Loving our enemies, righteousness, prayers, and a simple life define who we are as Christians. Too many of us think life is just fine until a storm hits where we need to call out to Christ to help us walk across those slippery rocks and stormy waters. It is in those times when I have found the cost of being a disciple of Christ to be hard and sometimes, frustrating. Time and again, when I give those problems to Christ,…..
In studying Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s book, “The Cost of Discipleship,” I am struck by his insights on how being a disciple of Christ demands more of every individual than what I have previously considered essential to be a Christian. Faith is only possible when the following two ideas are equally true and good: 1. Only he who believes is obedient, and 2. Only he who is obedient believes. Christ is the only one who can tell us when faith is possible…..
There are two kinds of grace: cheap grace and costly grace. Cheap grace is sold by some churches like cheap wine that we crave daily. It is a general truth that offers the world an inexpensive covering for its sins. Cheap grace avoids the Living Word of God and its personification of Jesus Christ. Cheap grace justifies sin without naming the sinner. Cheap grace does not free us from the problems of sin; it is the grace we give ourselves. …..
God laughs with us and hears our prayers. He sings with us and cries with us. He loves to share in our play and in our laughter. Our long, austere faces do not please Him. He wants us to be good, not haughty and prideful. There should be a difference between worship, work, and play, but all should be to the glory of God. There is something inadequate about your writing and singing when He is not a part of…..
What do you say when you are asked, “Where’s your faith now that trouble has knocked at your door?” Do you say, “God helps those who help themselves?” Or do you say, “God will help me solve my problems because I trust and love Him?” In all situations, our actions matter more to God than how we think or how intellectual our decisions are. Jesus was not making fun of us when He said, “With faith the size of a…..
When the crowds could not find Jesus and his disciples, they took their boats across the sea to the town of Capernaum. When they found Jesus, they asked why He came to Capernaum. He said, “You are looking for me because you ate a meal I provided for you. Do not work for food that perishes but for food that endures for eternal life. God has set His seal on the Son of Man.” The crowd asked what they could…..
Yesterday, I watched a movie called “Play the Flute,” and the following question crossed my mind. Do Christians sound the trumpet about God’s Word and His Son, Jesus Christ, or do they play the flute when they speak to their families and friends of God’s love, grace, and forgiveness? If you know how loud a trumpet sounds, then you know what Christians should be showing the world about God’s love through their words, thoughts, and deeds. If, however, you know…..
Psalm 139, Book V, asks the Lord to search for what is good and what is not good in us. We are thankful for everything good and for all that God has given us. We are, also, thankful for everything that is not good because we grow from learning what our faults are. In both cases, we ask God to lead us to the everlasting way. Psalm 139 The Lord knows who I am because He made me. He knows…..
Psalm 150, Book V, encourages us to praise the Lord wherever we are and for all the things He has given us. Using all our instruments, we are to make loud and joyful noises to the Lord. Every creature and every person that draws breath is to praise the Lord. Psalm 150 Praise the Lord in His sanctuary and in the firmament of His power. Praise His mighty acts and according to His excellent greatness. Praise Him with the trumpet,…..
Psalm 121, Book V, acknowledges that when we need help, we should look up to the hills. God lives in those hills and gives us what we need to survive any trouble. Similarly, there’s a commercial on television asking Americans to look up for hope after a horrendous and deadly year and a half of COVID-19, to get vaccinated so that we can surmount this plaque. The non-believers don’t care about anybody or themselves because they refuse to get vaccinated,…..