May You Love One Another
I have come to the conclusion that there aren’t a whole lot of people who identify as Christians first. The world should know that we’re Christ’s disciples because we love one another. Instead, it’s witnessing believers these days saying things like “I’m conservative” or “No, I’m left wing.” People accuse one another, saying, “Listen, you…
Not Offended by the Cross
Matthew tells us Christ wanted to give his disciples a profound illustrated sermon. He called a little child to him and took the youngster in his arms. He then told them, “Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.…
Come Do Your Work in Me
I believe if a Christian has an intensity for a holy life — if he desires to give his all to the Lord — there can be only one reason why he fails to enjoy the freedom promised by the Holy Spirit’s indwelling. That reason is unbelief. Jesus could not perform his works when there…
The Redemption of Peter
When Peter was sifted, he failed miserably in one sense, but not in his faith. You may be thinking, “How can that be? This man denied knowing Jesus three different times.” If Peter had failed completely, Jesus’ praying would have been to no avail. I know Peter’s faith did not fail. Just as he swore…
Words That Taste Like Honey
What is the most important gift that we can really give to anyone else? I’d say time. Time and attention. This is especially true in a culture where a cell phone is always out in front of us or on the table while we’re eating. What would happen if we all made a commitment to…
After God Says, “Go!”
I was between semesters at Baylor University, when Gary and David Wilkerson said to me, “Hey, you want to go to Detroit to be part of a church that Gary is starting?” It was the start of a two-month commitment to go to Detroit that literally changed my life. Every week, a van would drop…
The Cost of Secret Sins
The psalmist writes the following about one of God’s greatest promises: “If his sons forsake my law and do not walk in my judgments, if they break my statutes and do not keep my commandments, then I will punish their transgression with the rod, and their iniquity with stripes. Nevertheless my lovingkindness I will not…
Receive the Lord’s Promises!
God has given us many wonderful promises that he will break every bond of sin, empower us to defeat all dominion of sin, give us a new heart, cleanse and sanctify us, and ultimately conform us to the very image of Christ. His Word assures us, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a…
Putting on Our New Selves
God has sworn by an oath to give us a new heart, one that is inclined to obey. God promises us not only to give us this new heart, but to write his commands on our hearts. In other words, he promises to cause us to know him. God told his people about this incredible…
Living with Intentional Generosity
When someone mentions generosity, how many of us think about money? When I think of generosity, I think, “Oh I’ve got a $100, so I’ll give 20 of it away. I need to tithe.” In reality, I think money is one of the lesser forms of generosity. Don’t get me wrong! It’s very important, but…