When Paul wrote the letter to the Ephesian congregations that ended up in the Bible, his last instructions before the greetings at the end of the letter were about being clothed in Christ as armor. He told them to use His righteousness and His truth and His faith and His peace as their protection. They should pray in (under the […]
The practice of creating a code of laws that must be followed to avoid hell and God’s displeasure is a religion called Legalism. The practice of casting off all restraint and refusing to submit to any form or regulation over your behavior is a religion called Lawlessness. The practice of being led by the Spirit of Jesus, and by doing […]
As Jesus pointed out to the Pharisees (John 5:37-40), the Book as they knew it was revelation of a Ruler. They had reduced it to a book of rules. Paul did not recommend using the Old Testament as a rule book instructing us about how to please God. In his letter to the Galatian congregations, he made some clear declarations […]
Whatever I am up to in life is costing my life. If I am just living for myself, I expect to answer for that one day. If I am living for others, it would probably be wise to be focused and committed. I should probably have some sense of why I am here – what kind of work I should […]
Kodak, the film & camera company, sold shares of their stock for $90 or so in 1997. At end of day on January 3, 2012, shares were 76¢. A few months later, Instagram was sold to Facebook for $1 billion. It pays to periodically check to be sure that the horse you are riding is not dead. On the days when […]
However, among the mature we do speak a wisdom, but not a wisdom of this age, or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. On the contrary, we speak God’s hidden wisdom in a mystery, which God predestined before the ages for our glory. None of the rulers of this age knew it, for if they […]
There is an old proverb about confusion: Someone who is confused will confuse you. Our God doesn’t author confusion, as Paul wrote to believers in Corinth (1 Corinthians 14:33). He authors peace! He is, however, seemingly very fond of chaos. It is a fountain of rawness to Him from which He can author peace and wisdom and beauty and purpose and […]
Who is wise and understanding among you? He should show his works by good conduct with wisdom’s gentleness. But if you have bitter envy and selfish ambition in your heart, don’t brag and lie in defiance of the truth. Such wisdom does not come down from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. For where envy and selfish ambition exist, there […]
O the depth of the riches and the wisdom and knowledge of God! How inscrutable are his judgments! How unsearchable are his ways! For, ‘Who has known the mind of Adonai? Who has been his counselor?’ Or, ‘Who has given him anything and made him pay it back?’ For from him and through him and to him are […]
Friends love all the time. That’s Proverbs 17:17. Agape. They don’t have to want to be around you all the time to still be loving you. Agape. Friends will help you become your full level of awesome. They won’t let you quit. Your mistake doesn’t offend or alienate them. Until we teach a generation of believers how to skate past […]