Max Lucado took a group of 500 people to Israel. One day they held a Bible Study on the steps of the Temple Mount, a location where Jesus himself gathered with his disciples. For Lucado’s lesson he chose John 3:16: “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that … Continue reading Muting the demonic tongue
truth
Truth because he cares
I remember a story about man and his horse. The horse’s job was to take people here or there in wagons, and even to pull logs through the forest after it had been cleared. But the horse’s owner was increasingly frustrated because it kept bumping into things. As a result, it was bordering on dangerous. … Continue reading Truth because he cares
Truth-less “grace,” or grace-less “truth”?
In John 1:14 (and elsewhere) we learn that Jesus is God come to us in human form. In that same verse we also read: “We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” Notice how Jesus is full of grace and … Continue reading Truth-less “grace,” or grace-less “truth”?
Honest, but not cutting
This week we’re spending some time with Jesus’ words in Luke 6:31: “Do to others as you would have them do to you.” It’s the principle of moral reciprocity. Living it out is a life-long effort. To fight against the tendency to oversimply this high ethical calling, we’re taking some time to think through a … Continue reading Honest, but not cutting
Looking for answers in all the (wrong) places
Looking for answers in all the (wrong) places The “Up!” Devo for September 8 If we look for answers in incorrect places, we’ll get answers that are incomplete. For example, sitting on my desk are three textbooks. One is for the Greek language, one is for philosophy, and one is for psychology. If I try … Continue reading Looking for answers in all the (wrong) places
You can’t stand on quicksand
Yesterday I said that wisdom is hearing Jesus’ words and putting them into practice. Sounds good, right? But it also sounds STABILIZING. Here’s why.
Based on what we think is true
We live our lives based on what we think is true. For example, if I think it’s true that it’s going to rain, then I’m going to grab an umbrella when I head outside. But if I don’t, I won’t. If I think it’s true that my child is about to get hit by a … Continue reading Based on what we think is true
Fear feeds on forgetfulness
This week I’m highlighting several weapons in the war against fear. They’re not physical weapons, but spiritual weapons. Some people are afraid of getting sick, or a loss of income, or the unknown… the list goes on. Yesterday I wrote about the weapon of prayer. [If you missed it click here.] Today is about memorizing … Continue reading Fear feeds on forgetfulness
Slaughter untrue thoughts with truth
Many of us face battles. More often than we’d like. And many of those battles begin in the mind. But you can respond swiftly and firmly by slaughtering untrue thoughts with truth as soon as they enter your brain. That truth is, in the words of Paul in Romans 8:37, that “in all these things … Continue reading Slaughter untrue thoughts with truth
More precious than gold
Understanding certain biblical passages can be difficult. Sure, some are straightforward. But others, not so much. So I want to encourage you to keep at it, and to consider this. Panning for gold is work. Picture someone knee-high in a river, with a gold pan or some kind of filter. They work through the soil, … Continue reading More precious than gold
The Up Devotional 