To live life at its best, we must learn to combine three things: what is good, what is right, and what is true. Learning to recognize these things is no small challenge, and learning to balance them harmoniously is an even greater challenge!
God is to be our only real “possession.” All other things must be loved with a love we can let go of, and if our attachment to anything other than God is so strong that we can’t let go of it, then that thing, whatever it is, has become an idol to us.
No matter how formidable our difficulties, the right step to take at any moment will always involve the doing of something that is quite doable. Freedom means that we can take this step, and responsibility means that we should take it.
Our conscience should move us to act in ways that are consistent with our principles. But often, we fail to act. Afraid of making a mistake, we do nothing. And consequently, we learn nothing — and lose the opportunity to grow in our understanding.
If we desire a truthful connection to God and to our surroundings, there will be for us a quite comfortable sense of genuine greatness: the pleasure of filling precisely the role God had in mind for us, within the larger scheme of His great creation.
It is enough that God gives us the help we need today; today’s storehouse doesn’t have to be stocked with everything we might need tomorrow. Tomorrow’s needs will be provided when the time comes, and faith is willing to leave that in God’s hands.
Nothing will keep us away from God more than failing to forgive those who have wronged us. Jesus said, “If you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” It is only the merciful who will receive mercy.
Even when we see the importance of seeking God, we often don’t see the importance of our motives in seeking Him. Yet this must be carefully considered. Why do we seek God? God’s blessings must be seen as furthering His purposes, not our own agenda.
Just as hardship builds character, it is also true that hardship demonstrates character that has already been built. And one of life’s most refreshing experiences is to see someone show unexpected dignity and strength in the face of pain.
Christ did not die to prevent us from being hurt, but to “release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.” So we can drink any cup that life sets before us. Life has higher goals that the mere avoidance of pain.
If we’re thinking rightly, we will drink in every bit of truth that God has shared with us about Himself, eagerly wanting not only to know it but to act ...
The godly sorrow that leads to repentance is critically important. It requires humility, certainly. But if we’re willing to bow before God in the honest recognition of our sins’ seriousness, ...
Although the apostles are no longer preaching in person, the foundation has been laid and the record stands firm. The gospel, as preached and confirmed by the apostles, is just ...
Here is the truth: we haven’t really been liberated or “saved” if, for all practical purposes, we continue to live in “Egypt.” God requires that we leave our chains behind, ...
Theoretically, a person might change his ways for a number of reasons that have nothing to do with God. Repentance, however, is the reformation of one’s self because of godly ...
When mankind rebelled against Him, God subjected the world to “futility” (Romans 8:20,21), preventing us from controlling everything we want to control. He lets us learn from the humbling experience ...
The fact is, we have to be taught what our greatest needs are. We think we know what these are, but our priorities can become dangerously disordered. We have to ...
Often our words serve the purpose of saying what we WANT to be true. Yet we need to be careful. Surrounded by other religious people, it’s easy to say nice ...
Converted to Christ, we set Him apart as our Lord. But living consistently under that lordship takes time. We must yield our hearts completely to His direction. At our baptism, ...
Jesus urged us to “count the cost” of discipleship (Luke 14:25-33). If we won’t throw the doors open and give God access to EVERY room in our hearts (even the ...
God must be TREATED as holy, with respect for His commandments, but He will also DISPLAY His holiness in His dealings with those who come near — even by punishing ...
There is a link between the CHARACTER of God and the COMMANDS of God. When God has given any instruction to regulate our behavior, we cannot disrespect His WORD without ...