“make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue…” (2 Peter 1:5, ESV) Salvation. It’s a big word. When a lot of people hear that word, they think about heaven. And they should; it’s one of God’s promises. When you believe in who Jesus is and what he has done for you on the cross, … Continue reading Presently, not just eventually
virtue
Counter-cultural modesty
“Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God?” (1 Corinthians 6:19) Over time some things become less common—like Sunday night dinners, board games, or home-made gifts. But that doesn’t mean they don’t still have value. Here’s another: Modesty. Some of … Continue reading Counter-cultural modesty
Re-thinking what your legacy will be
In John 15:16 Jesus said: “I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit—fruit that will last.” What impact will I have on the world? What will my legacy be? What kind of a difference will I make? In my experience, people tend to think of their impact or influence in the world … Continue reading Re-thinking what your legacy will be
More him, less me
Speaking about Jesus, John the Baptist said: “He must become greater; I must become less” (John 3:30). This is a succinct statement of what it means to be more like Christ and to grow in holiness. The voice, influence, and power of Jesus must become greater and greater in our lives. This is helped as … Continue reading More him, less me
Stand firm on your knees
There are times when you need to stand firm in your faith. No doubt about it. You can get pushed (or body checked) off-centre by a variety of forces or false teachings—unless you are standing firm. One of my favourite verses from 1 Corinthians 15 is verse 58. Paul had just taught them about the … Continue reading Stand firm on your knees
Rich in virtues
In the Bible, money and riches are repeatedly listed as a barrier to genuine faith. In Luke 16:13, Jesus spells it out for us: “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve … Continue reading Rich in virtues
When success isn’t success
A lot of people want to be “successful.” In fact, since so many people think that success is a good thing, and since the drive for success can be so powerful, we can rationalize doing questionable things to get there. But it’s not success if you fail at virtue. In Colossians, Paul talks about putting … Continue reading When success isn’t success
Virtue standeth
People are motivated by different things. Some people feel motivated to do something if they know they’ll get a nice reward at the end. Others are motivated if they know they are doing something that will make someone feel good. Today I want to appeal to those who (a) are experiencing difficulty, and (b) are … Continue reading Virtue standeth
Someone else more than self
Is it just me, or is humility the virtue that many people admire but few actually want? To the Philippians in the early 60’s, Paul wrote: “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests … Continue reading Someone else more than self
It’s hard to do it if you don’t know it
Some things are so obvious that we miss them, even when they’re staring us in the face. That’s certainly the case when it comes to leaving a legacy of love with our lives. For those of us who follow Jesus, we certainly want love to be a part of our legacy. After all, in Mark … Continue reading It’s hard to do it if you don’t know it
The Up Devotional 