The last reflection looked at Ephesians 4 and the encouragement to be gracious and eliminate unity-destroying sin from our lives. The very next verses follow this up with instruction to, “Be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and […]
Walk in the light. Read Post »
Conflict—drama—resentment—apologies—forgiveness: Life can be messy, but God’s Word provides answers. Varied situations make for many angles to these topics, and the next few reflections will touch on some of these. Ephesians 4 begins with the following encouragement from Paul: “Walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all
Drama . . . Conflict . . . Grace Read Post »
Sometimes when we have difficulty with an area of life or we’re uncertain about our ability or we feel particularly alone, we question our value. Who would notice or care if we fell off the planet? Friend, you matter. David expresses the overwhelming knowledge and power and concern of God in Psalm 139. In verse
He knows when they fall. Read Post »
“Let go and let God . . .” A common phrase, but what does it mean? Generally, it means you should trust God and stop trying to fix things yourself. Is it biblical? If you interpret the phrase to mean simply that you shouldn’t worry, it’s definitely biblical. Scriptures offer many encouragements to trust the
Let go and let God … Read Post »
Some people work very hard to make their lives easier. Necessity may sometimes be the mother of invention, but laziness also motivates inventive creativity. A desire for ease or a lighter load pushes us to find simpler ways to accomplish tasks. Something in your life right now seems hard. Tomorrow may bring an added burden.
Find rest for your soul. Read Post »
A move into a new apartment or house usually involves changing the look of that home. Painting walls and maybe even trim helps establish your own effect. One coat of paint, two coats, gradually the room changes. It becomes a new room, ready for you to make it yours. When we are saved, we’re supposed
No one likes to stumble at work, at home, in the grocery store, or in the gym. When moisture freezes on sidewalks, we look for the sanded areas to step on. If someone stronger than we are is around, we may reach out to hold onto an arm. We should give such care to our
Great peace have those who love your law … Read Post »
The Old Testament gives multiple examples of blessing for those who studied and followed the Law. Psalm 1 presents one of these examples and begins, “Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight
You can understand God’s Word. Read Post »
Some people develop a picture of God based on conversations, movies, articles that catch their eye, and emotional books which mention God and seem encouraging. If we hunger for the Bread of Life and thirst for the Living Water, these sources intrigue us. Some people rely on feelings or general impressions to determine truth, believing
