“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you” (John 15:12).When I was in university one of my professors told our class that during our discussions, we weren’t allowed to use the word “interesting.”Why not? Since it was a word that people over-used, it had lost it’s meaning. “Yes, that … Continue reading The (real) signs of love
loving God
The love that jams the Devil’s wheels
Jesus said: “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you…” (Matthew 5:44)Do you have enemies? Perhaps you do, perhaps you don’t. If you don’t, perhaps you still have people who you feel are somehow “against” you. They always seem to say the wrong thing at the right time. They foil your plans, put you … Continue reading The love that jams the Devil’s wheels
With both wings, not just one
In 1 John 3:23 the apostle writes: “And this is his commandment, that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another...”Catherine of Siena was a well-known Christian from the 1300’s. She lived in Italy. She became known for her extreme devotion to God and her unyielding love for others. Early … Continue reading With both wings, not just one
Prioritizing what Jesus prioritizes
In the previous devotional we talked about “distracted living.” Just how someone can become a “distracted driver” when behind the wheel, we can lose our focus about what and who matters most in life.As the people of God, it can be helpful to think deliberately about this with the following question: Am I prioritizing what … Continue reading Prioritizing what Jesus prioritizes
This is how we know that we love the children of God
The apostle John wrote: “Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen” (1 John 4:20). As we can see, loving other people in the church is clearly important. … Continue reading This is how we know that we love the children of God
Peace not panic
In the epic story Moby Dick, there is a turbulent scene where a whaleboat races to try and catch the great whale. The scene is frantic. Sailors are yelling and working hard. The enraged Captain Ahab is at the helm. But one person is calm amidst the chaos. He is steady and focused. It’s the … Continue reading Peace not panic
Falling out of love with fitting in
In John 15:19 Jesus said this to his disciples: “you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.” To understand what he means, we need to know that in this context the phrase “the world” is a way of speaking about … Continue reading Falling out of love with fitting in
God the errand boy?
Some people think that God exists for them, and not the other way around. In effect, their brain says, “I refuse to acknowledge and serve God, but I insist that he acknowledge and serve me.” I remember talking to someone who didn’t believe in God, learn about God, or follow God. But when something bad … Continue reading God the errand boy?
Doing something “significant”
[My apologies to those of you who received this yesterday as well -- programming error!] What does it mean to do something “significant”? John Bowen tells a story about his friend Paul, a top student at Yale University. During his summers he was a camp counselor. He worked in a program that helped disabled young people. … Continue reading Doing something “significant”
