CS Lewis is certainly correct that those who are willing to seek knowledge in unfavorable conditions are the ones who achieve more. Hard work, as it turns out, tends to pay off. But Lewis was a Christian and as such we may find more in this quote than just his encouragement to pursue knowledge regardless of the conditions you find yourself in.
Read MoreI had the privilege to co-lead an 8-week study of the book of Acts at my church recently and now that it has concluded, I thought it could be helpful to share the slide deck and speaking notes here.
Read MoreWhen I came across this verse the other day: “Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.” Romans 12:12, I posted it on my Instagram Story, with this subsequent thought: “circumstances change and so does our perception of them. God never changes. So our communication with him must not change based on the circumstances we find ourselves in.” And while what I wrote remains true, I’d like to expand my thoughts and get to what I think Paul is saying in this verse specifically.
Read MoreLove should abound in conjunction with knowledge and discernment. Our renewal through Jesus is a matter of both heart and mind. Through this renewal we should be able to test (Romans 12.2) what is the will of God, what is true, what is worthy of our time and affections.
Read MoreBlessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God.
Read MoreFor by grace you have been saved through faith.
Read MoreWhen we combine this resolute, unwavering, unchanging, unflinching love with the promise that it will persist and endure forever we are presented with a promise that seems too good to be true. We can think it’s too good to be true because we’re human and we know we aren’t capable of that sort of love but the funny thing about God and the Bible is that their promises always come true. It would be annoying that God is always perfect and his words are always true if he wasn’t so good and loving and merciful and gracious and forgiving and beautiful and awesome.
Read MoreThe people you hang out with are going to have an undeniable impact on who you become and what you value, so be wise about who you choose to spend your time with. It really is that simple.
Read MoreThere are power in words. So it makes sense that confessing something with words would carry weight. In this case John tells us that if we confess that Jesus is the Son of God that God will abide in us and we in him. This is a huge concept.
Read More‘If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.” That’s like a verbal punch straight to the gut and yet, how many of us consistently worry about pleasing other people?
Read MoreFearing God is the beginning of wisdom because it means that we have begun to understand the impossible gap that exists between us. We cannot cross it on our own. This was the point of the Law as I pointed out in yesterday’s post. This is why God sent Jesus to earth to live, die, and rise from the dead. So that he could build a way for us to cross that gap. Yet another incredible reason to live in awe of his power, grace, mercy, love, and splendor.
Read MoreAssurance means ‘*a positive declaration intended to give confidence or certainty’ or ‘a promise*’. So we could read this verse as “*now faith is the confident declaration of things hoped for, the certainty of things not seen.*” When we have faith, when we say we believe in something, we are exercising our ability to hold on to the promises that God has made to us through the Bible.
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