When I Don’t Feel Successful
The Gospel says more about us than our failures do
“The verdict God speaks over us trumps every other verdict spoken over us by our voices or the voices of others. God uses our failures to wean us off self-righteousness and point us to Jesus, in whom we find a righteousness that is sufficient for our confidence, value, and unshakable joy. In Christ, the power... Continue Reading
Of Good Works
There are two dangers that believers must guard ourselves against as we pursue good works.
So, one danger is to trust in our strength rather than the power of the Holy Spirit to do good works. The second danger is the opposite: becoming complacent in our pursuit of good works by waiting for a special impetus or ‘stirring up’ by the Holy Spirit. But, the Lord has already told us in His Word what He requires of us (Micah 6:8). Indeed, we are to diligently add to our faith such things as moral excellence, knowledge of God’s Word, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness, and love (2 Peter 1:5-7).
Why Paula White is a Heretic
One example is her affirmation of the statement that “Jesus is not the only begotten Son of God … He is the first fruit.”
She is either denying the deity of Jesus or elevating believers to deity. She goes on later to say in a CNN interview that she affirms the Nicene Creed. But saying you do doesn’t actually mean that you do. I wonder if she even understands the Arian heresy the Council of Nicaea was called to address?
The Myth of Influence
The cause of biblical Christianity has been undermined in our time by sincere people who engage in unbiblical activities for the sake of “being an influence.”
The only way to dispel the myth of influence is to commit ourselves anew to the importance of biblical theology as the foundation for Christian action. We must allow the Bible in its fullness to direct our thinking and our doing. We must remember that Paul did not preach an abbreviated gospel, but declared the... Continue Reading
How Much Blood Will Save My Soul?
It is only the blood of Jesus Christ offered once and for all that can cleanse us from all sin.
The High Priest came out from his once-a-year visit to the Most Holy Place and said, “That’s it, you don’t need to come back next year or ever again!” No, he came out and all that could be said was “See you again next year.” The sacrifices were a powerful reminder of sin, but, in... Continue Reading
The Danger of Entertaining Lies
Satan hates that we are one with Christ and, though he cannot make it untrue, he will try to divorce us from our identities in Jesus.
Christ did not enter into conversation with Satan when he was tempted in the desert. Instead, he responded, “It is written…” Yet, God’s Word isn’t always my first response. I have often asked to hear more of what Satan has to say. I have mulled his words over in my mind and considered them in... Continue Reading
Of Lice and Men
How would our lives change if we accepted all of our circumstances with thanksgiving as part of the good plan of a loving Father rather than a random series of unfortunate events?
Knowing that God is at work in all things allows us the ability to rejoice in all things. Whatever comes, may we be a people known for thanksgiving. May we join the chorus of the faithful, choosing to live out the gospel with hope: Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for... Continue Reading
Be a Parent Worthy of Honor
How can we make it easy for our children to honor us now and in the future?
We will begin with an appropriate proverb. Proverbs 17:6 tells us, “Grandchildren are the crown of the aged, and the glory of children is their fathers.” It is the second half of this proverb that is of particular interest to me. What does it mean that “the glory of children is their fathers?” For... Continue Reading
Love & Irritability
This side of heaven, we are either about to be provoked, being provoked, just having been provoked, or some combination of the three.
Whether small annoyance or large, to be easily provoked is that response of irritation which is fueled by a worship of oneself and lack of worship of God. The individual lives with self at life’s epicenter. That high view of self and low view of God consequently fuels spoken and unspoken demands that life’s circumstances operate according to one’s own way, while simultaneously demanding that God exist in submission to the individual’s demands and orchestrate circumstances accordingly. Those inner demands are often not verbalized, but, the existence of irritation speaks clear enough.
3 Solid Rock Reasons to Trust God
How do we trust in God? By meditating on the truth of God’s word, which tells us that our God is sovereign, wise, and loving.
So how about you? What are you facing right now that you must trust God for? Health challenges? A family member or one of your children? Financial challenges? I can guarantee that ALL of us will face something this year we need to trust God for. Keep your eyes on Jesus. On the one who is sovereign, wise and loving. Ask him to help you, guide you, and strengthen you. And trust in him.