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I don’t know that judging the success of others is really any of my business, especially when the topic is so subjective and there are so many levels and definitions of what it means to be successful. But any measure of success we accomplish as Christians must start and finish with our willingness to accept Christ’s call to, “Come, follow me.” Which can be a daunting task, until we realize that God is interested in and seeks to be involved with every aspect of our lives (Revelation 3:20) – if we allow Him to be – making our lives more productive,…  ( Click for more )

Last week we examined a number of instances of people caught up in sin who reacted in several different ways. Sorrow that was superficial or immobilizing and consequently counter-productive, or deeply felt motivation for change. This week we will try to understand why some people become totally consumed by the consequences of their sin while others pick up the pieces – repentant and humbled – yet able to make a difference, finding inspiration in the process.

Godly sorrow acknowledges God as the highest authority, accepts moral absolutes relating…  ( Click for more )

Have you ever expressed sorrow because of circumstances that were beyond your control? What was your motivation? I hope genuine sympathy for those experiencing difficulty. Have you ever apologized because you knew you had done wrong – and been found out – or even when no one else had caught on yet? What was your motivation? Concern for the one wronged, regret, repentance? Realizing our need in sorrow can be a good gauge of our spiritual maturity; what we do with our lives afterward is a good indicator of our sincerity and understanding of God. As, “Godly…  ( Click for more )

Deciding whose counsel is acceptable and whose advice is best disregarded can be complicated and achieved primarily through experience. Jesus declared that wisdom is proved right by the actions it promotes. (Matthew 11:19); reinforcing Proverbs’ injunction to, “Listen to advice and accept instruction and in the end you will be wise..” Proverbs 19:20 And “Whoever gives heed to instruction prospers,…’ Prob. 15:20 Yet even here, a specific source of instruction and advice is recommended. “I will instruct you and teach you…  ( Click for more )

Whenever a sensational event happens that is so steeped in controversy, as the George Floyd murder is, I often try to keep quiet for a while, sorting fact from fiction – where possible – sifting through the hyperbole and raw emotion to ascertain who really did what to whom. The genuine facts of an incident often becoming clearer with time and distance. And infact, there have been absurdly exaggerated statements and actions perpetrated by both sides of this debated incident. But whatever Mr. Floyd may have done or been in the past, he certainly didn’t…  ( Click for more )

According to Jesus, faith is nothing less than a complete exchange of all we are for all he is. His declaration, recorded in John 12:25, intriguing and concerning me. “The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.” Does that mean we should loathe the life we presumably have as a gift from him? I don’t think so. Other scripture defining “world” this way, “…the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does… but…  ( Click for more )

Although we are called to be holy (1 Peter 1:15,16) and perfect (Matthew 5:48), we are never called to be better than anyone else; merely better than we were before. We are said to be saints (Colossians 1:12), a title we should aspire to while recognizing we are yet sinners (1 John 1:8) saved by grace. (Ephesians 2:8,9) Which is where our distinctiveness is derived. As people who don’t always get it right but who know the difference by virtue of an association with Jesus Christ, we strive to do our best as defined by Him in His word. Distinctiveness…  ( Click for more )

Scripture at times gives frustratingly few details of many of the characters involved in spreading the gospel story; large gaps even left out of the life of Christ. There’s a reason for that, seeing how we have such a difficult time accepting, understanding and sharing what we “know” properly; much else would undoubtedly be a distraction and hindrance for us. However, that lack of personal information doesn’t indicate lack of worth. Rather it focuses our attention on Jesus while fostering an acceptance of our station as assistants in spreading…  ( Click for more )

In the first chapter of Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, he speaks both of God being “Blessed” (the NIV’s “Praise be”) by our acceptance of his grace and purposes, and our receipt of a seven-fold blessing in return.

First, He blesses us with “every spiritual blessing,” salvation being uppermost in our minds but daily guidance, grace, the Holy Spirit’s intercession for us, etc. quickly follow as reasons for praise and thanksgiving.

Second, He chooses us as his own. To be sure, we need to respond to…  ( Click for more )

So says Psalm 34:7, with the assurance then that “he delivers them.” But what does that mean? There have been a number of tragedies in our church family over the years, with the resultant questions of: Why? To what purpose? And finally, How could God make – or allow – this to happen?

Which in turn raises the question: Does God deliver us out of all trouble or lead us through it? The disconcerting answer being – both. Disconcerting because we don’t want to be delivered through our problems but avoid them altogether. The…  ( Click for more )

Precious little is written about John Mark in scripture, but what is recorded is fascinating and instructive. His story actually begins with Peter, who had been arrested by Herod as part of a pacification program, probably intending to kill him as he had James. But God had other plans, miraculously releasing Peter the night before his trial. Upon his escape, Peter went to a local house-church overseen by Mary, John Mark’s mother. From there, Peter went into hiding as Herod continued to search for him, hoping to please his Jewish subjects who were agitating for…  ( Click for more )

In continuing our examination of the lives of Joseph (last week) and now Esther, we are compelled to once again remember Romans 8:28 “…we know that in all things God works for the good of those how love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”

ESTHER - A member of the “weaker sex,” yet a strong arm of God and a means of salvation for her people. The story of Esther is recorded in ten short chapters of the Old Testament. Certainly not every incident, circumstance or emotion of her life is recorded but the essentials are…  ( Click for more )

A brief look at the lives of Joseph and Esther – heroes of faith and action – quite effectively illustrate how God’s will can be found in confusing, even contrary circumstances. Their stories highlighting the fact that we are never promised an easy, problem-free life as believers; in fact, just the opposite. Jesus assuring us of an exchange of better things for the good we may be required to give up in following him, reminding us of the fact of his persecution, which would only reasonably lead to the same for those choosing to follow in his foot- steps.…  ( Click for more )

The extent to which many of us worry can hardly be overstated. We are concerned for our future, fuss over politics, and wonder about our health. We fear violent crime, bemoan racial divisions, and fret over the economy. Insecurity abounds and often wreaks havoc on our psyche and our relationships. Molly Bell, writing in the “Atlantic,” recently noted, “Fear is in the air, and fear is surging. Americans are more afraid today than they have been in a long time.” And now, with the Coronavirus outbreak, many lives are filled with unmitigated…  ( Click for more )

The gospel’s offer of salvation is both an appeal and a command for sinners to repent and follow the dictates of the Savior; not a plea of passive acceptance, becoming a salve for guilty consciences – nor a means of enabling willful individuals to do as they please even as they claim the blood of Christ for salvation.

Jesus’ first recorded message was, “Repent and believe the good news!; on the heels of which he challenged his first “converts” to, “Come, follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Mark 1:15-17…  ( Click for more )

The concepts of mercy and grace are cornerstones of Christian salvation, but do the spiritual attributes of mercy and grace have anything to do with our personal relationships with others? We know Jesus, “…came to seek and to save what was lost.” Luke 9:10 He did so by becoming the substitutionary sacrifice for our sin; offering forgiveness and heaven in exchange for a recognition of need, acknowledgement of responsibility and repentance of sin. But to what extent does being merciful apply to us? We certainly can’t “forgive” sin,…  ( Click for more )