Principles are truths. Rules should be based on them.Principles don’t change. Rules are subject to improvement.Principles are foundational. Rules are applicational.Principles are valuable enough to adhere to without exception. Every rule has an exception.Principles can be powerful enough to base your life on them. Rules can insulate you from being able to hear the Holy Spirit give you instruction.
Author Archive: Douglas Thomas
Redemption, Forgiveness, Purpose
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavens, in Christ; for He chose us in Him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and blameless in His sight. In love He predestined us to be adopted through Jesus Christ for Himself, […]
Proving and Inheriting
Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to obey, to be ready for every good work, to slander no one, to avoid fighting, and to be kind, always showing gentleness to all people. For we too were once foolish, disobedient, deceived, captives of various passions and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, detesting one another.But when the goodness and love for manappeared from God our Savior,He saved […]
The Wedding and The Marriage
Therefore, my brethren, you also have become dead to the law through the body of Christ, that you may be married to another — to Him who was raised from the dead, that we should bear fruit to God.(Romans 7:4 NKJV)I have several times chastised people who were getting married for spending more time and money preparing for the wedding than for the marriage. I think the issue is the […]
Friends and Work
How many friends do you have on Facebook? How many friends come to throw you a birthday party? How many people do you trust to be speaking for the Spirit of the Lord if they happen to challenge you regarding some thought or word or activity of yours? A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity (Proverbs 17:17). The real relationships that you have with […]
Your Senses
Though a Son, He learned obedience through what He suffered. After He was perfected, He became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey Him, and He was declared by God a high priest “in the order of Melchizedek.”We have a great deal to say about this, and it’s difficult to explain, since you have become slow to understand. For though by this time you ought to be teachers, […]
Influencing Generations
Who introduced Abraham to Yahweh? Noah was the tenth generation from Adam. Abraham was the tenth generation from Noah. Adam died 126 years before Noah was born. Noah died 2 years before Abraham was born. Apparently, since there was no written Scripture until Moses, the oral tradition of history was maintained pretty accurately. People didn’t have much information they were responsible for – no passwords or phone numbers or addresses […]
Regarding Forgiveness
David’s hope in Psalm 86 seems to be that, because Yahweh loves him and is always ready to forgive him, he can trust Him to bring safety and comfort and deliverance. And more forgiveness… How much hope do the people who serve us have that we are ready to forgive and to help them and comfort them when they have needs? Co-workers, employees, waiters and waitresses, even the dog? What […]
TheFatherTheSon
“If you know Me, you will also know My Father. From now on you do know Him and have seen Him.”“Lord,” said Philip, “show us the Father, and that’s enough for us.”Jesus said to him, “Have I been among you all this time without your knowing Me, Philip? The one who has seen Me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Don’t you believe that […]
The Kingdom First
This good news of the kingdom will be proclaimed in all the world as a testimony to all nations. And then the end will come.(Matthew 24:14 HCSB ©®) Then Jesus came near and said to them, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of […]