On Second Thought There is a considerable difference between possessing a statement of faith and living a life of faith. We may affirm that Jesus is Lord, Scripture is true, prayer matters, temptation is dangerous, and obedience is necessary. Yet those convictions become spiritually effective only when they influence our choices, habits, relationships, and responsesContinue reading “When Belief Steps Out of the Church Door”
Category Archives: On Second Thought
The Strength That Begins on Our Knees
On Second Thought There are moments when the Christian life feels more complicated than it should. We search for the right strategy, the strongest argument, or the spiritual technique that will finally make us victorious. Yet Paul warned the Corinthians that their minds could be “corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ” (2 CorinthiansContinue reading “The Strength That Begins on Our Knees”
When Appetite Outruns Wisdom
On Second Thought “For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.” — Galatians 5:17, KJV Some of our most regrettable choices are made in remarkably short moments. We may spend yearsContinue reading “When Appetite Outruns Wisdom”
The Doorway Out of the Sin We Keep Returning To
On Second Thought “And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” —John 8:32 Freedom is one of those words that sounds wonderful until we discover what Christ means by it. We often define freedom as the ability to do whatever we desire. Jesus describes freedom as deliverance from the desiresContinue reading “The Doorway Out of the Sin We Keep Returning To”
Good News From the Battlefield
On Second Thought “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” —John 3:16 Some words become so familiar that we stop hearing the wonder within them. “Gospel” is one of those words. We use it to describe booksContinue reading “Good News From the Battlefield”
The Door God Opens in Temptation
On Second Thought “No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.” —1 Corinthians 10:13 TemptationContinue reading “The Door God Opens in Temptation”
When Failure Sends You Home
On Second Thought Peter’s declaration sounded courageous when he made it: “Lord, why can I not follow You now? I will lay down my life for Your sake” (John 13:37). We can almost hear the confidence in his voice. Peter loved Jesus, and he sincerely believed his devotion was strong enough to withstand whatever cameContinue reading “When Failure Sends You Home”
When Sin No Longer Matches Who You Are
On Second Thought “To be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.” —Romans 8:6 Have you ever put on a piece of clothing that no longer fit? Perhaps it once felt comfortable, but now it pinches, restricts, or simply looks out of place. You may try to adjust it,Continue reading “When Sin No Longer Matches Who You Are”
The Battle Is Often Lost Before the Temptation Arrives
On Second Thought “Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.” — James 4:7 Second Samuel 11 opens with a seemingly ordinary detail: “It happened in the spring of the year, at the time when kings go out to battle…David remained at Jerusalem.” The writer does not directly tell usContinue reading “The Battle Is Often Lost Before the Temptation Arrives”
You Cannot Practice for Temptation After It Arrives
On Second Thought “Reject profane and old wives’ fables, and exercise yourself toward godliness.” —1 Timothy 4:7 Nobody decides to run a marathon on Monday and successfully completes it on Tuesday. The person crossing the finish line has usually spent months, perhaps years, preparing for that moment. Long before spectators gathered and the starting gunContinue reading “You Cannot Practice for Temptation After It Arrives”