Exodus 6.9 observes, they did not listen to him because of their discouragement and hard labor.
God had great plans in store for Israel but they couldn’t receive them because their life was hard. They wanted what God was offering but when the process became more difficult than they expected they didn’t believe God was really going to deliver on His Word.
This is how most of us respond to God. (more…)
1 Corinthians 7.35 encourages, without distraction you may give notable and constant service to the Lord.
This expectation seems opposed to Jesus’ commendation of Mary who sat with Jesus instead of Martha who was busy making lunch for Jesus. Jesus’ caveat was that He would not always be with us in the flesh so Mary had indeed chosen the better activity.
From the beginning however God has been at work. So too the Son came to work by seeking and saving the lost. (more…)
1 Corinthians 4.1 observes, people should think about us this way – as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of
God.
Christianity is maligned most of the time unfairly. Haters are just gonna hate. Of all the good in the world most is done by Christians.
When tragedy strikes in the world it is the Christian Church globally that steps in through gifts and talents of supplies and workers to help those struck by nature’s worst. You never read of the Muslim mission society, or the Buddhist mission society or the Hindu mission society helping people in need. (more…)
Romans 2.24 observes, the Name of God is being blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.
Probably no greater indictment against the Christian could occur than being accused of causing God’s Name to be maligned by non Christians due to their ungodly behavior. God in Jesus expects and warns that His Name will be maligned by non believers. His expectation of this blasphemy is for followers of Jesus living godly lives and proclaiming that faith and allegiance to Jesus alone is necessary for pleasing God will cause the non believers to hate Him and His followers resulting in blasphemy. (more…)
Acts 26.20 states, I declared to those in Damascus first, and then to those in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and to the
Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, performing deeds consistent with repentance.
What should a Christian look like? A Christian is a disciple of Jesus Christ. A disciple is an obedient follower of the commands of Jesus. Not complicated really but certainly arguable, at least it has been for more than 2000 years. Why? (more…)
Matthew 12.50 promises, whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother and sister and mother.
It is interesting to note what God DID NOT say made people His brother and sister and mother. His relations are not among those who believe in God but is among those who obey God.
Jesus, as God, did not say everyone who believes that there is a God or that God is good, or that God loves everyone or anything else people believe about God, make people His relatives. Certainly Jesus believed in God since He is God. (more…)
Matthew 10.39 promises, whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life because of Me will find it.
At one time in our not to recent past it was popular to ‘find yourself.’ The remnant of that objective remains in all of the self help and self absorption we still see encouraged today. Everything is about personal happiness and fulfillment.
It is why we have come to espouse that your truth and my truth can both be true while being totally opposite from one another. This narcissism has created a culture without shame and without purpose. (more…)
John 12.26 states, anyone who wants to serve Me must follow Me, because My servants must be where I am. And the
Father will honor anyone who serves Me.
God feels like an option. We do what we want to do with apparently little to no consequence for our behavior; at least in the short term. I am not speaking about breaking the laws of society but about doing the will of God in society.
If there really is a God, it seems like He could and even should demand our loyalty and allegiance and that we would willingly give Him both. (more…)
Revelation 11.18 promises, it is time to judge the dead and reward your servants the prophets, as well as your holy people, and all who fear your name, from the least to the greatest.
In the end everyone stands before God to be judged. Those who lived in relationship to the Father through the Son by virtue of the Spirit will be rewarded for their deeds accomplished for God’s glory during their lifetimes. Those who denied the Son, ignored the Father and lived apart from the Spirit will be condemned to live forever in torment with all those who choose to live the same. (more…)
Luke 23.49 observes, Jesus’ friends, including the women who had followed Him from Galilee, stood at a distance
watching.
A lot of people are standing from a distance watching for God to do something.
Sometimes we are waiting for Him to rain hell fire upon our enemies because we know how much they deserve it. Sometimes we are waiting for Him to heal us or our friends because we know how much He cares for us. Sometimes we are waiting for Him to bless us because we know how much He loves us. We wait, we hope but….. (more…)
Enter your email below to get your free resource, periodic news, and new blog post notifications.
