The Compassion of Christ
To live like Jesus is to feel compassion for those in distress. The hungry, the helpless, the sick, the suffering, the left-out, the lonely, the poor, all caught His eye because they already had His heart. Seeing and feeling need calls for action. In our video-clip culture we are in danger of becoming desensitized.
A Spirit Inscribed Heart
Life has a way through unexpected events and unfolding relationships of teaching us something about what is inside our hearts. Saint Makarios, one of the Egyptian Desert Fathers, said of the heart, “So it is there that we must look to see whether grace has inscribed the laws of the Spirit.” This sight often
A Disciplined Journey
The undisciplined live a life that goes here and there and nowhere. The disciplined life has a goal and a vision and seeks ways to get there. It knows that the right roads must be intentionally taken, while avoiding attractive detours. The undisciplined life allows other people and circumstances to set its agenda. It
Being a Fruitful Tree
One analogy for the godly life in Scripture is a tree. “A good tree” (Matt 7:17). “Green olive tree” (Psalms 52:8). Like a tree planted by a river, with un-withered leaves, and nourished by delighting in God’s law (Psalms 1:1-3). Stable trees have deep, wide and well-watered roots. When our life is rooted in
Clear Vision
The God who is wants to be found when we seek Him with our whole heart. The divided heart is a barrier to seeing Him and seeking Him. The pure in heart have a clear vision of Him (Matthew 5:8). Full commitment tunes the focus. The divided heart distorts that vision and misrepresents the
Conditioning Yourself for Holy Character
Intentionally doing what we know to be holy and what is commanded for us to do has a way of shaping the heart. Sometimes holy actions follow a holy heart, and sometimes holy actions begin to condition the heart to be holy. This is paradox. Obey when you do not feel like it. Obedience
Living Out of a Holy Heart
There is a holiness of heart and there is a holiness of life. These two are to be joined. Without desire for holiness of heart, holiness of life is a futile attempt at works righteousness. When the heart is pure, then a holy life will follow. Father, cleanse my heart and it will be
The Holy Spirit and Transformation
Our transformation cannot happen without the Holy Spirit. By the powerful workings of the Holy Spirit in your inner person, you can have, as God said to Ezekiel, “A new heart and a new spirit.” God wants no less than a real personal transformation for you. He has gone to great lengths by sending
Personal Transformation
"When a righteous man turns away from his righteousness, commits iniquity and dies because of it, for his iniquity which he has committed he will die. Again, when a wicked man turns away from his wickedness which he has committed and practices justice and righteousness, he will save his life.” Ezekiel 18:26-27 God is
Worship in All Places
Seeing new scenes all around us can inspire our worship. All of creation belongs to God and points to Him. A sunrise! A sunset! A flowing stream! A placid lake! A turbulent sea! A stately oak! A beautiful flower! An awesome landscape! A towering mountain! Rock formations! Caves! Birds! Animals! Clouds! Rolling thunder! A
The Interlocking of Works and Grace
In all of our works done for Christ and in His name, God’s grace is at work. This is why John Wesley said that good works are a means of grace just like the Lord’s Supper, prayer, Scripture reading, worship, etc. Jesus is always near when we are seeking to serve and obey Him.
Working Out the Inner Work
Our obedience reflects the kind of servants we are. Obedience is not about earning anything. It is about “working out our salvation” in cooperation with the One “who works within us to will and do of His good pleasure” (Phil 2:12-13 ff.). It is about working out in our lives what God’s Spirit is
A Perpetual Source of Nourishment
What you think about today can feed your soul tomorrow? Positive truth sown in the mind is like a seed that will bring forth an abundant harvest. Hear truth. Live with it. Meditate on it. This food in the storehouse of your mind and heart will see you through the good times and
A Sanctuary Prayer
Father, from your Holy Sanctuary descend upon us and make us Your dwelling place, even Your holy tabernacle. May the prayers that arise from our hearts be incense that glorifies You! May the living offerings presented here warm Your heart! May we never allow anything to enter us or come out of us that
The Bad Hides Behind the Good
Religion can be a place where evil conceals itself. It can be a platform from which self-centered people look down on others as a way to mask their own sickness. We will run away from bold evil. So evil comes to us pretending to be good and right. Religion is often a vehicle to
To Adore Our God
God is to be adored - not because He needs to be, but because we have the need. It frames our lowliness against the backdrop of God’s greatness. It strikes down our pride so we can behold His majesty. It keeps us in our place. Glimpse the universe with its billions of galaxies and
Reflecting God
Your real self is like a diamond hidden in the darkness that can never shine or be seen in the fullness of its beauty until a light from without shines on it. We were not meant to originate light, but to reflect it. We only discover who we are and who we were meant
Honey for the Soul
Honey has its own unique taste. Its sweetness is very gratifying. Bees sacrifice their short lives to give it to us. They extract from a thousand flowers the nectar which we share. Jesus, the Rock, contains honey for our souls. He is both Bread and Honey from heaven. To truly know Him is sweetness
Uniting Lips and Heart
Living in harmony with ourselves is a wholeness to which we must aspire. Our thoughts, words and actions should come from a common healthy whole, like the seamless robe of our Lord. It was not torn nor divided, but was one whole piece. We need a unity of heart and action, living in such
Living in the Grace Circle
God who needs no grace gives grace. We who need grace so much must surely give grace. What is worse than for the sinner, having received grace, and then not giving grace to another? When grace does not flow out of us, then we have misunderstood the cross and God’s generosity to us. The
All Saints’ Day
All Saints' Day celebrates the reality that the saints (set-apart-ones) in this realm are one with the saints in the heavenly realm. We are surrounded by those who have gone before us (Hebrews 11:1-12:1). Believers are “saints by calling.” Saints do not feel like saints. They seek to live their lives in a way
The Other Sheep
“I have other sheep, too, that are not in this sheepfold. I must bring them also. They will listen to my voice, and there will be one flock with one shepherd” (John 10:16 NLT). Some think, “We are the only ones” or, “Our brand is more right than the other ones.” So goes our
Educating Disciples
We need to keep learning. Christians, of all people, need to be lifelong learners, because we are lifetime disciples. Of course, there is an “ever learning” that never comes to the knowledge of the truth (2 Timothy 3:7). It also needs to be said that education is not the enemy of Christianity. It is
Turning It Around
“Now I know brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel” Philippians 1:12. What we thought was bad for us turned out to be for our good and even the advancement of the good news. The Christ of Romans 8:28 does not control all things, but makes all
Lost Power
When the church was despised, it turned the world upside down; when it sought to be accepted by the world, it was turned upside down. When it had no power, it was powerful; when it sought recognition and influence with the rulers, it became weak, shorn of its locks. When the church was without