Run with perseverance the race marked out for us. —Hebrews 12:1 It is one thing to start well; quite another to finish well. The Christian life is more than being fast out of the blocks; it’s a marathon of growth and persistence … Add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; […]
From Start to Finish Read More »
O Lord, please send someone else to do it. —Exod. 4:13 Moses was a shepherd, not a politician; a stutterer, not a polished orator. He wasn’t qualified to face-off with Pharaoh. God was point-blank: “I will be with you”
Are You Available? Read More »
In Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha … who was always doing good. —Acts 9:36 Tsunamis. Earthquakes. Tornadoes. Hurricanes. Fires. Floods. Thousands dead. Millions injured, displaced, or missing. Instant news overexposes us to suffering and sometimes strangles our charitable impulse;
He was rich. But something was missing. So he came to Jesus with a question: “What must I do to inherit eternal life?” (Mk. 10:17). Obey the commandments. Done that. What else must I do? Well, if you’re serious, sell your stuff, give to the poor, and follow me. That was setting the bar too
You’ve Come, But Will You Stay? Read More »
Love your neighbor as yourself. —Leviticus 19:18 Your friend is a baby step from the edge of the cliff because of secret sins. You assure her of God’s love and forgiveness. You love your neighbor as yourself. Now love yourself as your neighbor. Treat yourself with as much kindness
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He will wipe away every tear … and death shall be no more. —Revelation 21:4 You sidestepped it as long as you could. You knew it had to come someday, but avoided talking about it, or even thinking about it. The calendar was running out of pages. You knew that, but didn’t think
Losing the One You Love Read More »
God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. —1 Thessalonians 4:14 Saying goodbye is never easy. You cry. You smile. Cry because it’s over. Smile because it happened. The story of your life wouldn’t have unfolded so beautifully if that special person hadn’t stepped into it and helped write
As I have loved you, so you must love one another. —John 13:34 Love for family and friends: spouse for spouse, parent for child, child for parent, friend for friend. Easy. And lovely. Love for the less fortunate: the poor, the sick, the sorrowing, the suffering, the down-and-out. Compassionate.
Four Levels of Love Read More »
We are convinced that one died for all. —2 Corinthians 5:14 Caiaphas was a savvy politician; knew how to read the polls and run the numbers. The Sanhedrin was in a stew. Jesus was drawing a crowd, and that had the court shaking in their sandals, fearing
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He was called God’s friend. —James 2:23 “The Lord would speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks with his friend” (Exo. 33:11). In Jehoshaphat’s Temple prayer, he said that Abraham was God’s friend (2 Chron. 20:7). In Isaiah God said it himself, calling him “Abraham my friend,” (Isa.
