On Second Thought “The Lord is good; His mercy is everlasting, and His truth endures to all generations.” Psalm 100:5 There are few spiritual lessons more difficult to receive than this one: sometimes the goodness of God is revealed not in what He gives, but in what He withholds. We often come to prayer withContinue reading “The Mercy Behind God’s No”
Author Archives: Intentional Faith
The Mercy That Keeps Repeating
The Bible in a Year “O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good; for his mercy endureth forever.” Psalm 136:1 As we walk through the Bible in a year, Psalm 136 teaches us that gratitude is not a decorative part of faith; it is one of the central rhythms of a life thatContinue reading “The Mercy That Keeps Repeating”
The One Who Rules Our Rest
In the Life of Christ Mark 2:28 brings us to one of those moments in the life of Jesus where a simple sentence carries the weight of heaven: “Therefore the Son of Man is also Lord of the Sabbath.” The setting is familiar. Jesus and His disciples are walking through grainfields on the Sabbath, andContinue reading “The One Who Rules Our Rest”
The Danger of Almost Fruitful Faith
As the Day Begins They…are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection. Luke 8:14 Jesus’ words in Luke 8:14 come from the parable of the soils, where the seed of God’s Word is good, but the heart that receives it is crowded. The problem is notContinue reading “The Danger of Almost Fruitful Faith”
Today’s Spiritual Disciplines
May the Lord bless your spiritual disciplines today and meet you with mercy in every place where your heart turns toward Him. As we enter this rhythm of daily devotions, Scripture reflections, prayer, and thoughtful obedience, we are reminded that the Christian walk is not formed in one dramatic moment but through steady attention toContinue reading “Today’s Spiritual Disciplines”
靠着羔羊得胜
天使与魔鬼 撒但已经被击败,这是基督徒属灵争战中最重要的事实之一。我们不是靠自己的勇气、经验或意志力去面对黑暗权势,而是站在耶稣基督已经得胜的地位上。启示录12:11说:“弟兄胜过它,是因羔羊的血和自己所见证的道;他们虽至于死,也不爱惜性命。” 这节经文给我们看见属灵得胜的次序。首先不是我们的能力,而是羔羊的血。耶稣在十字架上流血,已经解决了罪的控告,粉碎了撒但控告神子民的权势。撒但可以试探,可以欺骗,可以控告,但它不能推翻基督已经完成的救赎。 彼得前书3:22说,耶稣已经升天,坐在神的右边,“众天使和有权柄的,并有能力的,都服从了他。” 马太福音28:18中,主耶稣也说:“天上地下所有的权柄都赐给我了。” 这意味着基督徒不是生活在恐惧里,而是生活在主权之下。我们不是把撒但看得太轻,也不是把它看得太重。我们承认它真实存在,也承认它已经败在基督脚前。真正的属灵成熟,是既警醒,又安稳;既不玩弄罪恶,也不被黑暗吓倒。 启示录12:11还说,信徒得胜是因“自己所见证的道”。这不仅是指我们向别人传福音时所说的话,也包括我们整个人生所发出的见证。一个顺服基督的人,本身就是对黑暗的一种抵抗。当我们拒绝谎言,选择诚实;拒绝苦毒,选择饶恕;拒绝私欲,选择圣洁;拒绝惧怕,选择信靠,我们的生活就在宣告:耶稣是主。主耶稣曾赐门徒权柄胜过污鬼,今天属祂的人也不是毫无防备的百姓。我们的权柄不是来自自己,而是来自与基督的联合。 可是,得胜也带着责任。我们不能一边说爱主,一边故意给魔鬼留地步。蛇是不能拿来玩的,罪也是不能拿来试探的。我们都会软弱,也都会跌倒,但方向必须清楚。一个真正跟随主的人,不会把罪当朋友,不会把邪恶当娱乐,也不会把妥协当智慧。若生活中有明显违背神的话语之处,就要承认、悔改、离开。属灵争战常常不是从赶走黑暗开始,而是从关上自己亲手打开的门开始。 这也包括远离一切与邪术、占卜、星座、通灵、巫术和迷信有关的事。有些人觉得这些只是好玩、参考、文化习惯或心理安慰,但圣经从不鼓励神的儿女从黑暗中寻求方向。我们的引导来自神的话语和圣灵,不来自神所禁止的渠道。若一个人每天看星座来决定心情,或依赖算命来选择道路,他其实是在把心门交给不该信任的声音。要得胜,就要把这些东西清理出去,让基督重新掌权。 神还赐给我们两个重要武器:圣经和祷告。以弗所书6:17称神的道为“圣灵的宝剑”。一把长期不用的剑会生锈,一个长期不读经的心也会迟钝。祷告也是如此。祷告不是紧急时才按下的求救按钮,而是每天与神同行的呼吸。读经使我们认识真理,祷告使我们亲近赐真理的主。一个常在神话语和祷告中的人,不一定没有争战,却会越来越懂得站稳。 明天,我们将开始关于天堂的学习,邀请你一同进入这充满喜乐和盼望的主题。愿主耶稣的得胜成为你的信心,愿圣灵使你警醒刚强,愿天父保守你远离恶者,使你的生命成为清楚的见证。愿你靠着羔羊的血、见证的道,并一颗不妥协的心,天天行在基督的胜利中。 愿主赐福你,坚固你,并带领你在祂的光中得胜前行。 Pastor Hogg
The Cross We Choose at Day’s End
As the Day Ends For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake. Philippians 1:29 As the day ends, Philippians 1:29 reminds us that faith in Christ is not only a gift of belief, but also a calling into fellowshipContinue reading “The Cross We Choose at Day’s End”
Faith That Steps Before It Sees the Whole Road
DID YOU KNOW Did You Know? Faith in Scripture is more than agreement in the mind; it is trust that moves the feet. Jonathan’s story in 1 Samuel 14 reminds us that biblical faith is never merely a thought we admire from a safe distance. Jonathan looked at a Philistine garrison, saw the impossible odds,Continue reading “Faith That Steps Before It Sees the Whole Road”
Loved Enough to Be Called His Child
On Second Thought Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! 1 John 3:1 There are some truths in Scripture that do not merely inform the mind; they steady the heart. The fatherhood of God is one of those truths. John does not whisperContinue reading “Loved Enough to Be Called His Child”
Glad to Go Up
The Bible in a Year I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the Lord. Psalm 122:1 As we walk through the Bible in a Year, Psalm 122 gives us a necessary correction for the heart. David does not say, “I was pressured when they said unto me,”Continue reading “Glad to Go Up”