Christian Life (Page 3)
When You Can’t Sleep
Some of you couldn’t sleep last night because of worry. You had an argument with a co-worker, perhaps, or with your spouse or child. Maybe you’re worried about your health, your debt, or your job. David had those nights, like we all do. During one of them he wrote this: “O Lord, how many are my foes! Many are rising against me; many are saying of my soul, there is no salvation for him in God” (Psalm 3:1-2). Satan loves…
Mud pies in a slum
I remember taking the kids to the store back when they were young. I’m pretty sure that by the time we left, one of them had asked for everything the store sold, and probably a few things it didn’t. At some point, I would say something like, “Look, please don’t ask for anything else today. You’ve got everything you could possibly need, and you don’t need everything you see.” If you’re a parent, you’ve probably had similar experiences. I wonder…
The Sword
The sword is often used as a symbol of death or destruction in God’s word. Paul wrote, “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?” (Romans 8:35). Then we see a sword listed as part of our spiritual “equipment” in (Ephesians 6:17), and maybe we feel a sense of power. But, what is the purpose of the “sword of the Spirit” (Word of God)? “Therefore…
Cup of cold water
Have you checked today’s headlines yet? Several college students got drunk and started a fight, two of everyone’s favorite celebrities filed for divorce, and the coach is “very excited” about the next game. “We hope to be competitive,” he said. There was a murder downtown, a meth lab exploded, and police are looking for a suspect in a string of convenience store robberies. A professional athlete feels disrespected and unappreciated by his $8 million-per-year offer, so he’ll probably ask to…
Afraid of God?
Should we be scared of God? The quick and easy answer is no, of course we shouldn’t. He’s a God of love, grace, and compassion. But that answer would be too quick and superficial. What are we supposed to do with passages like this one? Now therefore, O kings, be wise; be warned, O rulers of the earth. Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and you perish in the way,…
Spoiler Alert
I don’t like for someone to tell me how a movie ends before I watch it, and I’d never read the last chapter of a book before I’d read the rest. So I hope I’m not spoiling the end for you when I let you in on a Bible secret. We win. Big. Or maybe I should say, “God wins . . . so we do too.” He’s dropped some huge hints along the way . . . here’s one…
Are You Righteous?
The word righteous means “to act in a way that’s morally right and wise.” In James chapter 5, we read about the “prayer of a righteous person.” This prayer, James said, “has great power as it is working. My first thought is that I want to be righteous! I want to be able to pray powerful prayers. But, am I righteous? Sometimes, I pray with doubts. Not doubts in God, but doubts in myself. My prayers sometimes focus more on…
Your Weak Spot
What’s your weak spot? You’ve got one, of course, as we all do, and Satan knows exactly where it is. He’s lurking around, watching, waiting, looking for us to let our guards down, then he attacks. One thing that makes it so difficult is that he often uses something in us that’s harmless. He takes a good desire and makes it bad. Here’s Eve’s tragic mistake: So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that…