Today I read a blog post from a Christian teacher that said these words, “I would hate to be looking for a wife today, because I wanted to marry a virgin and I did.” First, let me say I understand the spiritual, psychological and moral value of virginity. I have taught it, and I will [...]
Philippians 4:4,6,8-9 (NASB95) 4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice! 6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God which surpasses all comprehension will guard your hearts and mind in Christ Jesus. [...]
Philippians 4:4,6,8-9 (NASB95) 4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice! 6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God which surpasses all comprehension will guard your hearts and mind in Christ Jesus. [...]
Philippians 4:8 (NASB95) 8Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things. The word translated ‘dwell’ here is also translated to ‘calculate or reckon.’ What is the [...]
The word translated ‘encourage’ in the New Testament is so great! It means something like “to call along side, to call out.” Simply put, I believe the word may suggest two unique dynamics that are part of encouragement… (1) to “call alongside” – for help or aid - you know, “to be there!” and (2) [...]
I would like to take a few days of our devotional and examine some of the passages of scripture that make reference to mercy… especially in the New Testament. Remember the proposition: “Mercy is the force of God’s refusal to join us in validating any identity other than sin or judgment would give us.” Matthew [...]
In the closing verses of John 13 the Apostle Peter tells Jesus that he is willing to follow him wherever, whenever, no matter what… with no limitations… up to and including giving his life for Jesus. Jesus replies: “Bro, before the sun rises you will throw me under the bus at least three times!” Wow! [...]
In the last several days I’ve received some great questions and observations. Here’s a couple that many of us seem to think about: “Can you really assess without assigning? Don’t they go hand in hand?” “When is it okay to put people in their place? I know there have to be instances where this is [...]
OK… so… IF… IF mercy is: “The force of God’s refusal to join us in any identity other than the identity He has declared for us in His word.” … (Remember I said, “IF!”) Then…. Mercy is essentially God saying, “No!” to anything that would try to give us an identity other than His will, [...]
“Thou shalt not put people in their place…for thou shalt be put in yours!” The last message here was from the book of James chapter 2… It had to do with one of the concepts of ‘judgment’ in scripture. Not all the uses of the word judgment in the Bible are necessarily negative… but the [...]