On Second Thought “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” —Hebrews 11:1 Faith is one of the most familiar words in the Christian vocabulary, yet it is also one of the easiest to misunderstand. When life becomes emotionally exhausting, someone may say, “Just have faith.” The adviceContinue reading “Faith That Moves Before the Morning Comes”
Tag Archives: Christian discipleship
When the Wind Blows Against Your Faith
As the Day Ends “When his disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, Who then can be saved?” — Matthew 19:25 Jesus never persuaded people to follow Him by concealing the cost. In Matthew 19, the rich young ruler departed sorrowfully because obedience required a surrender he was unwilling to make. The disciples wereContinue reading “When the Wind Blows Against Your Faith”
When Faithfulness Is Misunderstood
In the Life of Christ “Then Jesus entered a house, and the crowd gathered again, so that they were not even able to eat. When His family heard about this, they set out to restrain Him, because they said, ‘He’s out of His mind.’” Mark 3:20–21 There is a particular loneliness that comes when theContinue reading “When Faithfulness Is Misunderstood”
When Self Must Step Aside
As the Day Begins “Chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, self-willed.” 2 Peter 2:10 Self-interest can hide beneath respectable language. We may call it ambition, personal freedom, self-protection, or simply “doing what is best for me.” Yet Scripture asks us to look moreContinue reading “When Self Must Step Aside”
When Sin Becomes a Laughing Matter
The Bible in a Year “Fools make a mock at sin: but among the righteous there is favor.” Proverbs 14:9 Proverbs speaks with a directness that can make us uncomfortable, yet that discomfort is often part of its mercy. It identifies foolishness not merely as a lack of intelligence but as a moral resistance toContinue reading “When Sin Becomes a Laughing Matter”
Faith Is a Beginning, Not a Finish Line
As the Day Begins “If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed.” John 8:31 Many people think of faith mainly as a decision made in the past: a prayer prayed, an aisle walked, a confession spoken, or a baptism remembered. Those moments matter greatly, but Jesus does not describe discipleship asContinue reading “Faith Is a Beginning, Not a Finish Line”
When Mercy Refuses to Wait
In the Life of Christ When I walk with Jesus into the synagogue in Mark 3, I can almost feel the room tightening. A man is there with a withered hand, but he is not the only one exposed. The Pharisees are watching Jesus closely, not to learn from Him, but to accuse Him. BibleRefContinue reading “When Mercy Refuses to Wait”
When God Says, “Fill Your Horn and Go”
DID YOU KNOW Did You Know? God does not rebuke grief, but He does call us not to live inside it forever. In 1 Samuel 16:1, the Lord asks Samuel, “How long will you mourn about Saul?” That question is not cruel. God is not dismissing Samuel’s sorrow or pretending the disappointment did not hurt.Continue reading “When God Says, “Fill Your Horn and Go””
When Truth Becomes a Person Again
As the Day Ends Then cried Jesus in the temple…I am not come of myself, but he that sent me is true, whom ye know not. John 7:28 As the day ends, John 7:28 invites us to lay down more than our work; it invites us to lay down the pride of thinking we canContinue reading “When Truth Becomes a Person Again”
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”