Hypcritical Prayer

Be sure never to ask God for something that you know in your heart you do not really want. For it is better not to pray at all than to pray hypocritically. Asking God, for example, to help you forgive someone that you really don't want to forgive would just be insincere at best.

Hope

A believer's hope is in the return of Jesus. Our perspective on life is incomplete without this hope.

Be Like Christ

The more we know of Christ and His work, the more we are being changed to be like Him.

Desires

By seeking what Christ desires we have the power to break our obsession with pleasure and leisure. (They are not for our own good.)

Dead in Christ

When the Bible says that we are "dead to sin" or "dead in Christ" --- we should have as little desire for improper things of the world (including an excess of good things) --- as a dead person would have.

Hearts & Minds

Setting our hearts on things above means putting heaven's priorities into daily practice as our own. Setting our minds on things above means focusing our thoughts on the eternal rather than the temporal.

Faith Shines

It is in the climate of darkness and sin that genuine faith shines most brightly.

Solutions

There are many man-made solutions to life's problems --- that totally disregard God. Are you listening to, using or believing in any of them?

Learning

Pray for understanding. God has given us minds for learning. Would he ever give you permission to stop learning then? (No!)

Eternal Salvation

It's not what we know or do that brings about our eternal salvation - and it's everlasting life. rather it is who we know - Jesus Christ - and how we know Him.

Impure Thoughts

Do you have trouble with impure thoughts or day dreams? Examine what you are putting into your mind through books, television, radio, magazines, Internet, music, conversations, movies, etc. Replace anything that you find which isn't God-honoring ... excellent and worthy of praise. (Philippians 4:8)

Train Diligently

We must all train diligently for the Christian life. Such training takes time, dedication, energy, continual practice and vision. We must all commit ourselves to the Christian life, but we must first know the rules as prescribed in God's Word. (2 Timothy 2:5)

Write on Hearts

More than once in the Bible, God says He will write His law on our hearts. Our sin is engraved on our hearts so that we desire - above all things - to disobey God. But when we surrender our lives to Him, God - by His Holy Spirit, builds into us the desire to obey Him.

True Prophet

A true prophet's predictions always come true - he or she is never wrong. Moreover, the prophet's words never contradict previous revelation (from anyone, including the Bible).

Faithful Disagreement

If we are going to be faithful to God, there will be times when we must disagree with even our own wishes in order to speak the truth and be obedient to Him.

Spiritual Pride

Spiritual pride blinds us to our own faults - and magnifies the faults of others. It is impossible to accurately judge others if I haven't accurately judged myself first.

God's Workmanship

I am God's workmanship. My salvation is His powerful, creative work in me. It (my salvation in Jesus Christ) is a miracle to be marveled at.

Transformation

God's Word is not just for our information - but rather for our transformation. Believers (in Christ Jesus) have a changed purpose, outlook, direction and understanding. Moreover, their behaviors and attitudes will be changing as well. It is a total transformation (or it isn't of God).

Objects of Wrath?

The Bible (God's Word) refers to people who don't believe that Jesus is who He said He is as "objects of wrath." Why? Because they each will face God's unrestrained wrath on judgment day. Only those found in Christ will escape that wrath.

Satan's Rule

Satan is only the temporary ruler - of the parts of the world that choose to follow him - or that follow him out of ignorance.

Time & Space

God doesn't live in the dimensions of time and space. Because He is infinite, He is timeless. God has no birthday and will never die. Without the dimension of space, God has no physical home - only a spiritual home.

Personal Sin

We all need to be consciously aware of the the realities of personal sin. My sin is real. The consequences of my sin are real. If I don't deal with my sin ... the consequences and impact are eternal.

Church Role

The Christian church should be the full expression of Christ and His love. It should exhibit both His nature and His character in all respects.

Being Deceived

It is possible for even the most mature of Christians to be deceived. Deception can be so convincing that it is difficult not to believe it! So the closer we get to the end times, the easier it will become to be deceived and fall away from God. (We must stand guard!)

Jesus Wept

Jesus grieved over (the sins of) Jerusalem - and wept. You have to ask yourself why. What was it that caused Jesus such pain - and do those same conditions exist in us today?

Human vs. Spiritual

We need to stop seeing ourselves as human beings that are trying to be spiritual. Instead, we need to see the reality that we are spiritual beings who are having a human experience.

Hearing & Obeying

Whenever God's Word (the Bible) is heard and obeyed, lives are changed. And love results.

God's Role

God is not only the Creator of the world and everything in it. He is also the Sustainer of all life. Nothing had life until God breathed life into it. In Him everything is held together, protected and prevented from disintegrating into chaos - or dying altogether. Nothing and no one can live independently of God.

Right Thinking

Sin corrupted man's thinking about God. Wrong thinking leads to more sin, which further perverts and destroys our thoughts about God. When we are not in harmony with God, our natural condition is hostile to His standards. (Romans 1:21-32)

Effective Evangelism

An effective presentation of the gospel of Jesus Christ includes admonishing (warning) and teaching. The warning is that without Christ, people are doomed to eternal separation from God. (This would be hell.)

More Like Him

To become more like Christ, there is a fairly simple formula. We need just five (5) things:

1. The power of the Holy Spirit from within us.
2. Knowledge of God's Word (which reveals His will).
3. Obedience to God's Word.
4. The influence of other faithful Christians.
5. Sacrificial service and giving.

These simple tools will keep us on our journey to Christlikeness.

Christian Maturity

Christian maturity involves acting on the guidance that we have already received. We must live up to what we already know - and life out what we have already learned. We often think that we can be sidetracked or stymied by what we lack in knowledge of God and His ways. But an exhausting search for truth simply isn't necessary - because truth always wants to reveal itself in our journey so that we can live it out.

Life's Purpose

The Apostle Paul's real purpose in life was to speak out boldly for Christ and become more like Him. (Philippians 2:21-24)

Could my own purpose in life really be any different than that?

Set Self Aside

Laying aside self interest is essential to all of our relationships - at home, work, church or anywhere else. The most successful relationship dynamics rest on this foundation. So, for example, real leaders show self-denying concern for others. They are willing to sacrifice themselves for the ones that they lead.

Happiness & Joy

Happiness and joy are not the same thing. Joy runs deeper and stronger; it is much more resilient. Joy is the quiet, confident assurance of God's love and work in our lives. Happiness depends on happenings (i.e., circumstances, things and experiences). But joy depends only on Christ.

Sharing Pain

When life is comfortable, we should willingly take a share of someone else's pain - and so tell the world that the gospel of Jesus Christ is true. (It's God's will that we bear each other's burdens.) So whose pain or burden can I share today?

Wholly Righteous

Those who are mature should press on in the Holy Spirit's power, knowing that Christ will reveal and fill in any discrepancy between who we are and who we should be. He is the One who makes us wholly righteous.

Peaceful Conscience

As you grow in Christ's love and become more spiritually mature, your heart and mind must grow together and become one. Your conscience will then be at peace in all things.

Sin is Terminal

Sin is like a terminal disease. Sinful people cannot be cured by being good or being religious. Nor can they be cured in an emotional event. Putting our confidence in such useless cures only allows sin to spread and cause even more pain. Only God can cure the disease of sin in me. Am I willing to submit to His healing?

Employer vs. Employee

Christian employees should do their jobs as if Jesus were their supervisor. And Christian bosses or employers should treat their employees fairly and with respect. No matter whom you work for and now matter who works for you, the One you ultimately must please is your Father in heaven. And the sincerity of your heart about pleasing God is surely reflected in your work relationships as much as it is in any of your other relationships.

Justification

People often excuse selfishness, pride or the lack of loving actions toward others by claiming their rights. They may say things like, "It's time I get what I want." or, "I deserve this (self indulgence)."

Such people seem to think that rights - or entitlement - can trump virtue or obedience to God. but that is never the case. (It's a lie that they believe anyway though.)

God Revealed

We often think that if we know Jesus and His character, then we know God's as well. While it is true that Jesus showed us every single thing about God's character, He only showed us the aspects and dimensions of God that can be explained in human terms. (There is more to come!)

Obey Your Parents

Children are to obey and honor their parents. But this does not mean that as children they are to be subjected to abuse. Nor does it mean that, as adults, they are to cow down to domineering parents. To obey is to do as one is told - and we do that with our parents as children. To honor is to love and respect our parents - and we do that as adults throughout our lives. (Ephesians 6:1-3)

All of Me

We should not be concerned with how much of the Holy Spirit we have. Instead, we should concern ourselves with how much of us the Holy Spirit has. It is easier to accept what Jesus has to give us than to consider what we have to give Him. We must submit ourselves daily to His leading and His power.

Bad Language

The Bible seems to define swearing as simply taking the name of the Lord in vain. However, vulgar or crass language of any sort should have no place in the Christian's conversations - because it does not reflect God's gracious presence in us. We cannot praise God and remind others of His presence when we are speaking coarsely.

Pray for Leaders

You may find it difficult to pray for those in authority if they seem to behave in an ungodly or less than righteous manner. But that is when your prayers are most needed. (1 Timothy 2:1-2)

In Troubled Times

Life cannot grind to a halt in troubled times or disastrous situations. We must adjust to the circumstances that God puts us in and keep moving. We cannot just wait for the circumstances to pass. Often we hear people procrastinate and say, "... as soon as things get back to normal." What they're really saying is that they know God has asked them to do --- but they prefer to do it when they are not facing any challenges. This is not Biblical. It is disobedience. It is allowing the circumstances to distract us from doing God's will.

Seeking Wisdom

James 1:5 says, "If any of you lacks wisdom you should ask God (for it) ..."

The wisdom that we need and should ask God for has these distinct characteristics about it:

1. It is practical. It is relevant for daily living.
2. It is divine. God's wisdom goes beyond common sense right to insight that humans would naturally miss.
3. It is Christ-like. Asking God for wisdom is really just asking Him to make you like Christ, who is the "wisdom of God." (1 Corinthians 1:24 & 2:1-7)

Look for God

To look for God in something big, like a church conference or a great leader, may be to miss Him altogether. He is often found gently whispering in the quietness of a humbled heart.

Pleasure Vs. God?

Why is it so tempting to love pleasure rather than God? Pleasure is something we usually can control. God can not be controlled. Most pleasure can be obtained easily - but God requires us to seek Him, which can take work and time.

False Teachers

There are at least four warning signs of false teachers or false prophets:

1. They may appear to speak God's message (be religious) but they do not live out His principles.
2. They water down God's message trying to be relevant and please their listeners.
3. They encourage their listeners, even passively or subtly, to disobey God.
4. They often tend to be arrogant and self-serving (but can be so with poor self-esteem.)

God's Provision

God's provision is never given so that we can rest on it. We should plan to do more with God's provision in our lives than to simply savor it and be grateful for it. (That simply doesn't go far enough.)

Good Advice

To evaluate advice, ask yourself (or others who are at least as mature as you are) if it is realistic, workable and aligned with Biblical principles. It does not have to be practical, conventional or usual. Determine if the results of following the advice will be fair, make improvements and give a positive solution of direction.

Seek advice from those who are more experienced and wiser. Advice is only useful if it is consistent with God's standards; so good advice will most likely come from the most godly people you know.

Church Staff

All churches have the responsibility to keep worldly burdens off the shoulders of spiritual workers. What does this mean? It means we must take proper and complete care of the ministers and other staff who devote themselves to the work of the church.

Effective Bible Study

We can measure the effectiveness of our Bible study time by the effect it has on our behavior and attitudes.

Unrepentant Sinners

Those who are committed to do evil may be used by God to sin even more in order to hasten their deserved judgment. (Exodus 11:10) This is true for all unrepentant sinners at any level.

Knowing God

He did what was right and just - and all went well with him. He defended the cause of the poor and needy - and all went well. "Is that not what it means to know Me?" declares the Lord.

- Jeremiah 22:15-16

Love the Sinful

Our love always leads us to identify with the desires of those whom we care about. If those are not virtuous, we may at first resist them. Eventually we will come to tolerate them. But as time goes on we will rationalize them. Before it's over we may even come to embrace them.

Resist, tolerate, rationalize and embrace.
It is a slippery slope to love someone who does not have virtuous desires in their heart.

Sin Against God

If we will view every wrong attitude and action as a serious offense against God, we will begin to understand (finally) what living for God is really all about.

Self Pity

Self pity - or feeling sorry for yourself - will always dilute the good that you may be doing in life? Why is that the case? Because at its root, it is selfish.

Source of Miracles

A simple act of faith can produce a miracle. Faith is the step between promise or hope - and assurance. But every miracle - whether large or small, begins with a faithful act of obedience. We may not see the solution or the miracle until we start to act in obedience.

Presence of God

When we come into the presence of God, we may feel full of joy and gratitude. At the same time we can be overcome with grief or be sobered by an acute awareness of our shortcomings (i.e., sinful nature). Both emotions are appropriate in the presence of God.

Encouraging Leaders

A leader needs to provide not only the initial motivation for a project - but the continued encouragement necessary to keep the project going. At the same time, that leader must find his or her own dependable source of encouragement.

Loyal Fan

While it is good to show respect for an organization (such as a country, church, or school) our loyalties always carry a hidden danger of arrogance. Pride is something that becomes harmful when it causes us to look down on others, be selfish with our resources, force our solution son others problems, think God is blessing us because of our own merit or just be content with our own plans instead of seeking the plans of God.

Character Depth

We cannot know the depth of our character until it is tested and we see how we react under pressure (of adversity or hard times).

Real Love

Real love for others produces tangible actions such as kindness to strangers, empathy for those who are suffering or mistreated, respect for your marriage vows, contentment with what you have, etc. Make sure that your love runs deep enough to affect your hospitality, empathy, fidelity and contentment.

Fearless Life

Fear of God will always lead to a fearless life. To fear God simply means to respect and appreciate Him for who He is. It means to revere Him as Lord. When we trust God completely, we find that our fears subside. They are overcome with our reverence for God.

Soul Filters

Our souls become filters through which we perceive goodness or evil. the pure - those who have Christ in control of their lives - learn to see goodness and purity even in this evil world. But corrupt minded and unbelieving people find evil in everything. This is because their flawed thinking and broken hearts color even the good that they see and hear.

Teaching Truth

Teaching the truth is a great responsibility that goes with leadership. For sin is always judged harshly by God, but the very worst sinners are those who lead others astray - regardless of the reason (including their own ignorance).

Opportunity Destroyed

Great opportunities - which are given to us by God - are often destroyed by small decisions - that were made without God.

Sin's Guarantee

Sin's consequences are guaranteed in God's Word. But the timing of those consequences is a deep mystery that is usually very hard to predict. Only God knows when the guarantee will be delivered upon.

Turning from God

A little sin can be the first step in turning from God. It is not the sin we don't know about, but the sin that we rationalize or excuse that really causes us the greatest trouble. We must never let any sin go unchallenged in our lives. It is the unchallenged sin that has the greatest potential to turn us from life with God.

Separation from God

It has been said that sin separates us from God (and it does). But sin is not the cause of that separation. Rather it is the result of that separation. We abandon God and/or His ways in our hearts first --- and then we sin because of our indifference to obedience and righteousness.

Leadership's Threat

Effective leadership can be nullified or rendered impotent by an ineffective personal life.

Right Living

The right path for living is ancient, and has been marked out for us by God Himself. Don't be misled or ignorant about that fact. The only way to find peace and to be truly happy is to live life God's way.

Temptation

Temptation comes from evil desires within us. It begins with an evil thought and it becomes sin when we dwell on the thought and allow it to move into an action. then sin becomes more and more destructive as we let it have its way. So sin really is just as dangerous as we allow it to be.

Strong Nations

The strength of a nation is in direct proportion to the strength of its families.

Child Discipline

An undisciplined child may seem cute and harmless enough. But they grow up to become undisciplined adults --- which is quite another matter indeed. An undisciplined adult will always destroy his or her self - as well as those around them.

False Gods

In the Old Testament times, starting from at least 930 B.C., the kings of Israel encountered (and sometimes entertained) many false gods. these gods represented war, cruelty, power, greed and even sex. Ironically, they are the same false gods that stalk us today!

True Repentance

True repentance is not fulfilled with confession. It must lead to corrected behaviors and attitudes. Without these changes, the so-called repentance is just a fraud. So let us not be deceived by our own sorrow for having done wrong. Rather let us be determined enough to make the changes in our lives that represent true repentance.

Prophetic Calling

The Old Testament prophet, Jeremiah, was called by God to be a prophet. His role was to confront the church leaders and the church people with their sin. He remained faithful to that calling in the face of great adversity. Years of obedience made him courageous and strong.

Are there people in such roles today? If so, who are they? Where are they? Might you or I be one of them?

What To Expect

Christ-followers can always expect opposition when they obey God and do His work. Non Christians and even spiritual forces acting among Christians will work against God and His people. The opposition may not always be obvious, however. It can come in the form of compromising alliances. But usually it will seek to discourage, intimidate or accuse us unjustly. We should expect these tactics so that we are not deterred by them. Never act as if they're a surprise - for your surprise then would be your ignorance.

What Matters

It is far more important to God who we are than what we do or accomplish in life. So the emphasis for Christianity must turn from "do" to "be."

On Pride

Pride is the unwarranted self-esteem that we all possess some measure of. It is setting your own judgment or perspective above that of others and even above that of God Himself. God opposes the proud though, because it is sin.

Revealing Giving

What we give and how we live reveals or reflects the sincerity of our relationship with God.

Revealing Speech

Accepting God's wisdom will affect your speech. Your words will convey true humility and lead to peace. Your wisdom will reveal itself in wise speech.

American Idol

People become like the idols they worship. So, for example, worshipping a false idol will make you become shallow and insensitive to people - just like that idol is. But if the true God is worshipped you will become more like Him as you truly worship Him.

Beginning & End

The beginning of faith is believing in God's character - He is who He says He is. The end of faith is believing in God's promises - He will do what He says He will do.

Getting Blessed

Many blessings are available to us --- if we fear the Lord (revere Him) and delight in obeying His will for us. So if you expect God's blessings, check your reverence and deference to Him and His ways. Do you obey the one you expect to bless you?

Changed Hearts

If our hearts are not changed, following God's rules will be unpleasant and difficult. But the Holy Spirit gives us new desires - helping us to want to obey God. With new hearts, we find that serving God is our greatest joy. It's all about the changed heart.

True Belief

Mental agreement with Christ's leadership is not sufficient to qualify as Christ's disciples. Obedience is required. (James 1:22-25) Don't assume that people who comply with and conform to religious traditions are truly committed to Christ either. Each of us must be challenged with the truth and the implications of commitment to Christ. We should never surrender anyone (including ourselves) to casual belief in Christ. We must press on to obedience ... the highest goal.

Aligning Desires

A sincere purpose to please God will result in an alignment of your desires with God's desires. You will come to love what God loves. You will come to hate what God hates. So the only question is whether or not you sincerely want to please God!

Great Prayers

Are your prayers a cry for help to make it through stressful situations? Great leaders in the bible (such as King David) prayed not merely for rescue from trouble. They asked God for victory. With God's help, we can claim more than just survival. We can claim victory. What are you asking God for today?

Blocked Comments

NOTICE: Because of the proliferation of insincere and inauthentic comments (i.e., someone wishing to sell their crap through MY blog), I have decided to stop publishing comments or making them accessible to the public. That is unfortunate for those who wanted to use this feature for sincere dialogue. For now, they will have to resort to directly e-mailing me.

Church Mandate

The Christian church should be exemplified by order and right living. Christians are to be self-disciplined as individuals, and they must be orderly as people who form one body, the church. We must live upright lives, obey our governments, and control our speech. We should live together peacefully in the church and be living examples of our faith to contemporary society around us. It has been said, we may be the only Jesus that some people ever see.

On Faith

Faith has been defined in many ways. The most popular definition seems to be something like "hope in things not seen." But true faith is really much simpler --- and more divine than that. True faith is just confident trust in God's promises.

God is Great

If we really believe that God is great, then we cannot help but tell others about this great God of ours. The best witnessing occurs when our hearts are full of gratitude to God - and our minds are full of excitement about God.

Discipline

No discipline is ever enjoyable. It is usually painful. But it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it. (See Hebrews 12:11.) What have I done with the discipline I have received? Have I actually been trained by it?

God's Will

We often want to know God's will for our lives. And we want our work to reflect His permanence (i.e., to have eternal value). Our desire to see our work establish a lasting impact is actually placed there by God Himself. But that desire can only be satisfied in eternity. Until then, we must apply to today's work with our minds on God's purposes ... which are for all eternity.

United With Christ

Whenever we are truly united with Christ, life takes on both immediate and eternal dimensions. Do you know what those dimensions are?

God's Character

God's character can be summarized by righteousness, justice, love and faithfulness. Those same qualities or attributes should summarize our character too!

Big Person

You can tell how big a person is by what it takes to discourage him (or her).

God Calls

God doesn't call the qualified. He qualifies the called.

Better Pastor

If a church wants a better pastor, the best thing to do is to pray earnestly for the one it has.

God's Place

When you get to your wit's end, you'll find that God lives there. Ironically, your wit's end can only be reached when you don't get what you want. And there you find God.

Serving God

Many folks want to serve God. But most of them only want to serve as advisers.

Promising God

What was the last promise that you made to God? How much progress have you made toward fulfilling it? The Bible says we are not to make vows to God or anyone else lightly. That is because God takes them seriously. He expect us to take them just as seriously - and fulfill them.

Self Worth

We have value because we are God's children. We are His chosen people. His choice creates our value. We have worth because of what God does - and not because of what we do.

Righteous & Prosperous

Since righteous people are not always prosperous we are to regard adversity as discipline from God - and not despise it. (See Proverbs 3:11-12). We often think of discipline as punishment - but they are not the same thing. An athlete who trains well experiences adversity, pain and usually some suffering. We say he is a disciplined athlete though - and we understand that it leads to his success as an athlete. In the same way, God cares deeply about our development. The adversity that He allows in our lives is meant to train us. In that way we experience God's discipline - which is crucial to our success.

Arrogance

There is an incompatibility between blind arrogance and the presence of God. Proud people tend to depend on themselves instead of God. This causes God's guiding influences to leave their lives. When God's presence is welcome, there is no room for pride or arrogance. He makes us aware of our true selves (and of course He apposes the proud).

Wise People

Are you a wise person? You can tell by how you respond to criticism. A fool will have a quick retort - to defend, rationalize, justify, blame or deflect. But a wise one will listen and evaluate the merits of the rebuke (even with prayer).

Love & Faithfulness

Love and faithfulness are important character qualities. They're not just the basis for relationships. Both involve actions as well as attitudes. A love person acts loyally and responsibly. A faithful person not only believes the truth, but also works for what is right. Our lives reveal whether we are truly loving and faithful.

Living for Yourself

When enough people live for themselves with little concern for how their actions and choices affect others, the resulting moral rot contaminates the entire society (or nation). Put another way, the "me generation" had definite consequences for society.

God's Blessings

The greater the presence of righteousness (obedience to God), the clearer the examples of God's blessings. This principle works equally in the life of a nation, church or individual. The more we first seek God's righteousness and His kingdom, the more we will see everything else taken care of by God. (See Matthew 6:25-33).

Spiritual Vision

Spiritual vision is our capacity to see clearly what God wants us to do - and to see the world from His perspective. But self-serving desires, interests and goals cloud that vision. Serving God is the best way to restore it.

So what can you do to sharpen your spiritual vision today?

Sin Patterns

Habitual sin patterns are usually more about who we are or what we believe than what we do. So many of us focus on a particular struggle such as sin such as over indulging (food, alcohol, etc.) or whatever other sin pattern we have. But the real solution is to be found in who we are and what we really believe.

For example, people don't keep overeating because they believe it will kill them. They keep doing it because they believe it will make them feel better. And they've decided that's the most important thing at that moment.

Secret of Joy

There is a secret to true joy that we each must discover. It is found only in God. True joy is much deeper than happiness. And we can have true joy regardless of our circumstances. Happiness tends to be based on present circumstances. But joy is based on truth. God's presence within us is the basis for that truth.

We deceive ourselves when we measure our happiness by our contentment in life with our accomplishments, material possessions, or other circumstances. The true measure of happiness is the joy and contentment that is found in God's love and in doing His will ... living life on God's terms.

God Revealed

As God reveals Himself through creation, we learn of his power and of our own finiteness. As God reveals Himself through Scripture, we learn of His holiness and of our own sinfulness. As God reveals Himself through relationship, we learn of His gracious forgiveness and of our own redemption.

Humbled Before the Lord

Sometimes we must be humbled before we will look up and really see the Lord with our hearts and souls. We already know in our minds that He is there. But we usually must be defeated in some way before we can have the ultimate humility that is required for the victory that is God's will for our lives.

Faith Defined

Faith is more than just believe in certain facts. It must result in action - or it isn't faith. Further, faith must display the character of Christ - or it isn't faith. There must be evidence of faith in moral discipline - or the faith isn't there in the first place.

Disagreements

Price is a key ingredient in every quarrel - over anything. It stirs up conflict and divides people. Conversely, reconciliation is never possible unless the pride can be overcome.

Confessing Sin

Our confession of sin must be continual because we continue to do wrong. But true confession requires us to listen to God and to want to stop doing what is wrong. We must agree with God about what is wrong. We may not remember every sin we have committed in our lives in each day. But our attitude should be one of confession, repentance and obedience.

Discernment & Discretion

Discernment or discretion is the ability that God gives us to think and make correct choices. But sound judgment is much more than that. It is given only to those who follow God, who seek the Lord and who obey Him. While sound judgment needs discernment, it goes on to insight, wisdom and a knowing that can only come from the leading of the Holy Spirit in one's life. It requires knowledge of God's Word, His ways, His nature and His character.

Dishonesy

Dishonesty is a difficult sin to avoid. But it affects the very core of our being. It makes us unworthy of anybody's trust. It makes us unable to trust others. It eventually makes us unable to know (or trust) even ourselves. Often it impedes our ability to relate to others. Even the smallest portion of dishonesty has enough of the poison of deceit to kill your spiritual life. Despite the rationale you'll have for white lies - they'll never be worth it.

Good Advice

When most people need advice they go to their friends first. Our friends accept us and it is usually easy to agree with them. But our friends are so much like us that they may not have any different answers than we could come up with on our own. Instead, we should turn to those who are older and wiser than we are. We should look for people who have more life experience, a godly perspective and are likely to challenge the way we traditionally think about things.

Mental Sharpness

Mental sharpness comes from being around good people. Seriously. It requires partners and peers who can challenge one another and stimulate thinking. They will be people who can attack a thought without attacking each other.

Heart's Desires

When you set your heart on something, you may lose your ability to assess it objectively. With your desire blinding your judgment, you may proceed into something that would not be wise. This could be an unwise relationship. It could be a wasteful purchase. Or it could simply be a poorly conceived plan. What are the desires of your heart?

Sexual Sin

Sexual sin is very dangerous in any form. It destroys family life - including present or even future marriages. It erodes a person's capacity or ability to love. It degrades human beings and turns them into objects. It can lead to disease or even death. It can result in unwanted children. Of course, all forms of sexual sin are against God's will or us too.

Christian Love

Christian love is not a feeling - but a choice. We can choose to be concerned with people's well being and treat them with respect, whether or not we feel affection toward them. If we choose to love them, God will help us genuinely express that love.

Willing Believers

Many believers want an abundance of God's grace and peace. They deeply desire His blessing on their daily lives. But they are not willing to put forth the effort to get to know Him through Bible study and prayer. Intimate knowledge of Christ escapes them. What they do not understand is that this intimate knowledge is the key to God's abundant blessing.

Fool Defined

A fool is not someone with a mental deficiency - but rather someone with a character deficiency (such as rebellion, laziness or uncontrolled anger). The fool is not stupid. Usually a fool is quite clever. But a fool is one who lacks the wisdom to discern right from wrong or good from bad.

Handling Worry

Carrying the weight of your worries, stress and daily struggles by yourself reveals that you don't really trust God fully with your life. Don't submit to your circumstances. Rather submit yourself to the God of your circumstances.

Opposition's Defense

When someone turns to Christ they will immediately face opposition. Mature Christians should help new believers resist such opposition by helping them be faithful to Christ. We can surround them as new friends and encourage them to develop new habits of righteousness and a new lifestyle of godliness. These will be their best defense against the opposition Christianity will surely bring them.

Needs

It has been said that God's provision is always perfect. Some may question that because they see what appear to be un-met needs in their lives. But God knows our needs. He may be the only one who can truly discern what they really are. The thing is that God knows our deepest needs are spiritual. And those are the ones we have the hardest time seeing!

Confronting Leaders

Micah, the Old Testament prophet, had to denounce the sins of the spiritual leaders - priests, prophets, etc. They were the ones responsible for teaching people right from wrong. They were the leaders who should have known God's ways and taught them to His people. But they had become the "worst of sinners." All sin is bad. But sin that misleads others or neglects them is the worst kind. The dividing line between right and wrong is often blurred. But spiritual leaders are supposed to help others see it.

Shattered Comfort

God may have to shatter our comfort in order to place us in the best place to see Him. We usually only really encounter God outside of our comfort zones. But as long as we are surrounded by our sense of control and importance - we will not know who God really is.

Two Sins

Two of the most difficult sins to resist are that of pride and sexual immorality. Pride says, "I deserve it." Sexual desire says, "I need it." Pride appeals to the empty head and sexual sin appeals to the empty heart. Only with God's strength can we overcome such sins.

Knowledge & Wisdom

In this age of information, knowledge is plentiful - but wisdom is scarce. People don't spend enough time in thought. We don't wrestle with facts and information, analyzing or evaluating - especially in prayer.

Wisdom is far more than knowledge. It never leans on its own understanding and it is aware of its own ignorance. But wisdom is not a separate being. Rather it is the mind of God revealed in those who belong to Him.

Seeing Your Sin

When we are blinded by envy and hatred, or deceived by pride and arrogance - it is impossible to see your own sin. You may be tempted to think that it's not there.

Hate & Love

Hate and love have become overused words in today's society. They are almost cliches - tossed carelessly at objects, situations, experiences and of course - people. The casual use of such words as love and hate have emptied them of their meaning. So we no longer can comprehend how God loves us but hates sin. Both have become abstract concepts that escape us.

God's Mission

When we respond to Christ's love by trusting Him and obeying Him, His purpose becomes our mission. The purpose that drove Christ becomes the cause that moves us.

Understand Evil

To understand evil, one must first understand God.

1. God Himself is good. (Psalm 11:7)
2. God created a world that fell due to man's sin. (Romans 5:12)
3. God will recreate the world without any evil. (Revelation 21:1)
4. God is stronger than evil. (Matthew 13:41-43 & Revelation 19:11-21)
5. God controls evil and helps us overcome it. (Matthew 11:28-30)
6. God uses everything for His good purposes. Even evil. (Genesis 50:20 & Romans 8:28)

These are the most important things we need to know about evil.

Great Escapes

Often the rich build great escapes - where they can live comfortably and not be confronted by the poverty or need in the world. It is possible for them to avoid the woes of this fallen world altogether. But God is not pleased if we isolate ourselves from the needs of others. He wants us to meet those needs! He wants us to care for others as He cares for us. We must learn to put the needs of others before our own wants. God's kingdom has no place for selfishness or indifference. (I suspect God's kingdom has no place for gated, golf-course communities either.)

Ignoring the Poor

To ignore the poor and the oppressed is to ignore those whom God made and loves as well as those who Christ came to save. We must go beyond feeling bad for these people. We need to wade into the messiness of their lives to bring them the love of God. What sacrifices have we made to intervene in their lives and bless them?

God Thoughts

Some people don't think about God until they become angry. Discouragement, disappointment or even disgust seem to bring God into focus for us. Oddly, we seem eager to blame God for our troubles too.

Taking A Stand

We often think of taking a stand against those who would led us into immoral behavior. But sometimes it is necessary to take a hard line against the most moral of people. Simply put, even the most mature Christians may still need to be confronted at times. Are you willing to do that?

Friendship

If we insist on friendship with those who mock the Lord and His ways - who mock what God considers important - we may find ourselves in sin because we gradually become indifferent to His will. True friends should help us draw closer to God - and not hinder or discourage our relationship with or obedience to God. Do all of your friends do that?

Spiritual Discernment

Spiritual discernment enables us to draw conclusions based on God's perspective, make wise decisions in difficult circumstances, recognize the activities of God, distinguish the correct and incorrect uses of Scripture, and identify or expose false teaching. Did you know that spiritual discernment was this useful?

Fitting In

It is natural to want to fit in. But Christ-followers are new creations, born from above and changed from within. Our values and life styles should confront the world and clash with accepted morals. True believers don't blend in very all at all. They aren't supposed to!

Obedience To God

Obedience to God is the result of a true relationship with God. It is the evidence of that relationship. However, obedience can never produce or earn that relationship with God. The God of the universe does not love us because we are obedient. In fact, He loves us in spite of our disobedience! But we will obey Him because of our love for Him and because of our understanding of His love for us.

Understanding God

Real understanding of God always results in practical and compassionate action towards people. There are no exceptions.

Rich People

How we treat the rich and those of higher status often reflects what we hope to get from them. But how we treat the poor, who can give us nothing, reflects our true character.

Generation Gap

Pride often keeps older people from trying to understand younger people. It keeps younger people from listening to those who are older. Each disregards the perceptive of the other.

But Christ-followers are to be humble enough to respect and submit and serve one another. The young should follow the leadership of the older - who should lead by example.

Respect those who are older than you. Listen to those who are younger than you. Be humble enough to admit that you can learn from each other.

Nagging

Quarrelsome nagging is a form of torture. It hinders communication. It is not effective for correcting behaviors of others. But we keep doing it because we think we're not getting through to the other person. And we're right about that! When tempted to engage in nagging (which is always destructive), we should stop and examine our motives. Are you more concerned about getting your way - or being right? Are you most concerned about the welfare of the person whom you're nagging? If you are truly concerned about that other person - you will seek more effective ways to get through to them.

Sins of the Aged

Older people are usually more aware of their sins and their sinful nature is more evident to them. Age and experience have a tendency to quiet youthful self-righteousness (which goes with immaturity).

Evil's Root

An evil action begins with a single thought. So allowing our minds to dwell on lust, envy, hatred, revenge, etc. will undoubtedly lead to sin. This is why we are told to "take every thought captive." We must not allow our mind to decide what it will do.

Reach of Defeat

We are never closer to defeat than in our moments of great victory. Why? Because in our moments of great victory, we tend to be the most vulnerable - letting our guard and defenses down, being the most susceptible to deception, etc. What victories are you celebrating? What defeats may be stalking you in that time of victory?

Being Organized

It is good stewardship (and therefore Biblical) to be well organized. Good organization helps people work together in harmony and ensures that the desired goal will be reached.

Heroes

Heroes are much easier to admire than to define. Sadly we often mistake someone whom we admire for a hero. This of course does a true disservice to those who are really heroes.

Source of Good Choices

The values, attitudes and practices we have adopted from the world's system can be exposed by applying the light of God's truth to them - comparing them to what the Bible says. Once we see them for what they are, we have the opportunity to make better choices. Do you want that opportunity? Then what are you doing with the light of God's truth?

Authority's Purpose

Authority is only given, in God's perspective, to be used for useful service to God and His creation. Instead of using people and being served, leaders are to serve them. A real leader has a servant's heart. And servant leaders appreciate the value of their people. They also know that they are not above any job. So if you have been given a position of authority in life, ask yourself whom God wants you to serve with it.

Effective Living

Effective living begins with a right attitude towards God. Before religious words come from our mouths, we must make sure they are embedded in our hearts.

Escape Reality

Sometimes people try to escape reality by disguising themselves. They will change jobs, change addresses, change churches, or even change spouses. But the thing about reality - especially when it is ugly - is that it tends to follow us wherever we go. And it will not be disguised.

Advice's Value

The value of advice cannot be judged by the number of people who give it. Rather the value of advice can only be found in how well it lines up with God's truth.

Self Satisfaction

If you're more satisfied with yourself than with God, a self-sufficient attitude may be your downfall. Disaster is most likely in your future. Why is this? Because you will rely on yourself more than you will rely on God.

Confronting Problems

Problems need to be confronted in truth and in love. But there is no room for gossip or judgment in that equation.

Love's Motive

When Christ-followers lose our motivation of love, we become critical of others. We stop looking for the good in others - and see only their faults. We stop giving them the benefit of the doubt. We stop showing them good in their shortcomings. We lose our unity with them.

Prayer's Secret

God does not listen to our prayers unless we have repentant hearts. What closes His ears is not the depth of our sin - but rather the secret, unspoken intention to do it again. God hears our intention as clearly as He hears our words and thoughts. And often intent isn't a decision you have made - but is found in the decisions that you haven't made.

Ordering Your Life

Each decision that you make to obey God's Word will bring an increasing amount of order to your life. A life submitted obediently to God is a life that works (because that's how that life was designed).

Savior vs. Lord

When you turn to Christ you begin to see Him differently. Usually to really see Him as Lord takes a while and requires spiritual maturity. Until then, you can only see Him as Savior. But the longer you walk with Him, the better you will understand who He really is.

Temptation Strategy

Because temptation strikes where we are most vulnerable, we can't resist it alone. Prayer is necessary in order to include God and His strength in the struggle that we have against temptation. Fellowship with other believers is also necessary for accountability and encouragement.

Desire Activated

When desire is fully activated, people don't want advice or wisdom or even discernment. Instead, they just want satisfaction. And they'll often compromise everything else to get it.

True Character

A person's thoughts and plans reflect his or her true character. What do you think about? What do you want to do? Ultimately those answers reflect who you are.

Enthusiastic Christians

It is exciting to see people who are "on fire for the Lord." Their enthusiasm seems contagious. We are drawn to such people. But it happens that we find enthusiastic religion to ultimately disappoint us. This is because enthusiasm must be backed by faith and understanding (i.e., true, intimate knowledge of God). Otherwise, it fails.

Divine Guidance

Often we wish for divine guidance from the Lord. We want to know His will for our lives. We wish for him to guide us in one particular direction or another - or tell us what to do in a particular situation or circumstance. But divine guidance from the Lord only comes to prepared hearts.

Doing Good

Opportunities to do good in this world usually come to us in the form of choices to be made. The thing is that many of us don't realize the need to plan our choices ahead of time. So the circumstance can catch us off guard ... and we can easily make a poor choice.

Faith's Step

Faith is the step between promise and assurance. Every miracle - and the things that seem like miracles - starts with an act of obedience. We may not see the provision from God until we step out in faith. And sometimes, that "step" is simply to wait patiently on the Lord.

Knowing Sin

It is not the sin that we don't know about - but rather the sin that we excuse and rationalize which causes us the greatest problems in our relationship with God. What sin am I rationalizing or making excuses for today?

Asking God

We should not ask God to do for us that which He wants to do through us.

Moral Standards

There must be a higher moral standard than the pleasure of the majority. We must avoid being influenced by the popular opinion of the crowd. Why is this? Because mankind is not capable of the highest moral standard.

Father's Mistakes

A father's mistakes are often reflected in the lives of his children. The sins of both parents are often repeated - and amplified in their children.

Children & Discipline

Children need discipline - especially those with natural abilities and good looks. Otherwise they will grow up being deceived by what their talents and looks mean. They will believe that they can do whatever they want because those talents and good looks. (After all, many of their parents operate under such deception!)

Seekers

We often think of people outside of church as seekers. The problem with that thinking is that some people are outside of church, disconnected from God - and they don't care. They aren't thinking of anything else. They aren't seeking God, spirituality ... or anything. Strangely they seem content with whatever they have in life. How is this possible?

Trust Factors

We often think that trust is earned. The thing is that it really isn't. Rather trust is placed in someone only when we believe that we know their nature and their character. Trust is then broken when the individual we trusted acts in opposition what we thought we knew of their nature and character.

Action & Faith

There must be a balance between our actions and our faith in God. We should use our minds and our resources to obey God. At the same time, we must trust God for the results of our endeavors. I am never responsible for the results. I am only responsible for my obedience.

Courage To Forgive

It takes courage to lay aside hatred and hurt and to respect the positive aspects of another who has offended us. Yet it is that courage that leads us to forgiveness. So it is that some fail to forgive because we are afraid to forgive.

Empty Joy?

When sin dominates our lives, even God-given joys seem empty.

Learning Lessons

Don't insist on learning all of life's lessons through personal experience. Instead, learn what lessons history has already taught. Those who proudly claim to be "experiential learners" are really just telling you how foolish they are - because they disregard all of history's lessons.

Asking God

When our motives are pure, we shouldn't hesitate to ask great things of God. But when we do ask for great power or ability, we need to examine our desires and get rid of any selfishness or other character defects that may be operating in that request.

Truth's Impact

One piece of truth will affect many people in different ways - because we each run it through our own filters of experience and perspective. We each may understand it differently or understand different levels of that one piece of truth.

But we need to ask ourselves if truth can really have different meanings and still be truth.

Maybe it is our experiences and our perspective that warp or pervert truth's meaning.

Tend to Become

We tend to become what we worship (i.e., give priority to).
We tend to become who we follow (i.e., listen to).
We tend to become who we spend time with.

How do you intend to become?

Self Centeredness

When people fail to see or appreciate how fortunate they are - and when they begin to take God's provision and His gifts for granted - they become self centered. And self centeredness is like a self perpetuating disease. Left unchecked, it just grows and wields more power over us.

Smart & Wise

A smart man gets (seeks) a lot of advice. A wise man evaluates the advice he gets against the context of God's word, will, character and nature.

Lie To Ourselves

We have huge capacity to lie to ourselves. But God provides two safeguards against such self-deception. His word and true friends are those safeguards. Each has the ability to help us see beyond ourselves - see beyond our own perspective - if we will constantly seek them out and listen to them.

Worshipping

Worshipping images of God is not worshipping God, even if it resembles true worship in some ways. Often we treat an image of the cross or a statue of the Virgin Mary as if they were sacred. But only the God they remind us of is sacred. Pictures of Jesus, cross pendants, statues and other items purchased, made or kept are not the same as the God we worship.

Wisdom Not Enough

It is good to have wisdom, but that is not enough for a good life. The highest goal in life - higher than wisdom - is to know God in such an intimate way that you are compelled to obey Him.

Temptation's Root

At the root of most temptation is a real need or desire - that only God can fill.

Working Life

Working to the exclusion of rest or to the neglect of family and other relationships (including God) may be a cover-up for an inability to trust God to provide for our needs.

Make Your Point

When you need to make a point - look for creative, God-honoring ways to do it. It will have a more significant impact. Why is that? First, the creative approach will be memorable. It will stand out from all the other points it's competing with. Second, God will bless communication that honors Him. It is that simple.

Funding Your Ministry

God's work, done God's way and in God's timing, never lacks God's supply. This is sage advice for those of us who struggle to find funding for the ministry endeavors that we believe God has called us to.

God's Rewards

God evaluates and rewards our obedience - and not our potential.

Resolving Differences

God's living presence in a relationship overcomes differences that might otherwise create division and disharmony. Often the presence of Jesus Christ in our relationships is the only thing that makes it possible to overcome our otherwise irreconcilable differences.

God's Standards

God has given us His standards for living. They are to be the criteria for all of our decision making. So while God has given us free choice, He has not left our choices and behaviors up to us and our opinions. Put another way, God have us free choice - but He asks us to give it back to Him, not doing what we choose - but rather doing as He chooses.

Helping Others

God supplies most of us with the personal and financial resources to respond to the needs of others. If we all realized how God has blessed us and equipped us - and if we all used our resources to do God's will with those blessings - hunger and poverty would no longer be an issue in our world today.

It has never been God's will that people die from starvation, drought, and other preventable conditions and diseases. They do so only because of the sin in this world - which is often found in our indifference towards these people.

Friendly With Sin

We cannot be friendly with sin or be close to sin and expect our lives to unaffected. We will become like whatever or whomever we spend time with. It is our nature.

Responsibility

If you are a Christian - or claim to be - God holds you responsible for the purity of your actions and thoughts. He expects the quality of your example and the truth of your words to be representative of His spirit that lives within you.

False Idols

An idol can be anything that is reverent in my life. The only appropriate idol is God. Everything else then is a false idol - which would be anything more reverent than God. What in my life gets higher priority than God? Sleep? Money? Convenience? Entertainment? Vacations? Sports? Exercise? Television? Recognition? My kids? All are potentially false idols. Out of context, they become sin.

Indifference

When people are indifferent toward God they tend to believe that He is indifferent toward them. This is a grave mistake. God has a plan for every single person. It is a plan to save or to destroy us (because of our unconfessed sin and disobedience). God is never indifferent toward any of us. He has very strong feelings about us - one way or the other.

Warnings

Warnings rarely come with a count down. We can't tell when we've had our last chance to change our behavior or change our course. The moment we realize that a change is necessary though, is the very best time to take action to change our behavior or our course of action.

Life's Questions

Life is filled with questions. Some of them go unanswered (and we're never quite sure why that is). At times, those unanswered questions create nagging, spirit-destroying doubt. Some of us choose to live with those doubts. We ignore them and move on. Others become cynical and bitter, with hard hearts as a result of our doubts.

But spiritually mature Christ-followers reject those options. Instead, they make peace with their unanswered questions, and learn to live in harmony with life's ambiguities. They continue to ask the questions - and always believe that there are answers. But they know that God is in control of the answers and that He will reveal those answers to us in His perfect timing.

Means To An End

The means we use to accomplish a goal are just as important as the goal we are trying to accomplish. Said differently, the route we take to get there is just as important, if not more so, than the destination itself.

Accomplishment

Anything that I truly accomplish in life comes as a result of God's help. So I have no reason to take pride in myself, in my team or in my work. But I have every reason to be very grateful to God.

Humility Benefit

Humility allows us to be content with God's leading in our lives. But without humility, we'll always want something that God doesn't intend to provide.

Love & Lust

Love and lust are very different. Love is patient, but lust requires immediate satisfaction. Love is kind, but lust is harsh. Love does not demand its own way, but lust is quite selfish. Lust may feel like love, but when physically expressed it results in disgust for yourself and hatred of the other person. If you just can't wait - then what you feel is not love.

Discipline Children

Children need discipline - especially those with natural abilities and good looks. Otherwise they will grow up being deceived by what their talents and looks mean - and believe that they can do whatever they want.

Balancing LIfe

There must be a balance in life between our actions and our faith in God. We should use our minds and our resources to obey God. But we should also trust God for the results. I am never responsible for the results; I am only responsible for my obedience.

Forgiveness Foundations

It takes courage to lay aside hatred and hurt, and to respect the positive side of another who has offended us. But this is the foundation on which forgiveness is built.

Stealing Joy

When sin dominates our lives, even God given joys seem empty. What sins can dominate the lives of a Christ-follower? Only those that are not appropriately dealt with (i.e., confessed to God, confessed to a trustworthy human and effectively turned from).

Learning Types

Many people brag that they are "experiential learners" and learn by doing. Even schools and professional educators will commonly refer to this as a learning style. But this isn't such a good thing if we lean into it. Don't insist on learing all of life's lessons through personal experience. Instead, learn what lessons history has already taught. Those who proudly claim to be "experiential learners" are really just telling you how foolish they are - because they are leaving most of life's lessons on the table - refusing to learn what they can't personally experience.

Truth Filters

One piece of truth will affect many people in different ways, because we each run it through our own filters of experience and perception. When we do, we each may understand it differently. But one must ask his or her self whether truth can really have different meanings and still be truth. Our filters of experience and perception can distort the truth.

Asking God

When our motives are pure, we shouldn't hesitate to ask great things of God. But when we do ask for great power or ability, we need to examine our desires and get rid of any selfishness or other character defects that may be operating in that request.

Self Development

We tend to become what we worship. We worship whatever it is that we focus on and spend time with. We tend to become who we follow. What are you focused on and whom are you following?

Self Centered

When people fail to see or understand how fortunate they are - and when they begin to take God's provision and His gifts for granted - they become self-centered. In fact, ingratitude is the platform on which self-centeredness is built. And self-centeredness is like a self perpetuating disease that feeds on itself. Left unchecked, unconfronted - it just grows and wields more power over us.

Smart vs. Wise

A smart man usually gets (seeks) a lot of advice. A wise man evaluates the advice he gets against the context of God's Word, God's will, God's character and nature.

Lying To Ourselves

We have a huge capacity to lie to ourselves. We do it by convincing ourselves of things that aren't really true. We do it by avoiding the truth that we already know. But God provides two safeguards against such self-deception. His Word and true friends are both things God intentionally puts in our lives to help us stay grounded in truth. Each has the ability to help us see beyond ourselves - if we will constantly seek them out and listen to them.

Love and Lust

Love and lust are very different in nature.

Love is patient - while lust requires immediate satisfaction.
Love is kind - but lust can be very harsh.
Love does not demand its own way - but lust is selfish.

Lust may feel like love, but when physically expressed it results in disgust for yourself and hatred of the other person. If you just can't wait - then what you feel is not love. It is selfish lust demanding immediate gratification.

Temptation's Root

At the root of most temptation to sin is a real need or desire. The thing is that those needs or desires can all be quenched by God. He can fill the need or the desire - or He can take it away from us supernaturally. But some of the desires are ones that He put there. And some of those can only be filled by God Himself.

Making Your Point

When you need to make a point, look for creative, God-honoring ways to do so. It will have a more significant impact.

Difficult Listening

Quite often we hear things that are difficult to listen to. We don't understand that they are nonetheless true - because we are not really seeking truth. (In fact, we may be wishing to avoid it!) Instead, we are more focused on finding support for our own views and perspectives. So tell me, if it provided that - do you really think it would be difficult to listen to?

Worshipping Images

Worshipping images of God is not the same as worshipping God, even if it resembles true worship in some ways. By the same token, respecting images of God and treating them as sacred is not the same as showing respect for God and treating Him with reverence.

Finding Fault

The characteristics that we condemn in others are often our own character defects. We can become so insensitive to our own sin that we only see it in others. A repentant, loving, humble heart is the preventive medicine for this.

Church Reasons

Some people go to church for selfish reasons. They go to feel better, be accepted, relieve guilt, gain business contacts or friends, etc. This is sin.

True Friendship

The marks of a true friendship, on its deepest level, are that we encourage each other's faith in God, trust each other with our deepest thoughts and closest confidences. They are that we love each other unconditionally - and never, ever give thought to self in the relationship.

True Humility

True humility is not convincing yourself that you are worthless. Rather it is recognizing who you are in Christ. It is living with God's perspective on your accomplishments and qualities, and acknowledging the extent of His grace in you.

Right & Wrong

We sometimes face situations where our only options seem wrong. When that happens, we must look for more choices - ones that better align with the character and nature of God.

Opportunity's Source

Not every opportunity is sent from God. We may want something so much that we assume any opportunity to obtain it comes from God. But our selfish will can cloud our view of God's will. When opportunities come our way, we need to first check our motives to ensure that they are aligned with God's nature and character. (And we may need the help of godly people to do that!) Only then can we be certain that the opportunity reflects God's will and provision for us.

Love's Desires

Our love leads us to identify with the desires of those we care most about. This is true in our relationships with our spouse, our children, our parents and our best friends. It is even more true in our relationships with God. The greater my love for God - the greater my ability to identify with His desires.

Relationship Complexity

If I attempt to settle the conflicting demands of my human relationships on a human level, I will always encounter a sense of betrayal.

But if my loyalty is to God, my choices will be much clearer. God's truth brings light to all my decisions. And I am no longer dependent on other people to make me feel secure.

Life's Complexities

It is our relationship with God that enables us to deal effectively with the complexities of life. My loyalty to God guides me through the conflicting demands of human relationships. Yes, life is complex. God simplifies it though - if only I will let Him.

On Loyalty

Loyalty is one of life's most costly qualities. It is the most selfless part of love. Loyal people not only stand by their commitments - but they are willing to suffer for them.

Selective Obedience

Selective obedience is just another form of disobedience. We are deceived if we think we can pick and choose which things we'll obey - and then call it obedience. True obedience doesn't get to pick and choose; it just does.

Spiritual Character

What we do as leaders is often a direct result of our spiritual health. Spiritual character cannot be ignored in effective leadership.

Obedience & Sacrifice

Obedience to God always involves sacrifice. But sacrifice is not always obedience.

Legally Innocent

We may be legally innocent of a crime or sin. But sometimes we are morally guilty and need to confess that and ask God's forgiveness anyway. Just because you didn't get caught; just because you didn't break a rule ... doesn't mean you aren't guilty of sin.

Listening vs. Obeying

Often we listen to something, but then we don't do anything about it. Think of when you're trying to persuade someone to change their behavior. What do you say? Often we say something like, "Are you listening to me?" What we really mean though is, "Are you going to do what I say?"

It works the same way with God. He sees a pattern in us. It looks like this.

Listening = absorbing and accepting information (about God or His ways)
Learning = understanding its meaning and implications
Obeying = putting into action all we have learned and understood

So the problem with most people who identify themselves as Christians is that we listen, but move no further up the scale. Even when we do get to the learning level, we think we're spiritually mature and become content. But the real spiritual maturity is when we move on up to the final level of obeying. What level are you at?

Sanctification Dilemma

Being born again (in the Holy Spirit) only takes a moment. But becoming like Christ takes a lifetime. It is that simple.

But there is great tension in the Christian experience. We agree with God's commands --- but we cannot follow them. As a result, we are painfully aware of our own sin (way more than non-Christians). We know that we are hypocrites --- and we don't like it any better than those who are watching us do.

It is the process of sanctification. It is the character and nature of sanctification.

True Value

While our strengths and abilities make us useful, it is our weaknesses that make us usable. Our failures and shortcomings can serve to keep us dependent on God - and that is when real power and victory are seen. His strength is perfected in my weakness.

Godliness

Godliness - or Christianity - cannot be merely a claim that we make. Rather it must be a reality that we live. And that reality must be the true motive behind our actions every day. Without it, godliness isn't true.

Not Submitted

Anyone who isn't fully submitted to God will end up doing whatever seems right at the time. This tendency exists in all of us. (It is part of our sin nature.)

Strength & Weakness

Contrary to popular opinion, great strength in one area of our lives does not make up for great weakness in another areas of our lives. Consider that a great leader doesn't necessarily make a great father.

The thing is though, that God can use a person of great faith despite his or her weaknesses, mistakes and past failures. So what can make up for great weakness in other areas of our lives is God!

Power & People

People who desire (and get) power always far outnumber those who are able to use power wisely when they have it. Similarly, people who desire (and get) money or other material resources always far outnumber those who are good stewards of it.

Want proof? Power and wealth both have a way of taking over and controlling the person who possesses either of them. This is especially true, for example, in cases of inherited wealth or inherited power.

Sin's Impact

All sin harms us and it harms others. In fact, it is impossible to sin and only have it be about us. But all sin is ultimately against God Himself. Sin disregards God's commands and His authority over us. The Bible tells us that sin "grieves the Holy Spirit." Even God suffers from my sin.

God First

If God is truly first in your life, He will affect every dimension of your life. Notice that this goes well beyond what you do in church. In fact, it goes well beyond who you are in church. But - it is often only after we begin to really obey God and allow Him to have this affect that we find the strength, courage and resources to live our lives His way.

Roots of Defeat

Chronic opposition (or oppression) can often crush and defeat a person. Or it can make them a ruthless fighter. The problem with ruthless fighters is that they most often tend to be manipulative, lying, untrusting, unloving, deceitful and conniving. Know someone who has been through great hardship and yet survived? If they appear to be ruthless fighters they may be fighting with all of their character defects!

Caring Leaders

Those who lead must never forget - or neglect - the spiritual condition of those being led. A true leaders is concerned about the wholeness of his or her people.

Personal Accountability

Overlooking personal accountability - not seeing my part in my problem - takes me to the very edge of rebellion against God and backsliding from my own self-proclaimed values. There is no mistake about it; whatever I have in my life that I see as a problem --- I have some personal responsibility for it. Not identifying and dealing with that personal responsibility ensures that the problem will remain.

Faith's Allure

Faith in the one true God offers no short range benefits that are appealing to our sinful nature. In fact, it would be safe to say that true Christianity really needs a good public relations agent! The essence of all sin is selfishness - and God doesn't allow it. The essence of Christianity is selflessness - which is God's way of life. God requires it of all people who are truly His.

Attractive Religion

Pagan religions tend to appear more attractive to the sensual nature. They feel good. They also usually offer more short-range benefits. One of their most attractive features, however, is that people can remain selfish and yet fulfill their religious requirements. Such religions seem to allow their followers to do almost anything they wish and live any way they want. In fact, study of these religions reveals that most were developed so that their followers could do what they want and live the way they want.

Look closely at so-called Christian religions. Even these can be false.

Self Sufficiency

Self sufficiency is an enemy when it comes to Christianity. It causes us to believe we can always do what needs to be done - in our own strength instead of in God's strength. The truth of the matter is that a real Christ-follow already knows he or she is not self-sufficient.

What's Behind War

Whenever the Israelites (in the Old Testament) chose to follow false gods, war was inevitable. Without God at the center of their national life, pressure from the outside soon became greater than the power from within. Keeping God at the center of our lives ensures we will always be stronger than our enemies.

Pray for Forgiveness

When we pray for forgiveness of sin, what we are really asking is for something that we totally do not deserve and could never be truly worthy of. Isn't it miraculous that God gives it to us anyway!

Real Heroes

Real heroes recognize the futility of human effort without God's guidance and power. Often we think of heroes as people who have accomlished great feats. However, the truest heroes are those through whom God has accomplished great feats.

Easy Obedience

Obedience to God is easy when what God requires fits into our plans. But our commitment to God is really tested when His plans run contrary to our plans.

Destroy To Follow

Following God requires most of us to destroy whatever gets in the way of our following Him. What do you need to destroy today?

Assumptions on Others

Assuming the worst about the intentions of others only brings trouble. Better to give everyone the benefit of the doubt by assuming the very best you can about their intentions. Has someone offended you? Decide up front to assume that his or her intentions were sincere and genuine. Such conclusions make forgiveness much more attainable. Further, assuming the best about the intentions of others is really the foundation of reconciliation. So if you want to be reconciled with someone, start by assuming the best regarding their intentions!

Doing & Being

Sometimes we spend so much time thinking about what we are to do - that we overlook thinking about who we are to be. Seriously, which do you think God would rather have you spend your time thinking about?

Prayer & Purpose

Prayer is not an alternative for preparation. Faith is not a substitute for hard work. If your prayers seem to have gone unanswered, perhaps that you need is within your reach already. Pray instead for the wisdom to see it. Ask God to give you discernment to understand just how He has provided for your true needs and the energy and motivation it takes to follow His will (i.e., make use of His provision.)

Leadership Test

One of the best tests of a good leader is his or her willingness and ability to train someone to take their place. Solid leaders always have a successor in mind. Moreover, the existence of that succession plan in the leader's mind will always lead to action on his or her part in mentoring and raising up that next leader.

See It God's Way

The Bible tells us to "lean not on your own understanding." We must adjust our thinking to God's way of thinking in order to see His standards for successful living. Put another way, we must be purposeful about trying to see with His eyes, hear with His ears, think with His mind --- and of course, speak with His tongue.

Knowing Enough

God has given us enough knowledge - enough capacity for knowledge - to enable us to obey Him. That is all. Disobedience is a willful act and never due to a lack of knowledge. The proof of that is the fact that education - informing someone of their wrongness - isn't usually enough to correct it. Ignorance (or the claim of not knowing) is then not an excuse for disobedience of God's will.

God's Knowledge

Even the smartest of humans lacks the capacity to know everything that God knows. In fact, even if God revealed all knowledge to us, it would still be beyond our comprehension. We are created beings. But knowledge is not created. Rather it is discovered. What is created cannot contain what is discovered or revealed.

Doing Wrong

When we decide to do what we know is wrong, we plant an evil seed that begins to grow out of control. It eventually yields a crop of sorrow and pain.

Leadership Critics

Criticism will always be directed toward those who lead. It always has been. Isn't it interesting how most books on leadership fail to address this? It would seem that the most effective leaders are the ones who can handle criticism at its worst.

God's Strength

Our strength to do God's work and follow His will comes from trusting Him. It has never been enough to believe in God or believe in His promises. Trust is the proof of belief. Action is the proof of trust.

Observing Wrong

It is unjust to overlook wrongdoing. Such things deserve to be confronted, called out, held accountable and challenged to become right. Similarly though, it is wrong to jump to conclusions about guilt or intent. Only God really can know the truth about the one who does wrong.

Rebellion's Roots

The path to open rebellion against God begins with dissatisfaction and skepticism, then moves to grumbling about both God and present circumstances. Next come bitterness and resentment, followed by rebellion and open hostility or anger. these attitudes lead to rebellion and separation from God. So the challenge is to recognize when these attitudes are creeping up on us - and do something to resist them.

Falling Away

One of the easiest ways to fall away from following God is to look at our present problems and exaggerate them. We give our problems more credit than they deserve - and spend our time telling God how big and powerful our problems are - instead of telling our problems how big and powerful our God is. It causes us to lose our right perspective on both our problems and God!

Worshipping Idols

Idol worship is self-centered, focusing on what we can get from that which we purport to worship. the worship of God is the opposite. True believers are to be selfless. We are to serve Him and worship Him, expecting nothing in return. More importantly, we are to serve and worship God - knowing that we nothing is exactly what we deserve.

Disobedient Children

A child who knowingly disobeys his or her parents is, in reality, challenging their authority - and dares them to respond to that challenge. If they don't they are, in effect - surrendering their authority to the child!

Lust is Born

When you become pre-occupied with something until it affects your perspective on everything else, you have moved from desire to lust. Most of us travel such a journey without ever realizing it.

Self-Sufficiency

From an early age (usually as toddlers) we start thinking, "I can do it myself." Self sufficiency becomes a virtue in our minds that we strive for. Being independent, doing things on our own and especially not being beholding or needy of others are viewed as good things. However, the true result of self-sufficiency is torment. We are walking by our own light and not God's - so He will oppose us. Self-sufficiency can never deliver on its promise.

Pride's Control

Taking credit, even in your own mind, for the accomplishments or contributions of others is a sure sign that pride is controlling you!

Resisting Change

Stability in life does not come from a lack of change. Rather stability in life is the product of moving with God through life's turbulence. Said another way, stability in life comes from walking through change - hand-in-hand with God.

Making Changes

Many times we intentionally make changes in our lives, expecting those changes to produce different lives. We will move from one place to another, change the people we associate with, change our profession, change churches, etc. But such changes only distract us from the need for a real change in our hearts. As a result, they are most unlikely to be satisfying changes.

Understanding God

We limit our understanding of God when we compare or contrast Him to what we experience or have experienced here on earth. God the Father is not even similar to the father figures I may have experienced here on earth. God's love is not like the love most of us have experienced here on earth. God's grace is not like the grace we typically show to each other. Indeed, God and all of His attributes are much bigger than anything we can experience on earth.

Ineffective People

People don't have to be sinful in order to be ineffective for God. They only need to be ignorant of or confused about what God wants. Ignorance and confusion are just as reliable in keeping us from acting as anything else. Put another way, Satan doesn't have to turn us away from God in order to make us ineffective Christians. He simply needs to keep us ignorant of God's truth or confuse us a little. Either way, we'll fail to act on God's will for our lives.

Evil Faced

Conflict with evil is really inevitable for true Christ followers. Satan is a committed enemy of Christ. So it is impossible for us to truly follow Christ without encountering His arch enemy. We should be merciless at rooting out sin in our lives - or other influences of evil.

Dissatisfaction

Dissatisfaction comes about when we turn our focus from what we have to what we don't have. It really is that simple.

Why We Sin

We all have a sin nature, but understanding why we sin isn't that complicated. Typically there are three (3) basic motives for sin:

1. Committed unintentionally.
We did it without realizing it was a sin or without realizing that we did it.

2. Committed out of weakness or negligence.
We did it because we were not focused on doing right, and just drifted by default to wrong.

3. Committed out of rebellion.
We knew it was wrong when we did it, but just didn't care.

Of course, none of these are reasons any of us would be proud of. So if I say that I "struggle with" some sin or sin pattern in my life, then I really just have to ask myself which of these three underlying explanations is applicable to that struggle.

Leadership Privilege

Leadership's special privileges can cause leaders to either sacrifice for the good of their people or to sacrifice their people for their own greed. Which leader will you be?

Strength & Ability

God gives each of us strengths and abilities that will find their greatest usefulness only when we are fully surrendered and submitted to God. So strengths or abilities, even when they are God-given, are only folly if there is no surrender or submission.

Understanding Jesus

People naturally miss the importance of Jesus' life and work. His death on the cross, for example, tends to sound abstract - a reality that we don't naturally grasp. We need faithful Christians - spiritually mature in their own nature - to point out and teach us of Christ's extraordinary nature and character. (Typically such people are provided and led by the Holy Spirit.)

Finding Relief

Many people cry out for relief from suffering, seeking comfort and security. But we often have not taken the first steps to turn away from sin and trust in God. We have not fully repented of our sin or fully put our trust in God - even though we say that we have. In other words, the root cause of our pain and suffering may not be the circumstances of our suffering. Rather the root cause is the denial we have about our relationship with God.

Obedience & Worship

If we are to be God's people, we must be obedient to Him, and we must worship Him honestly and sincerely. Otherwise, we are only fooling ourselves - we are not His people!

Abandoned By God?

By abandoning God's purpose for our life - we also abandon His help and provision. He will not lead us along any other path than the one He has pre-destined or pre-ordained for us in the womb. So if we reject God's way for us, there is little left for hope.

Greater Power

No instrument or tool accomplishes its purpose without a greater power. This is a fundamental truth of life. Consider the tools we have and use in our homes or businesses. Without a greater power to operate or at least direct them, they are useless. And so it goes with mankind. Without the direction of the higher power (God), we are useless to accomplish anything. It seems simple enough. Why then do so many of us operate as if we are ignorant of this truth?

God Cleanses

God's moral perfection, when properly seen by man, purifies us from sin, cleanses our mind of our problems - by eliminating their influence on us, and then enables us to worship Him with pure hearts and serve Him with all our being. Until we can grasp that perfect dimension of God though, the transformation will not be so radical, nor so complete.

God's Power in Us

When we recognize how great our God is, how sinful we are --- and the extent of God's forgiveness, we receive power to do His work and accomplish great things in His name. Conversely, if we don't recognize God's greatness or know intimately our own spiritual poverty, we can do little for God and His power seems to escape us.

Paying Back Evil

We are, as Christians, obligated to pay back good for evil. But until we respond to this challenge, we will not know how much we need God's help in order to forgive others. Most of us think of forgiveness as something we can do on our own. But when forgiveness is needed most, that's when it is most impossible - and when God's assistance to achieve it is most necessary. Ironically, forgiveness is needed most in the face of evil.

Praising God

If God did absolutely nothing for me, He would still be worthy of my highest praise. How well do I know that? Could I explain why that is a true statement?

Answered Prayer

Who will get the credit? Who (or what) will be glorified ... if God answers my prayer the way that I've given it to Him? Is my purpose (existing for the benefit of the Lord) being fufilled in my prayer life?

Useful Troubles

Our troubles can be helpful because they humble us. They wean us from the allure of the world and all that it offers. Troubles drive us to our knees and back to God. They vitalize our prayer life. They allow us to experience God's faithfulness in tangible ways. Our troubles make us more dependent on God and make us more compassionate toward others in their troubles.

Who knew that troubles could be so virtuous!

Pleasing God

A sincere desire to please God will result in an alignment of your desires with God's You will love what God loves and hate what God hates. Truly desiring to serve God brings about the nature of Christ in one's character.

Perspectives & Pride

Our perspectives (on anything) can be distorted by our pride. It could be pride in our accomplishments. It could even be pride in our perspectives! Indeed, pride could be considered to be a lens through which we see everything else. It is a lens that will distort everything else.

Fearing God

Fear is a paradigm shift in God's world. The Bible tells us repeatedly, "Do not fear." But then it also tells us that fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. True fear of God will lead to a fearless life. To fear God then really means to revere, respect and stand in awe of Him. When we do that, or rather when we can accomplish that, we trust Him and find that all other fears subside.

God's Blessings

God offers many blessings to Christ followers. But most of them - if not all of them - require our active participation. We must do our part. In order to "appropriate" God's blessings, we must seek Him, cry out to Him, trust Him, fear Him, revere Him, seek peace, be broken, serve Him, refrain from lying, turn towards good, desire righteousness, value Him, turn from evil, resist temptation, do good, etc. Without these things --- God's blessings are always just out of our reach!

Super Powers

The truly powerful nation is not the one with the military might, or the one with all the wealth. No, the truly powerful nation is the one that relies on God's strength and remains corporately submitted to Him. Why then does the world pay so much attention to wealth and military power?

Excellent Leaders

Excellent leaders are confident in God's strength, courageous in the face of opposition - and teachable. They seek to know God's will, listen well and move swiftly when they know they have God's instructions. Strong leaders are led by God. In fact, what makes them strong leaders is their submission and surrender to God as their leader!

Knowledge & Wisdom

There is a difference between knowledge (having facts) and wisdom (making practical application of those facts). Without wisdom, knowledge has little, if any value on its own. The problem is that the knowledgeable are usually unaware of their foolishness.

God's Vengence

If we do not trust God to vindicate us, then we will be susceptible to hatred and self-pity. Anger and bitterness will stalk us. We can become angry at those who offend us in these ways. But we must come to the quick conclusion that when someone offends us --- it is God's problem and not mine!

Christian Living

As Christians, we are to live in contrast with our culture. But if we live life God's way ...

... we may be falsely accused or misunderstood
... we may not be truly appreciated for our genuine love
... the true value we contribute may never be rewarded
... our ideas and attempts to contribute may be ignored or discounted

The Bible tells us to stand against our culture. Oddly enough, our culture concludes that anyone who stands against it is irrelevant.

Wisdom Speaks

To be wise in our speech, we must exercise self control. Our words should be honest and well chosen. Our words should also be well measured. Often the best example of wisdom is that which is not said --- rather than what is said.

Comforting People

The best comforters are those who know something about personal suffering. Notice that when you are suffering and others say something like, "I know just how you must feel," you generally discount such statements ... unless you know they've suffered as you are. So it would seem that if I want to truly be able to comfort others, my ability to do so can only be born of my own suffering.

Assumptions & Conclusions

Wrong assumptions lead to wrong conclusions. We dare not take our limited experiences in life and jump to conclusions about life in general. We must remember that, no matter what, we never have all the facts. This is why the Bible says to, "Lean not on your own understanding." Even at its best, our understanding (of anything) is incomplete.

Righteousness

Righteousness is not the same as sinlessness. It is quite possible for someone to not sin and still not be righteous. Of course, the only person who was truly without sin was Christ --- and He was the definition of righteousness. The point is that it wasn't the absence of sin in Jesus' life that made Him righteous. So what was it that made Him righteous? His relationship with God, and the presence of God's character in Him.

Humble People

A humble person is more secure than a proud person. This is because humility provides a more accurate perspective of oneself and of the world in general. Pride is deceitful, especially when it comes to viewing ourselves and the world around us.

Knowing

It is better to know God than to know the answers to all of our questions. Even Biblical knowledge is intellectual and not worth much outside of the context of a relationship with God. Consider that even Satan has good Biblical knowledge and memorizes Scripture. But of course, Satan lacks the relationship with God that gives value to such knowledge.

Sin & Righeousness

The more that we sin, the harder it is to remember and be mindful of what God wants. Our sin blocks our view of His will. The longer that we wait to deal with sin, the greater the hold that is has on us. Finally, we "forget" what it means to do right. Are you on the verge of "forgetting?"

God Judges

God doesn't respect people or their roles or rank in life. He judges all people fairly and impartially. He judges all people.

Courageous Fighting

Christians should be strong and courageous when we are fighting our battles against evil. After all, we are fighting on the winning side!

Victory & Sacrifice

There is never any kind of victory without some kind of sacrifice. Foolishly, mankind often denies this truth and expects to achieve victory without having to pay for it. There is no free lunch. There never has been.

Submission

Submission seems to be a dirty word in our modern day culture. We are taught to stand on our own, be independent, and "take no prisoners." But God teaches us something else. We are to submit to God. We are to submit to our government. We are to submit to our employers. We are to submit to each other. Are you noticing a common theme here?

It is not possible to live for Christ unless one learns to submit for Christ.

Love Defined

1 Corinthians 13 gives us a wonderful (i.e., easy to comprehend) definition of what love is ... and what love isn't. Let's take a look.

Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous. Love is not proud and does not boast. Love does not do things that are not nice. Love does not just think of itself. Love does not get angry. Love holds no wrong feelings in the heart. Love is not glad when people do wrong things. But it is always glad when they do right. Love forgives everything. Love is always trusting, and always hoping, and never gives up. Love never ends. (1 Corinthians 13:4-8)

Too often in this life we get confused about love. We think love is about me. I want love. I need to feel loved. I need love. I want you to love me. Honestly, have you ever seen such focus on self? Notice that there is nothing about me in 1 Corinthians 13. It is always about you!

It seems that if love has these virtues, that true love can stand up to any tests this life and this world can give it. But if it fails, then I would argue that it may never have been love in the first place.

Thrill of Forgiveness

Do you remember when you first decided to become a Christian? Most of us do. In my case, it was as a young man. The thing is, I didn't really believe that I needed a savior. I didn't take my sin too seriously, and considered myself to generally be "a good person." The preacher had convinced me though that unless I acknowledged Jesus, I would burn in hell. So I chose Jesus.

The problem is that when we lose sight of the seriousness of sin - or never have it in the first place, we lose the thrill of forgiveness. Unless I understand how wrong I am, it is not possible for me to really appreciate being forgiven for that wrong. 2 Peter 1:9 tells us this, but I think most people miss the point. Really, how well do you know your own sin?