Posts Tagged ‘Engaged’
When Ignorance Meets Arrogance
What sorrow for those who are wise in their own eyes and think themselves so clever. Isaiah 5:21 (NLT) Never before in the history of the world has humanity had access to so much information. But information alone is not enough. While access to information has proliferated, the wisdom to interpret and understand is tragically…
Read MoreRighteousness Exalts a Nation
Righteousness Exalts a Nation Godliness makes a nation great, but sin is a disgrace to any people. Proverbs 14:34 (NLT) Saturday will mark the 250th birthday of the United States of America. (The 200th birthday does not seem like it was so long ago.) It is apparent that patriotism provokes more controversy today than it…
Read MoreAlways On Time
This vision is for a future time. It describes the end, and it will be fulfilled. If it seems slow in coming, wait patiently, for it will surely take place. It will not be delayed. Habakkuk 2:3 (NLT) I do not like to be late for anything. Additionally, it aggravates me when other people are…
Read MoreDisqualified?
I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified. 1 Corinthians 9:27 (NLT) We look forward to the day when Christ will say to us, “Well done, good and faithful servant…” Conversely, I can’t imagine that anyone…
Read MoreSpeak Up, Or Shut Up?
I know precisely the extent of your violations, the enormity of your sins. Appalling! You bully right-living people, taking bribes right and left and kicking the poor when they’re down. Justice is a lost cause. Evil is epidemic. Decent people throw up their hands. Protest and rebuke are useless, a waste of breath. Amos 5:12–13…
Read MoreA Servant’s Heart: A Warning
Who among you fears the Lord and listens to his servant? Who among you walks in darkness, and has no light? Let him trust in the name of the Lord; let him lean on his God. Look, all you who kindle a fire, who encircle yourselves with torches; walk in the light of your fire…
Read MoreA Servant’s Heart: Vindicated
The one who vindicates me is near; who will contend with me? Let us confront each other. Who has a case against me? Let him come near me! In truth, the Lord God will help me; who will condemn me? Indeed, all of them will wear out like a garment; a moth will devour them.…
Read MoreA Servant’s Heart: Determination
Because the Sovereign Lord helps me, I will not be disgraced. Therefore, I have set my face like a stone, determined to do his will. And I know that I will not be put to shame. Isaiah 50:7 (NLT) The servant songs found in Isaiah paint pictures for us that describe not only the life…
Read MoreA Servant’s Heart: Suffering
I offered my back to those who beat me and my cheeks to those who pulled out my beard. I did not hide my face from mockery and spitting. Isaiah 50:6 (NLT) In continuing our examination of the third of four Servant Songs in Isaiah 50, we find a portrait of a servant who willingly…
Read MoreA Servants Heart: Listening
The Sovereign Lord has given me his words of wisdom, so that I know how to comfort the weary. Morning by morning he wakens me and opens my understanding to his will. The Sovereign Lord has spoken to me, and I have listened. I have not rebelled or turned away. Isaiah 50:4–5 (NLT) The book…
Read MoreChoose Wisely
But if it doesn’t please you to worship the Lord, choose for yourselves today: Which will you worship—the gods your ancestors worshiped beyond the Euphrates River or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living? As for me and my family, we will worship the Lord.” Joshua 24:15 (CSB) We face choices…
Read MoreDoctrine Matters
For the time will come when people will not tolerate sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, will multiply teachers for themselves because they have an itch to hear what they want to hear. They will turn away from hearing the truth and will turn aside to myths. 2 Timothy 4:3–4 (CSB) How do…
Read MoreBeware of Drifting
So we must listen very carefully to the truth we have heard, or we may drift away from it. Hebrews 2:1 (NLT) What causes people to depart from the ways of the living God? There are examples of people having traumatic experiences, a death of a loved one, or a financial or health related crisis,…
Read MoreYesterday, Today, and Forever
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Hebrews 13:8 (NLT) We do not need to be reminded that we live in a society whose standards are ever evolving, and inarguably, moving away from the truth of the gospel message. There are enormous pressures confronting the church to acknowledge, accept, and adapt the practices…
Read MoreFollow Me (as I follow Christ)
Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ. 1 Corinthians 11:1 (NIV) Paul’s words to the Corinthians, while inspiring, also cause thoughts of inadequacy or unworthiness. “Follow me, or my example” is not a suggestion, but a command. We can feel the weight of responsibility. We may defer, or demure, while recounting our…
Read MorePerfect Love
There is no fear in love; instead, perfect love drives out fear, because fear involves punishment. So the one who fears is not complete in love. We love because he first loved us. 1 John 4:18–19 (CSB) What causes you to be frightened? Are you afraid of the future, or maybe you are afraid that…
Read MoreFind Us Faithful
Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful. 1 Corinthians 4:2 (NIV) There are distinguishing attributes of the servant of Christ. We must be obedient, diligent, humble, persevering, courageous, devoted, and uncompromising. Is it possible that all of these could be summed up in a single word, faithful?…
Read MoreDeception and Discernment
A discerning mind seeks knowledge, but the mouth of fools feeds on foolishness. Proverbs 15:14 (CSB) Some days, the limits of incredulity are stretched so far that it makes one wonder if everything is on the verge of collapsing. This week, the Supreme Court is hearing a case on “transgender” athletes in high school sports.…
Read MoreOn Display
Instead, I sometimes think God has put us apostles on display, like prisoners of war at the end of a victor’s parade, condemned to die. We have become a spectacle to the entire world—to people and angels alike. 1 Corinthians 4:9 (NLT) People and products are put on display for two main reasons. First, like…
Read MoreThe King Is Coming
After saying this, he was taken up into a cloud while they were watching, and they could no longer see him. As they strained to see him rising into heaven, two white-robed men suddenly stood among them. “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why are you standing here staring into heaven? Jesus has been taken from…
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