Consider the meaning of “recreation.” As the spelling of the word indicates, recreation is a re-creation of ourselves. When we’ve been used up, recreation is that which “makes us over again.” It rejuvenates us, sending us back to our work refreshed.
The most effective way to do something isn’t always apparent to the casual observer, and so if being methodical helps us to find the best way, then the more important the activity is, the bigger the benefit we get from being methodical.
We are social creatures who thrive on togetherness. We experience a basic satisfaction when we collaborate. And we enjoy the “together” aspect of work because we realize we’re connected to a reality that’s bigger than any of our individual works.
Our designs — that is, what we plan to be and do — must harmonize with the good of those around us, and even with the overarching purposes of the whole creation of which we’re a part. If they don’t, our designs are doomed to be inconsequential.
We should check not only our communication techniques but also our motives. I believe it’s true: love is the only healthy reason for telling the truth. Frankness is commendable only when we use it to convey truth with charity and good judgment.
In any relationship where we don’t presently have the unity we’d like to enjoy, the answer is not merely to try harder . . . We must change not only the quantity of our effort but the quality of our thinking. Our perspective must be altered.
In defiance of those who say, “It’s no use,” we must trust what we know about the possibility of progress. Going forward isn’t easy, and setbacks will surely be suffered, but faith and hope say, “What needs to be improved, can be improved.”
As we work on our goodwill, let’s make it better by making it more specific. Generic goodwill toward the human race is relatively useless. What we need is an active, practical goodwill toward the people we actually have to deal with from day to day.
If we appreciate lawfulness in others, we need to adopt it ourselves. Most of us would like the world to be “a better place.” The rule of law can help bring about that result, but we’ll enjoy little of its benefit if we ourselves don’t obey the law.
Not only are there are times when it’s okay to do nothing; there are times when that’s the most beneficial thing we can do! And if we can’t ever — at any time, under any circumstance — bring ourselves to just relax, we need to ask ourselves, “Why?”
If our present position is that we have said no to Christ, we’re on the side of the enemy. But Christ invites us to change our minds and obey the ...
Fervent and faithful, at least to the best of his understanding, Apollos needed to be shown “the way of God more accurately” (Acts 18:26). And to his credit, when Priscilla ...
As Paul reminded Timothy, the Scriptures are able to make us “wise for salvation” (2 Timothy 3:15). Whatever may seem right to us, we would do well to listen humbly ...
“There are two freedoms: the false, where man is free to do what he likes; the true, where a man is free to do what he ought.” Freedom is not ...
Paul described the Christian’s new life in Colossians 3:1-17. We have new goals, thoughts, and habits. With Christ as our Lord, we live under a new authority. And having been ...
The stability of the promised kingdom would be such that it “shall stand forever.” The ups and downs of history would not faze it, and no enemy could conquer it. ...
God said to David, “Your throne shall be established forever.” The kingdom of which God spoke would not be geographical but spiritual (John 18:36) — and this is the very ...
The path to heaven passes through the territory of repentance, and that is a painful place to be. But the horror of our sins has to become real to us. ...
It is in the gospel that God has revealed His plan. The righteousness He is willing to provide is based on faith in His Son. We might have preferred some ...
Real faith involves more than accepting the facts of the gospel intellectually. As it grows to maturity, faith turns into confidence and trust — a trust that will risk everything ...
Whether in the operation of his intellect, emotions, or will, Abraham’s point of departure was always this: what has God said? And he continues to be the spiritual forefather of ...
The gospel does not deal in superficial solutions. According to Jesus, the problem is not just our dysfunctional behavior — it is us. It is in the deepest depths of ...