Category: Level: Intermediate

care for people in our care

How Are You Caring For Those In Your Care?

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God is more interested in how you treat those in your care than in our generosity (with time or money) to a ministry or to any other cause. In Mark 7 Jesus rebuked the Pharisees by quoting one of the ten commandments saying: “Moses said, ‘Honor your father and mother,’ and, ‘Anyone who curses their father or mother is to be put to death.’ But you say that if anyone declares that what might have been used to help their father or mother is Corban (that is, devoted to God) — then you no longer let them do anything for their father or mother. Thus you nullify the word of God by your tradition” (Mark 7:10-13, NIV). We need to be careful to avoid any form of this type of offense. Try to imagine how you would feel if Christ pointed out your failure to love someone in your care, Continue Reading →

suffering

Suffering Makes Us Complete

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We are supposed to suffer because suffering makes us complete. Jesus said: “Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me” (Matt. 10:38, NIV). (The idea of taking up our cross is also found in Matthew 16:24, Luke 9:23 and Luke 14:27.) To take up our cross is to suffer. We need the benefits of suffering. Hebrews 2:10 declares that God made our savior “perfect through what he suffered” (NIV). How much suffering will it take to perfect you? You might need more suffering than Jesus to reach completion because you have an old corrupt self, which he did not have. Our suffering only lasts for this life; in the next life God will reward us for it. Since the new covenant of the kingdom fulfilled the old covenant, the followers of God no longer need material or political success in this world in Continue Reading →

treasure in heaven

Saving Up For Your Eternal Retirement

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In the Old Testament God promised material prosperity to his faithful followers. In the New Testament we find a new approach to material prosperity and possessions. In Matthew 6:19-34 Jesus taught us how to relate to money and possessions. “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth . . . but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven . . . for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also (Matt. 6:19-21, NIV). The antidote to materialism is saving up for your eternal retirement. This keeps our hearts pure from disordered attachment to possessions. Of course, we have material needs, but we have a Father who knows our needs and directs us to “seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you” (Matt. 6:33, NIV). And even though he was the Lord of glory and destined to be enthroned as Continue Reading →

humiity

Learning Deep Humility

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Humility is the attitude of the heart that reflects who we are in comparison to God. It takes a lifetime to learn deep humility, but every step we take is valuable. One who is humble is not interested in boosting others’ opinions of them. They are willing to be vulnerable and acknowledge their dependence on others. They are teachable so they welcome suggestions and corrections from others. They are not bothered by criticism presented with a harsh voice; they look for the truth in the criticism and overlook any lack of love. They want to be known for who they really are and will not indulge in boasting or false humility because they value honest relationships. The humble learn to embrace times when they are neglected, forgotten, rejected or wrongfully accused as opportunities to learn more humility and faith. They learn when it is wise to speak up about an Continue Reading →

honesty

Living In God’s Reality

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Ultimately, truth should not be conceived of as a set of propositions, but rather as the reality of who God is, who Jesus is and what they created. Truth radiates from their nature, but the rays are not the ultimate truth; the nature of their divinity is the truth. Honesty is the virtue of living in God’s reality and his rays of truth. Dishonesty is particularly offensive to God. Colossians 3:9 instructs us: “Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self” (ESV). In 1 Timothy 4:2 some will depart from the faith because of the “insincerity of liars” (ESV). In John 8:44 the devil is “the father of lies” (ESV). In Revelation 21:8 liars are “consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur” (NIV). Honesty may seem like a basic virtue that even young Christians should be able to master in a short Continue Reading →