“Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says” (James 1:22). I once heard someone speak dismissively about the 10 Commandments. They thought they were just a bunch of random rules. It got me thinking about how the wisdom and commands of God are not something he does TO … Continue reading Not TO us but FOR us
bible
Looking for answers in all the (wrong) places
Looking for answers in all the (wrong) places The “Up!” Devo for September 8 If we look for answers in incorrect places, we’ll get answers that are incomplete. For example, sitting on my desk are three textbooks. One is for the Greek language, one is for philosophy, and one is for psychology. If I try … Continue reading Looking for answers in all the (wrong) places
Right thinking and right living
I sometimes hear people talking (arguing?) about what they think is more important: to agree with the right doctrines, or to be a loving person. Actually, they go hand in hand. But it needs to be stressed that right thinking results in right living. How we live our lives—including how we love and care for … Continue reading Right thinking and right living
Based on what we think is true
We live our lives based on what we think is true. For example, if I think it’s true that it’s going to rain, then I’m going to grab an umbrella when I head outside. But if I don’t, I won’t. If I think it’s true that my child is about to get hit by a … Continue reading Based on what we think is true
Not a prop
The Bible. How do we use it? How do we treat it? Like fancy family china that stays in a box somewhere? Or maybe like a prop? I loathe the Bible being used as a prop. Loathe. It is the Lord Almighty’s sacred word to his people through all time and through all generations. Speaking about … Continue reading Not a prop
Like a life-sustaining feast—or occasional snack?
In yesterday’s devotional I said that times like these are a good time to re-evaluate our understanding of success. Today I’m going to encourage us to re-evaluate the role of the Bible in our lives. Moses reminded the ancient Hebrews that God was a God who kept his word. That’s why he fed them manna: … Continue reading Like a life-sustaining feast—or occasional snack?
The sword of the Spirit
I sometimes hear struggling Christians say that they know the Bible is important, but that they don’t read it as much as they should. Here’s some motivation. The Bible is a weapon in the war against fear. Why? Because fear feeds on uncertainty and untruth. When we’re experiencing something challenging on a global scale, our … Continue reading The sword of the Spirit
Fear feeds on forgetfulness
This week I’m highlighting several weapons in the war against fear. They’re not physical weapons, but spiritual weapons. Some people are afraid of getting sick, or a loss of income, or the unknown… the list goes on. Yesterday I wrote about the weapon of prayer. [If you missed it click here.] Today is about memorizing … Continue reading Fear feeds on forgetfulness
Slaughter untrue thoughts with truth
Many of us face battles. More often than we’d like. And many of those battles begin in the mind. But you can respond swiftly and firmly by slaughtering untrue thoughts with truth as soon as they enter your brain. That truth is, in the words of Paul in Romans 8:37, that “in all these things … Continue reading Slaughter untrue thoughts with truth
More precious than gold
Understanding certain biblical passages can be difficult. Sure, some are straightforward. But others, not so much. So I want to encourage you to keep at it, and to consider this. Panning for gold is work. Picture someone knee-high in a river, with a gold pan or some kind of filter. They work through the soil, … Continue reading More precious than gold
