Posts Tagged ‘Engaged’
Speak Grace
Let every word you speak be drenched with grace and tempered with truth and clarity. Colossians 4:6 (TPT) It does not take a genius to observe a lack of grace demonstrated in our world today. Speech in all segments of politics, education, science, society, and even sports is intentionally polarizing. There is minimal effort to…
Read MoreSpeak Wisdom
The godly speak wise words and promote justice. The law of their God controls their thinking; their feet do not slip. Psalm 37:30–31 (NET) All wisdom is not the same. Or, stated differently, the wisdom that comes from God far exceeds any so-called wisdom that this world has to offer. The challenge that we face…
Read MoreSpeak the Truth
Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church. Ephesians 4:15 (NLT) Have you ever heard someone say, “Everyone has their own truth?” What exactly does that mean? Logically, if that were true, the case could be made…
Read MoreSpeak the Name
And they called them in and ordered them not to speak or teach at all in the Name of Jesus. Acts 4:18 (NET) The Name of Jesus is beautiful. It is a mighty name. But it is also a controversial name. Tyrants and dictators have tried to stamp out the Name of Jesus without success.…
Read MoreTake Up Your Cross
Jesus said to everyone, “All who want to come after me must say no to themselves, take up their cross daily, and follow me.” Luke 9:23 (CEB) What does it mean to “take up our cross?” Some people see it as a burden, such as a physical challenge or a complicated relationship. People would describe…
Read MoreNevertheless
They will look up to heaven and down at the earth, but wherever they look, there will be trouble and anguish and dark despair. They will be thrown out into the darkness. Nevertheless, that time of darkness and despair will not go on forever. Isaiah 8:21–9:1 (NLT) Words are fascinating—all words, really, but especially words…
Read MoreDo Something Small for God
On Sunday, July 31, I preached at Canvas Church, my home church, a message near and dear to my heart, “Do Something Small for God.” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IAqjRZcMVp4&t=2220s
Read MoreA Thirst for God
O God, you are my God; I earnestly search for you. My soul thirsts for you; my whole body longs for you in this parched and weary land where there is no water. Psalm 63:1 (NLT) David wrote Psalm 63 out of his experience in the wilderness. The wilderness was a barren, desolate place where…
Read MoreTear Down the Wall
A person’s wisdom yields patience; it is to one’s glory to overlook an offense. Proverbs 19:11 (NIV) In 1987, President Reagan said in a speech in Berlin, “Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall.” President Reagan was referring to the wall built by the communists, separating East and West Berlin. A little more than two years…
Read MoreThe Cure for a Drought
A drought will strike her water supply, causing it to dry up. And why? Because the whole land is filled with idols, and the people are madly in love with them. Jeremiah 50:38 (NLT) California is once again facing drought conditions. The solution to a drought crisis is obviously water. Even in the best of…
Read MoreGot Tribulations? – Be of Good Cheer?
My dear family, when you find yourselves tumbling into various trials and tribulations, learn to look at it with complete joy, because you know that, when your faith is put to the test, what comes out is patience. What’s more, you must let patience have its complete effect, so that you may be complete and…
Read MorePrepare to Engage
Just as you sent me into the world, I am sending them into the world. John 17:18 (NLT) Last week, we began to examine our options as we confront the forces of evil comprised of the world, Satan, our adversary, and our fleshly nature. In last week’s article, Resistance Is Not Futile, we learned that…
Read MoreResistance Is Not Futile
I have given them your word. And the world hates them because they do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world. I’m not asking you to take them out of the world, but to keep them safe from the evil one. They do not belong to this world…
Read MoreEngaged: Fulfilling the Mission
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. Matthew 28:19–20 (NIV) Jesus spoke these words just before His ascension to describe the church’s primary mission. Mark’s gospel is…
Read MoreWe Want to See Jesus
“Sir, we want to see Jesus.” John 12:21 In the days leading up to the crucifixion, some men wanted to see Jesus. They did not approach him directly but instead sought to use Philip as an intermediary. We cannot be sure, but perhaps they felt uncomfortable, as Greeks, to approach Jesus. Philip, having a Greek…
Read MoreEncouraged: Words and Deeds
We pleaded with you, encouraged you, and urged you to live your lives in a way that God would consider worthy. For he called you to share in his Kingdom and glory. 1 Thessalonians 2:12 (NLT) Words and concepts often have surface meanings that belie vast depths and rich significance. As a student of Scripture…
Read MoreAnd Time Shall Be No More?
The concept of eternity is often beyond the capability of our intellects to grasp. Surveying Christian history, we find conflicting thoughts and ideas about time and how it intersects with eternity. On the one hand, James Milton Black, who wrote “When The Roll Is Called Up Yonder,” penned the words, “and time shall be no…
Read MoreDeception and Discernment
So let us discern for ourselves what is right; let us learn together what is good. Job 34:4 (NLT) Let me begin with a question. How great is our need for discernment? There is a meme that has been floating around the Internet for several years: “Don’t believe everything you see on the Internet.”-Abraham Lincoln.…
Read MoreWonderful Grace of Jesus!
Because of his love, God had already decided to make us his own children through Jesus Christ. That was what he wanted and what pleased him, and it brings praise to God because of his wonderful grace. God gave that grace to us freely, in Christ, the One he loves. Ephesians 1:5–6 (NCV) “Wonderful grace…
Read MoreThe Brevity of Life
Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom. Psalm 90:12 (NIV) I don’t know who coined the phrase “The length of our lives is represented by a dash between two dates,” but it is undoubtedly a concise way of stating what most people sense, especially as they get older,…
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