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”
Tag Archives: Christian obedience
The God We Trust and the Excuses We Make
DID YOU KNOW Trust shapes nearly every decision we make. We follow directions because we trust the person giving them, accept advice because we trust its source, and take risks because we trust the promised outcome. The Parable of the Ten Minas in Luke 19:11–27 asks us to examine whether we truly trust the characterContinue reading “The God We Trust and the Excuses We Make”
When Faith Has No Backup Plan
As the Day Begins “So that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ.” — Philippians 1:10 There is a difference between saying we trust God and actually arranging our lives as though we trust Him. That difference is often discovered not inContinue reading “When Faith Has No Backup Plan”
When God Has Already Spoken
The Bible in a Year There is a scene in Jeremiah 37 that feels remarkably familiar even though it happened more than twenty-five centuries ago. Jerusalem is under pressure from Babylon, King Zedekiah is frightened, and suddenly the prophet he had allowed to be imprisoned becomes very important. Zedekiah secretly brings Jeremiah out and asksContinue reading “When God Has Already Spoken”
Before the Heart Freezes
As the Day Begins “Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief.” — Hebrews 3:12 There is a dangerous kind of unbelief that does not begin with rejecting God outright. It begins by hearing God and repeatedly postponing our response. A. W. Tozer compared this to becoming spirituallyContinue reading “Before the Heart Freezes”
WHEN JESUS TAKES HIS RIGHTFUL PLACE
As the Day Begins “And every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” —Philippians 2:11 There is a difference between inviting Jesus into part of our lives and recognizing that every part of our lives already belongs to Him. Philippians 2:11 does not merely ask us to speakContinue reading “WHEN JESUS TAKES HIS RIGHTFUL PLACE”
The Christ Who Has Every Right to Rule
The Bible in a Year “The Lord is our judge, the Lord is our lawgiver, the Lord is our king; he will save us.” —Isaiah 33:22 Isaiah 33:22 gathers four great truths about God’s authority into one compact declaration: He is Judge, Lawgiver, King, and Savior. Though Isaiah spoke into the historical circumstances of Judah,Continue reading “The Christ Who Has Every Right to Rule”
When Christ Is No Longer Asked to Wait
As the Day Begins “If any man…consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ…he is proud, knowing nothing.” —1 Timothy 6:3–4 There is a subtle way pride can disguise itself as careful consideration. We tell ourselves that we are still thinking, still evaluating, still deciding what place Jesus should haveContinue reading “When Christ Is No Longer Asked to Wait”
THE DOOR THAT OPENS WHILE YOU ARE STILL WAITING
On Second Thought “I know your works. See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it; for you have a little strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My name.” Revelation 3:8 An open door often sounds exciting until we realize that walking through it may requireContinue reading “THE DOOR THAT OPENS WHILE YOU ARE STILL WAITING”
When God Makes His Home Within Us
As the Day Ends “…If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.” John 14:23 As this day comes to a close, Jesus gives us an image that is both tender and searching. He does notContinue reading “When God Makes His Home Within Us”