On Second Thought “I am the Lord your God: walk in My statutes, keep My judgments, and do them.” — Ezekiel 20:19 There is a tension within the Christian life that many believers quietly wrestle with. Scripture commands holiness, obedience, righteousness, and faithful living, yet every honest Christian eventually discovers how weak human strength trulyContinue reading “Holiness in Borrowed Strength”
Tag Archives: abiding in Christ
The Hidden Life That Bears Fruit
A Day in the Life “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for apart from Me, you can do nothing.” – John 15:5 As I walk through the words of Jesus in John 15, I find myself slowing down, almost as ifContinue reading “The Hidden Life That Bears Fruit”
The Quiet Strength of Staying Near
As the Day Ends As the day settles into stillness, there is a gentle invitation from God that often goes unnoticed. It is not loud or demanding, but steady and faithful: remain close. The promise of Isaiah 45:19 reminds us, “I, the Lord, speak the truth; I declare what is right.” God is not hiddenContinue reading “The Quiet Strength of Staying Near”
Held in a Love That Does Not Let Go
As the Day Ends As the day settles into quiet, we often become more aware of what we lack than what we have. There are moments we replay—words we wish we had said differently, decisions we question, and lingering doubts about whether we are truly walking in faith. It is here, in the stillness ofContinue reading “Held in a Love That Does Not Let Go”
Rooted in Him, Living Through Him
“As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him… abounding in it with thanksgiving.” — Colossians 2:6–7 There is a subtle but powerful distinction in Paul’s language that reshapes how we understand the Christian life. He does not instruct us to walk “after” Christ, asContinue reading “Rooted in Him, Living Through Him”
The Life That Flows Through the Vine
DID YOU KNOW One of the most meaningful teachings Jesus gave His disciples during His final evening with them appears in John 15. The setting is intimate and urgent. The cross is only hours away, and Jesus is preparing His followers for a future that will include hardship, persecution, and the responsibility of continuing HisContinue reading “The Life That Flows Through the Vine”
Resting Against the Heart of Redeeming Love
As the Day Ends There is something deeply calming about the image of placing your ear against the chest of the Savior and hearing the steady pulse of boundless love. At the close of a long day—when fatigue settles in and the mind begins to replay both victories and failures—we are invited to rest notContinue reading “Resting Against the Heart of Redeeming Love”
The Loving Knife of the Gardener
On Second Thought In John 15, Jesus offers one of His most tender and searching images: “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser” (John 15:1). Then He speaks words that are both comforting and unsettling: “You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should goContinue reading “The Loving Knife of the Gardener”
Living the Exchanged Life
A Day in the Life “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me” (Galatians 2:20, NIV). When I sit with those words, IContinue reading “Living the Exchanged Life”
The Strength of Coming Home
On Second Thought There is something inside every one of us that longs for independence. From childhood forward, we measure growth by increasing autonomy. We remember milestone moments—the first day of school, the first set of car keys, the first paycheck earned by our own effort. Maturity, in our culture, is often defined by self-sufficiency.Continue reading “The Strength of Coming Home”