In the Life of Christ “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” — Mark 1:17 There is something almost startling about the simplicity of Jesus’ call in Mark 1:16–20. Simon and Andrew are working. James and John are working. Nobody is sitting in a synagogue waiting forContinue reading “WHEN JESUS CALLS YOU OUT OF THE BOAT”
Tag Archives: Christian discipleship
WHEN HEAVEN NOTICES THE ORDINARY
As the Day Begins “The things that thou hast heard…commit thou to faithful men.” — 2 Timothy 2:2 There is something wonderfully ordinary about faithfulness. It rarely makes headlines. Nobody gathers a crowd because someone showed up on time, kept a promise, prayed when no one was watching, cared for the same person another day,Continue reading “WHEN HEAVEN NOTICES THE ORDINARY”
WHEN THE WORD MOVES FROM THE PAGE TO THE HEART
As the Day Ends “Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.” — Psalm 119:11 As this day closes, Psalm 119:11 gives us a quiet but demanding question: Where does the Word of God actually live in me? It is possible to own several Bibles, hear Scripture preached,Continue reading “WHEN THE WORD MOVES FROM THE PAGE TO THE HEART”
THE FIRST THING ANDREW DID
In the Life of Christ “The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, ‘We have found the Messiah’ (that is, the Christ). And he brought him to Jesus.” — John 1:41–42 There is something wonderfully uncomplicated about Andrew. He does not appear in the Gospels as the loudest disciple,Continue reading “THE FIRST THING ANDREW DID”
THE COURAGE TO POINT BEYOND YOURSELF
In the Life of Christ “The next day John was there again with two of his disciples. When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, ‘Look, the Lamb of God!’” —John 1:35–36 John the Baptist had spent his ministry gathering disciples, preaching repentance, baptizing those who responded, and preparing Israel for the arrival of theContinue reading “THE COURAGE TO POINT BEYOND YOURSELF”
Faith That Moves Before the Morning Comes
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”
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”