If you play hockey in a full-contact league, do not be surprised if you get body-checked. If you go outside when it’s raining, do not be surprised if you get wet. And if you follow Jesus, do not be surprised if the world hates you. The apostle John says that very thing in 1 John … Continue reading Return hatred with love
Romans 12
Hope is kindled
Today is a new day. Honestly. It is. Yesterday was its own thing. Sure, each new day is influenced by what happened the day before. But there’s nothing you can do about that now, is there? The same goes for last week, last year, or even the last decade. That was then. This is now. … Continue reading Hope is kindled
Act above your feelings
I know that feelings are powerful. And there are times when our feelings can teach us important things. We just need to “let it out” sometimes (in appropriate ways, of course). But there are times when we need to act above our feelings. Stuart Holden recalls a story about two soldiers. One was a Christian, … Continue reading Act above your feelings
Divisive times
The other day I was thinking about how political a certain issue has become. Why does everything have to be so politicized? Why can’t people respectfully and graciously disagree about something without painting the other person as an enemy? But you and I don’t have to get sucked in to that approach as if it was … Continue reading Divisive times
You: The cultural observer
“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind” (Romans 12:2). Yesterday we talked about the idea that friending the world means un-friending God. (If you missed it, or if that statement leaves you scratching your head, you can review it here.) Sociologist Robert Bellah says … Continue reading You: The cultural observer
If you don’t proactively shape who you are…
There are things that shape us—that contribute to the molding of our minds and hearts. Our relationships, society, and country all play a part in this formative process. Messages are coming at us on an hourly basis about what is right or wrong, or good or bad, or attractive or ugly, or valuable or insignificant, … Continue reading If you don’t proactively shape who you are…
A worship state of mind
Today, let’s worship God. ‘But Matthew, it’s not Sunday.’ Well, yes—you’re right. It’s not. But worship is an all-the-time thing, not just a some-of-the-time thing. Theologian John Piper writes that “worship means consciously knowing and treasuring and showing the supreme worth and beauty of God.”* Oh yes. While there is something special that happens on … Continue reading A worship state of mind
When your mind is stretched to a new dimension
Yesterday I said that God loves you as you are—but that God loves you too much to leave you as you are. I said this because we can sometimes use God’s love as an excuse for stagnancy or disobedience. Just because God loves us that doesn’t mean he necessarily condones everything we do. Although we’re … Continue reading When your mind is stretched to a new dimension
