’t be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day you began to pray for understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your request has been heard in heaven. I have come in answer to imageyour prayer.

Imagine praying and an angel or Jesus Himself showing up to say your prayers have been heard and I have come in response. That would be pretty incredible. That was Daniel’s experience.

Why did God listen to Daniel? Daniel did two things any of us can do and if we do them we can be confident that our prayers too will be heard. (more…)

0 Comments
October 27, 2016
Christian Living / Judgement / obedience

Integrity Building is Church Work

Daniel 6.4 observes, he was faithful, always responsible, and completely trustworthy.

Integrity Torn Paper Concept

Daniel was a trusted official in the Babylonian government. Often he was made the second highest official in the land after the king. He obtained this lofty position because of the three defining character qualities listed in today’s verse.

These qualities were not uncommon at our founding. They were the norm among most of our founding fathers. They were values held in high honor among most people of this country until fairly recently. (more…)

0 Comments
October 21, 2016
faith

The Process For Increasing Our Faith

Matthew 17.20 observes, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here toimage there,’ and it will move; nothing will be impossible for you.

Mustard seeds are really small; really, really small. I don’t know if any of us have faith the size of a mustard seed. Why not? (more…)

0 Comments
October 17, 2016
Christian Living / evangelism

The Secret to Happiness in the Christian Life

Colossians 2.7 commands, let your roots grow down into Him, and let your lives be built on Him. Then your faith will growimage strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness.

The secret to happiness in the Christian life is knowing Jesus better and serving Jesus more. This is the summary of Paul’s command to the church as he reminded them of Who Jesus is, God made visible, and what we are to do, spread the message of God’s reconciling the world to Himself through Jesus the Savior. (more…)

0 Comments
October 12, 2016
Christian Living / Judgement / obedience

Keeping God’s Reputation

Ezekiel 39.25 observes that God jealously guards His holy reputation!image

All of us want to guard our reputation. This desire reflects our being made in the image of God.

Like God, we care what people think about us and why they think the way they do. Frankly, God’s marketing isn’t very good. God has chosen to limit His brand to the purveyors of His product. (more…)

0 Comments
October 6, 2016