“God is love” is a phrase we often hear in our churches, from our pastors or our Christian family members or friends. It’s true; God is love, but what does that truly mean? We often think that God’s love is always kind, always accepting, always soft. Like no matter what we do (as believers) God will always forgive everything we do. Yet, when we look in the Bible, is that truly the case? God’s love can also be seen as tough love in many cases.
Continue reading “God’s Love Can Be Tough Love Too”Get Wisdom, No Matter the Cost – The Proverbs Series
Wisdom is supreme; therefore get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding.
Proverbs 4:7
Why does it cost everything we have to get wisdom and understanding of God? Are we supposed to go into debt enrolling in a theology school? Sell everything we have in order to understand God better?
Actually, the word of God should be given without cost (Isaiah 55:1-3, Revelation 22:17). Rich or poor, anyone who is thirsty for the word of God is able to receive it. So why does the Bible say it costs everything we have? In fact, there is a cost to receiving God’s word–we have to let go of something in order to receive and keep it.
Continue reading “Get Wisdom, No Matter the Cost – The Proverbs Series”Are You Prudent or Simple in Your Faith? – The Proverbs Series
“The simple believes everything,
but the prudent gives thought to his steps.”
Proverbs 14:15
What does it mean to be “prudent”? Being prudent is to be thoughtful and discerning…to not be hasty. Prudent people think about the possible consequences of their decisions before making them. We often show this quality when deciding which university to attend, or who we want to marry, or even the type of job we want. There are plenty of important decisions we give thought to before making them. But what does it mean to be prudent in the Bible?
Continue reading “Are You Prudent or Simple in Your Faith? – The Proverbs Series”Going to Heaven Might Not Be As Easy As You Think
Ask any Christian, “Why do you carry out a life of faith?” To go to heaven will probably be at the top of most people’s list. But take those same people and ask, “How do you get to heaven?” and then you might start to get different answers.
Some people say you just need to believe in Jesus, while others say you need to be a good person and do good things for others, or countless different other answers. Well, which is it? How can I know 100% that I’m going to heaven? And what do God and Jesus have to say about this in the Bible? We’ll learn that it’s not as easy as some may think.
Continue reading “Going to Heaven Might Not Be As Easy As You Think”The Cost of Following God’s Truth
Have you ever considered, or has it ever felt like there was a cost for following God’s truth? That you would have to suffer something difficult or pay a price for your faith? What would that cost look like in our daily lives? And more importantly, would we be willing to pay it?
It’s easy to say yes. But when we examine those who followed the truth throughout the Bible, we can see that the price they paid was high. And what is this Truth we are referring to? John 17:17 tells us that God’s Word is truth. God’s Word, the Bible, the way we get to know God and the way we can learn about salvation. Those who followed God’s Words throughout history faced unnaturally harsh persecution and hardships. Why? Because in a world full of lies, they pursued God’s truth.
Continue reading “The Cost of Following God’s Truth”A Closer Look: The Lesser-Known Truth of John the Baptist
The famous John the Baptist. Many of us have heard of or learned about him before. On the surface, it looks like he was one of the first to believe in and follow Jesus. But there is more to his story that many often miss.
Continue reading “A Closer Look: The Lesser-Known Truth of John the Baptist”You Are Forgiven (*Terms and Conditions Apply)
We’re always told to forgive people when they’ve wronged us. And ultimately, we should forgive them. But is there a limit for forgiveness? What if, after being forgiven, someone commits that same wrong again?
Think about ex-convicts out on parole. They’ve been released from prison on the trust of the state authorities that they won’t commit any more crimes. What good is that freedom for ex-cons if they break the law again and end back up in prison? They’re given freedom (“forgiven”) with a condition. That condition is to live a new life apart from crime.
Continue reading “You Are Forgiven (*Terms and Conditions Apply)”Delight Yourself in the Lord – The Psalms Series
Trust in the LORD, and do good;
dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness.
Delight yourself in the LORD,
and he will give you the desires of your heart.
Psalms 37:3-4
Continue reading “Delight Yourself in the Lord – The Psalms Series”How Long, O LORD, How Long? – The Psalms Series
O LORD, do not rebuke me in your anger or discipline me in your wrath. Be merciful to me, LORD, for I am faint; O LORD, heal me, for my bones are in agony. My soul is in anguish. How long, O LORD, how long?
Turn, O LORD and deliver me; save me because of your unfailing love. No one remembers you when he is dead. Who praises you from the grave? I am worn out from groaning; all night long I flood my bed with weeping and drench my couch with tears. My eyes grow weak with sorrow; they fail because of all my foes.
Continue reading “How Long, O LORD, How Long? – The Psalms Series”Be Careful of Who You Accept Counsel From – The Proverbs Series
The thoughts of the righteous are just;
the counsel of the wicked is deceitful.
Proverbs 12:5
The “thoughts of the righteous” and the “counsel of the wicked” bring to my mind the image of a just and fair king who has a corrupt advisor. An example that immediately comes to my mind is from The Lord of the Rings trilogy. There is King Theoden of Rohan and his wicked, greedy advisor, Wormtongue. Wormtongue lied to the king and subtly influenced the king through his deceiful counsel when the king was making decisions. This wicked advisor wanted to undermine the king’s authority and take the kingdom for his true master, an evil and cruel leader.
Continue reading “Be Careful of Who You Accept Counsel From – The Proverbs Series”