Responsible Love Requires Costly Grace What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it? Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even... Read more
Temptation is Being Tricked to be Irresponsible And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. (Matthew 6:13 NKJV) Dietrich Bonhöffer once said: Action springs not from thought, but from a readiness for responsibility. Every behavior requires a choice. Every choice is based on a belief. To properly respond (or to make the right choice in a situation) requires knowing what is... Read more
Restraining Yourself with Physical Reins of Control Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy. Romans 13:13 (NKJV) Christians are called by the Bible to walk properly. The emphasis in our walk is to be in the day as opposed in the night. The use of the word day is used in the New Testament to describe good character. We walk in public in a... Read more
Fasting is Feasting on God in Prayer “Say to all the people of the land, and to the priests: “When you fasted and mourned in the fifth and seventh months during those seventy years, did you really fast for Me–for Me? (Zechariah 7:5 NKJV) Fasting is feasting on God in prayer. When someone has a feast, they literally stuff themselves full of good food. When you participate in a feast, you are taking time to ENJOY the time you have... Read more
The Real Olympic Parade Revelation 19:1-9 I have been watching the Olympic procession of athletes for the Winter Olympic in Torino, Italy. It always amazes me to see how the opening ceremonies are presented. As I watch the torch is being lit. This traditionally starts the Olympic Games. Nice effects. Lots of light and fire. But before the big lighting of the torch, there were these ceremonial rituals. First came the procession of the athletes from each nation. They... Read more
Dealing with Islamic Persecution “But just as then the child born according to the flesh persecuted the one born according to the Spirit, so also now. But what does the Scripture say? Drive out the slave and her son, for the son of the slave will never be a coheir with the son of the free woman.” (Galatians 4:29–30, HCSB) There has been many news reports about the backlash by followers of Islam to a cartoon that depicts Muhammud with... Read more
Leprous Greed 2 Kings 5:20-27 Have you ever seen someone refuse money that you thought was good to take for yourself? Have you ever said: “Man, I could use that money.” It is said in another verse that money is the root of all kinds of evil. Here in 2 Kings we see an illustration of that principle. Gehazi was a servant of the prophet Elisha. Gehazi was in the ministry working with Elisha. Elisha has just healed a man... Read more
Should I Fast? “by asking the priests who were at the house of the Lord of Hosts as well as the prophets, “Should we mourn and fast in the fifth month as we have done these many years?”” (Zechariah 7:3, HCSB) The question is one that Christians ask quite often. They ask themselves, just as the people in the time of Zechariah asked themselves: Should I fast? In reality, everyone fasts at least once a day. You have just fasted... Read more
Lukewarm Faith is a Lazy Faith “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot,[7] I will vomit you out of My mouth. Because you say, “I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’–and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked– (Revelation 3:15-17 NKJV) Lukewarm stuff tastes horrible. No one likes... Read more
What Hope Is There in Sickness? Surely you have instructed many, And you have strengthened weak hands. Your words have upheld him who was stumbling, And you have strengthened the feeble knees; But now it comes upon you, and you are weary; It touches you, and you are troubled. Is not your reverence your confidence? And the integrity of your ways your hope? (Job 4:3-6 NKJV) My wife and I were talking today. I want to share with you something... Read more
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