A kingdom portfolio typically does not consist of investments that enrich us. It looks to loving people and finding ways to serve them. It looks to loving God and the benefits of a life devoted to Him. We see that vividly in our Lord Jesus who sought not to be served but to serve.  ... Continue Reading

Legalism says we can be good enough in and of ourselves, earning God’s favor by constant self-improvement. This denies the gospel and rejects the Bible, which says that God saves us and grows us, by his grace, through faith in Christ (Ephesians 2:4-10). The gospel is a message of radical grace and love: God in... Continue Reading

We must patiently set aside the need to know every detail of how our loved one is feeling, or what they are thinking, and simply display the compassion of one who is willing to step into the pain with our loved one. Compassion doesn’t demand answers, but watches for opportunities to serve the hurting.  ... Continue Reading

“We all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another” (2 Corinthians 3:18). We behold Christ’s glory, but that leads us then to being changed from one degree of glory to the next. We will one day be glorified fully,... Continue Reading

Restoration is, ultimately, a work of Jesus and His Holy Spirit. The shepherd who leaves the ninety-nine to pursue the one missing sheep (Lk. 15:3ff) isn’t you or me, but Jesus. At best, we are simply the crooks used by the shepherd to reel back in the wayward lamb.   Brothers, if anyone is caught... Continue Reading

Through the Spirit’s continued work, we begin to desire that righteousness. One misinterpretation of this beatitude, however, is to see it as a pang of hunger after a morality that is natural and godless. This is a morality that is driven by the desire to please people, and to have a clear conscience, but, in... Continue Reading

George Herbert found, as most poets have, that the effort to put the glimpse of glory into striking or moving words makes the glimpse grow. The poetic effort to say beautifully was a way of seeing beauty. The effort to find worthy words for Christ opens to us more fully the worth of Christ —... Continue Reading

In the current intellectual climate, the best way to bring someone over to your side is not to try to convince them they’re wrong, but convince them they’re irrelevant. “Look, I’m not saying I’m right, I’m just saying I’m open and curious and you’re not.” Who wants to hear that? Ours is the era not... Continue Reading

God wants us to walk in love, which requires avoiding law-based sanctification as well as grace-abusing approaches to the Christian life—not only for our spiritual health but also for the sake of those whom we disciple.   The heart motivation behind Jesus’ teaching ministry was His love for God and others. This explains why, when... Continue Reading

Our worship is no longer the worship of one chosen ethnic race, but the worship of representatives of all nations, tribes, and tongues. But what remains constant is that worship is still a privilege given to us by God and that when it comes to the elements and even the style of our worship, we still... Continue Reading