Between the Wrinkles
What’s the truth we can learn from God’s immutable nature? God will do whatever he says. God will fulfill whatever he promises. No action of God will be left undone.
An Unguarded Moment
Each of us is only one unguarded, emotional, regrettable step away from doing something really foolish; one step away from blowing up our family, ruining our reputation and not honoring God as holy.
Wholehearted Faith
How does one acquire such a full-out faith? I believe the answer is this: a firsthand experience of God’s power and faithfulness. You cannot live a wholehearted faith just by hearing the stories of God’s great work. You have to experience it up close and personal.
The Disease of Doubt
Doubting God is a disease that continues to infect the human heart. God provides sin’s sacrifice; we proclaim self-sufficiency. God provides forgiveness; we carry our sin. God promises never to leave us; we feel alone.
Praying God’s Blessing
Aaron’s “Priestly Blessing” is a great prayer to pray for our children. I introduced this prayer yesterday and considered the first three requests. Here are the final four.
Praying God’s Blessing
My prayers too often default into worn-out requests that lack specifics. But today’s passage gives great help in putting power into praying for our families.
A Demonstration of Love
God’s wrath regarding sin is a demonstration of his love, care, and protection. If God never demonstrated his wrath, he would not be righteous.
Using What We Know
God tells his people that because of who he is and what he has done, they can “walk with their heads held high.” And so can we!
Feasts of Focus
He desires me to take a break. He wants me to get away and reconnect with him. And he must smile when he sees us enjoying food and fellowship with other believers.
A Daily Decision
It all begins by being set apart as his child and continues as we choose to live a life set apart to him instead of immersed in the world. Once our position is set, every day awaits a practical decision.
The Substitute for Atonement
“God made him who knew no sin to be sin for us so that in him we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Corinthians 5:21). Jesus is the only one who can make atonement for our sins.
Clean or Unclean?
Just as God provided a way to stop the spread of sin, so he instructed his people on how to avoid the spread of infection and disease. Reading through these laws gives me a new appreciation for God’s gracious care, his thorough protection, and his practical love.
Made in the “Image” of God?
The word “image” means “to carve or cut out.” We are carved or cut out in the pattern of our Creator. God is spirit, so this pattern is not a physical representation. Rather, to be made in the image of God means that we share God’s nature, specifically his...
A Life Set Apart
While we will never live sinless lives on this earth, it is possible, by the strength of the Spirit, to sin less and obey more. That’s the high standard to which God has called his children. And that should be the desire of his children.
Only One Knows Best
God’s commands are based on His omniscience and His perfect will. There are always consequences when we refuse to follow his instructions. True worship and submission to God begin with an attitude of “Lord, you know best. Please give me the strength and determination to follow your instruction.”
Speak Up!
If you have the needed information, speak up! When you don’t your silence is sin.
Preparing Us For Jesus
The death of Jesus on our behalf brings forgiveness and reconciles us with the Holy God. Amazing, isn’t it? Wherever you are in the Old Testament, God the Father is preparing us for God the Son.
What Generosity!
What a response to God! What generosity! Remember these were “freewill offerings” the people were bringing. They were giving voluntarily from a heart of worship in response to God’s amazing love and grace. How are you doing with your freewill offerings?
His Character
Today, thank God for his compassion – his affection that leads to action. Thank God for his grace – acceptance without condition. Thank God for his patience – his slowness to become angry. Thank God for his love – the love that sent Jesus to the cross to pay the penalty for your sin. Thank God for his faithfulness – He will always keep his promises. Thank God that through his Holy Spirit, he is standing with you right now.
We Cannot Do It Alone
Only God can make us holy. Maybe that has been one of your struggles. You have been trying to make yourself good enough for God. Good luck with that. But here’s the good news – Jesus came to do for us what we could not do for ourselves.