“For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments” (1 John 5:3).What if I told you that you had to climb a steep mountain. It would be difficult and take several hours. You probably wouldn’t want to do it.But what if I then told you that when you got to the top … Continue reading When following God’s commands feels difficult
obedience
The virtue nobody wants
John Ortberg writes: “Obedience has become the virtue that nobody wants.”*What does he mean?The apostle Peter says that to “make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue” (2 Peter 1:5). Patience is a virtue, as we often hear. So is kindness. So is loyalty. But many people find obedience a tougher pill to swallow.Perhaps … Continue reading The virtue nobody wants
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
They trigger within us the image of God
“If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love…” (John 15:10)I can’t overstate the global influence of the 10 Commandments. They have shaped not only individuals, but entire societies. To a lot of people, however, they seem random. But they’re not. Amongst other things, they actually reflect God’s character. For example, we shall not murder … Continue reading They trigger within us the image of God
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
Vanity Fair is in the air
Vanity Fair is a scene in John Bunyan’s famous book The Pilgrim’s Progress. It depicts a carnival-type atmosphere where morality is scorned, naysayers are suspicious, justice is denied, and vanity and pride are the rule of the day. There are many good things about the times in which we live. I appreciate our freedoms (including … Continue reading Vanity Fair is in the air
Photo-shopped Jesus?
When a picture has been “photo shopped” that means it has been manipulated. Some sort of program has been used to change the image. Are there times when we are tempted to photo shop Jesus? I’m not referring to physical pictures. I’m referring to the parts of Jesus we like, and the parts we would … Continue reading Photo-shopped Jesus?
Holding fast
“Because he holds fast to me in love, I will deliver him…” (Psalm 91:14, ESV). What (or who) do you “hold fast” to? What (or who) do you “cling” to? If someone you care about is about to go away on a long trip, that last hug good bye is often a long one. That’s … Continue reading Holding fast
Freedience
Sometimes a new word is created. It might not ever make it into a dictionary, but people use it anyway. An example would be “hangry.” When you get really angry because you’re hungry, you’re “hangry”! Here’s a new one that I’ll throw into the mix: Freedience. It brings together two faith-based ideas which appear to … Continue reading Freedience
Yield your thoughts
“You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness” (Ephesians 4:22-24). I … Continue reading Yield your thoughts
