When someone uses the word “strict,” what comes to mind?Maybe you think about a “strict” parent—someone who has lots of rules and doesn’t want their kids to have any fun. Some people think about God like this as well. But this simply isn’t true. Let me highlight one of the uses of the word “strict” in the … Continue reading The surprising detail about “strictly” following God
faithfulness
Faithfulness is a team sport
My colleague Paul Carter says: “Faithfulness is a team sport.”*That’s an important reminder, especially for Christians in the modern west. Our society is highly individualistic. We can get sucked into the thinking that faith is only about “me and Jesus.”Don’t get me wrong. It is definitely about you and Jesus. But it is also more … Continue reading Faithfulness is a team sport
Following it helps, neglecting it hurts
Let’s say you take some illegal drugs (I hope you don’t be the way, but just hear me out). Let’s say you take some illegal drugs and then ask God to bless your experience. Would you then think that God was bad or negligent if he didn’t bless it? Of course not. After all, you’re … Continue reading Following it helps, neglecting it hurts
A biblical definition of sin
“Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness” (1 John 3:4).When I was young and we went to church I would usually go to Sunday School.Before too long, however, I wanted to be up in the service with the adults so that I could hear the sermon.I remember the preacher … Continue reading A biblical definition of sin
God is jealous?
“You shall not bow down to [idols] or serve them, for I the LORD your God am a jealous God…” (Exodus 20:5)Some people are surprised when they learn that God can be “jealous.” However, it makes perfect sense.God chooses to use words that we can understand. “Jealous” is certainly one of those words. We can … Continue reading God is jealous?
You gotta know ‘em to keep ‘em
“And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart” (Deuteronomy 6:6).Andy used to have conversations with Agnes in the laundromat. They would talk about a bunch of different things. It would often come up that she kept the 10 Commandments. It was basically her way of shutting down the conversation.One day … Continue reading You gotta know ‘em to keep ‘em
Not some, but all
In Mark 12:30 Jesus said: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.”We could take a lifetime to fully grasp the implications. With each new year we gain new insights, and seek fresh strength, to put those words from … Continue reading Not some, but all
A word that Christians need to reclaim
“Surely the righteous will never be shaken…” (Psalm 112:6)There is a word that Christians need to reclaim.It’s been neglected and avoided. That’s a problem. Why? Because it’s God’s word.The word is righteousness.Did you wish I had said something else? Perhaps love or courage or community? These are all a part of it. But our knee-jerk negative … Continue reading A word that Christians need to reclaim
Enduring mockery
One of the earliest physical depictions of Jesus is found in some graffiti in Rome. You can see it the graphic that accompanies today’s devotional. It dates from the late-first to early-third centuries, probably closer to the later. It shows a man on a cross, but the man has a donkey head. There is another person … Continue reading Enduring mockery
What is success?
What do you want to be successful at? Perhaps it has to do with your career or schooling. Perhaps it has to do with your relationships or a personal goal that only you know about. If we want to be “successful,” we need to be aware of how we define that term. It’s easy to … Continue reading What is success?
