You’re right. Your faith in Jesus makes you stand out. You’re different. To some degree, you will also suffer for it. Your reputation will suffer, you may miss out on certain opportunities, people will exclude you, you’ll get criticized… Because of that, it can be tempting to play down or ignore your faith—in part, or … Continue reading Blending in and fading away
discipleship
The future you
Many people are confused about who the Holy Spirit is and what he does. That’s partly because they’ve been given confusing information. I remember a school dance in grade 7. A teacher told us that we needed to “leave room for the Holy Spirit” between dance partners. So whoever the Holy Spirit was, he was … Continue reading The future you
The roar of the Spirit
This week I’ve been answering questions about the Holy Spirit. (To see devotionals you may have missed go here and search by date.) Today let’s keep at it. After giving some significant insights about the Holy Spirit, Jesus says, “Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid” (John 14:27). But why … Continue reading The roar of the Spirit
Earmarked for God’s purposes
This week I’ve been answering some questions about the Holy Spirit. On Monday we explored whether the Spirit is an “it” or a “who.” On Tuesday we asked if the Spirit makes you “feel” differently? Here’s today’s question: What does it matter to you that the Spirit is “holy”? First, we need to understand what … Continue reading Earmarked for God’s purposes
What my dog teaches me about following Jesus
My family has a new dog. He’s a tiny, ten-week-old Cockapoo named Buddy. And yup, we are instantly in love! He’s a social little guy. As soon as he sees me in the morning he runs over with his mini paws to say hello. If I sit at the table for breakfast, he comes and rests … Continue reading What my dog teaches me about following Jesus
The power of perseverance
King David was able to persevere through many challenges in his life. I think he was able to do this—even through such pain and difficulty—because he was CALLED by God to a godly purpose. 1 Samuel 16 tells the story of his anointing as the future king of Israel. He knew that God has summoned … Continue reading The power of perseverance
When comfort is the enemy
I really don’t like what I’m about to say: Comfort is the enemy of discipleship. The problem is that I like comfort. I also like being a disciple of Jesus. But why are those two things supposedly in conflict? Comfort is about maximizing convenience, and minimizing inconveniences which take us out of our comfort zones. … Continue reading When comfort is the enemy
Being loyal… to God
Yesterday I said that we can misunderstand what Jesus meant when he used the word “love.” I suggested that the word he used for “love” was close in meaning to “loyalty.” It is to have a kind of committed attachment to someone as a fellow child of God, and to seek God’s best for them. … Continue reading Being loyal… to God
Powered by God
This week I’ve been focusing on Acts 2:38 that describes how Peter preached to a huge crowed in Jerusalem, saying: “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” This week we’ve already talked … Continue reading Powered by God
In a world of pride and vulgarity
The Holy Spirit is one of the three persons of the Trinity. And when you become a follower of Christ, the Holy Spirit dwells within you. But we can easily lose sight of the word “HOLY.” With each passing year in our society, the idea of something being “holy” seems more and more strange. But that’s … Continue reading In a world of pride and vulgarity
