“BE ANGRY, AND yet DO NOT SIN; do not let the sun go down on your anger” Ephesians 4:26 Angry – How did you sleep? Did you give away that anger as your gift to God? It wasn’t easy to do, but you discovered that you could do it. And then rest. But this verse…
“do not let the sun go down on your anger” Ephesians 4:26 Go down – Have you ever noticed what a calming effect a beautiful sunset has on you? As you watch the sky light up with those spectacular colors, the clouds turn to incredible shades of pink and then purple, you can’t help but…
“All things are lawful, but not all things are profitable. All things are lawful, but not all things edify.” 1 Corinthians 10:23 Profitable – What responsibility do I have to those who are weaker in their understanding of grace? That’s the question. It’s not about money; it about influence. Paul has been discussing a very…
“I have become all things to all men, so that I may by all means save some.” 1 Corinthians 9:22 By all means – This is the word about tactics. We are all familiar with the terms “strategy” and “tactics”. Strategy (another good Greek word) is that overall plan of action – the big picture…
“Judah is also unruly against God, even against the Holy One who is faithful.” Hosea 11:12 Unruly – The prophet and the prostitute. If you have never read the story of Hosea, you’ve missed one of the most compelling accounts of obedience in the Old Testament. God instructs Hosea to marry Gomer, a prostitute. He…
“All mankind will fear, they will proclaim the works of God and ponder what he has done.” Psalm 64:9 NIV Work – It’s the fabric of our lives. It’s so much a part of us that we use it as a way of personal identification: “What do you do?” Work becomes a way to classify…
“A scorner does not love one who corrects him, nor will he go to the wise” Proverbs 15:12 Corrects – Ken Blanchard says that the one of the best measures of servant leadership is the ability to take criticism. Ouch! That hurts. We are great at spotting those logs in the other person’s life, but…
“The one who says, “I have come to know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.” 1 John 2:4 Liar – Human beings are masters of excuses. There is always some reason why we can’t follow the rules. Imagine the sight of flashing blue lights…
“And by this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments.” 1 John 2:3 Commandments – What do you think about when you hear the word “commandment”? It’s one of those big words in Christian circles. Sometimes a word like this might make us cower, feeling that we have…
“And by this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments.” 1 John 2:3 Know – It’s all about evidence. When John wrote this letter, he faced the same problem we face today. How do we know if someone is a Christian? What is the evidence that confirms the…
