Followers of Jesus can rightly be accused of hypocrisy if nothing changes in their lives after they start to believe in and follow him. Your eternal standing with God isn’t based on how morally good you are, of course, or on your ability to meet Jesus’ high ethical standards; it’s based on your faith in … Continue reading True commitment to the King—AND his Kingdom
kingdom of God
Use a worry filter
This week we’re talking about the big W… Worry. Generally speaking, worry isn’t good. But there are actually a few biblical passages where worry is portrayed positively. One of them is 1 Corinthians 12:24-25 where Paul says that the various parts in the body of Christ [the church] “should have equal concern for each other.” The … Continue reading Use a worry filter
Getting in the way of God’s way
Here is what Jesus preached in Matthew 4:17: “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” The “kingdom of heaven” refers not only to life after death, but to the quality of our lives before death. In this sense, the “kingdom of heaven” and the “kingdom of God” are the same. Maybe it’s obvious, … Continue reading Getting in the way of God’s way
When up is down and down is up
“For we live by faith, not by sight” (2 Corinthians 5:7, NIV). There are people living in huge mansions who are way more miserable thank you think. There are people living on the street who have way more joy than you think. There are people who have made a lot of mistakes who have way … Continue reading When up is down and down is up
Tweaking your average life
Day in and day out—the same old thing. Do you ever get down about your average life? But just because your life is “normal” that doesn’t mean it can’t be exceptional. One of the ways to do that is with a “kingdom tweak.” It’s tweaking something you’re already doing to benefit God’s kingdom. Take Erica … Continue reading Tweaking your average life
So can you
“Be like JESUS” That’s what it says on a sign outside a Catholic school close to my house. But where does that idea come from? Sure, many of us believe in Jesus, but why should we be like him? Late in the 1st century the apostle John warned that if we claim to know God but … Continue reading So can you
