Tag: grace
Monday Meditations – Luke 6:27-28
December 5, 2011
Today’s Meditation Verse:
Luke 6:27-28
27 “But I say to you who hear, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.
The past month has had some challenges for me and they all involved people. In two instances someone I loved was being horribly mistreated and it infuriated me. In two other instances I was done horribly wrong.
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Bowling with God
November 4, 2011
There are many people who want to challenge the concept of grace in its entirety. A little grace is fine. You get just enough grace to get saved and then we are to ‘crucify your flesh’ and live a godly life, following the ‘right and wrong’ rules. That is how we become holy, by seeking holiness and living a godly life.
Sounds good. Anyway it sounded good to me for years. For years I pushed towards holiness and tried to be godly. And on the outside everyone could see that I was ‘good’. My heart was right. I loved the Lord will all my heart, soul and body so seeking to do right was an extension of my love for Him. Or, was it?
In my recent post The Rules That Break Fellowship I talked about my never ending quest to follow the rules so that I would be right with God.
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Monday Meditations – Hebrews 8:10
October 31, 2011
Today’s Meditation Verse:
Hebrews 8:10
10) FOR THIS IS THE COVENANT THAT I WILL MAKE WITH THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL
AFTER THOSE DAYS, SAYS THE LORD:
I WILL PUT MY LAWS INTO THEIR MINDS,
AND I WILL WRITE THEM ON THEIR HEARTS.
AND I WILL BE THEIR GOD,
AND THEY SHALL BE MY PEOPLE.
I love this verse. Here the author is talking to the Hebrews. He is talking to the people who have made a life of living by the law. Thousands and thousands of laws. Their entire life from the time they were tiny children to old age was continual law indoctrination. Because that was what God had told them to do.
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The Punishment of the Imposters
October 21, 2011
Christians have gotten a bad rap in many circles. The term ‘one bad apple spoils the whole bunch’ is not true in this case, but it can certainly spoil the reputation. I’ve met many people who said that the Christians they knew were critical and judgmental. And that the churches they had been too just expected you to live a certain way, which they could not, therefore they were rejected and ostracized.
So those people wanted nothing to do with Christianity and its narrow-mindedness towards others. Convincing them that Christ meant for it to be differently was a difficult task. They wanted nothing to do with people like that.
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so what am I supposed to do?
July 1, 2011
I’ve been writing a lot lately about resting in Christ and abandoning works of the flesh. About how we aren’t to work to be approved in God’s eyes; just receive His grace and favor. If this is all a new concept to you, as it once was to me, then you may be asking yourself, “So, what is it that I AM supposed to do?”
Without a doubt we are to do something, so how is it we can be certain that what we are doing is truly what we should be doing? Continue reading
Go and Sin No More
10 Then Jesus stood up again and said to the woman, “Where are your accusers? Didn’t even one of them condemn you?”
This is a beautiful story of a woman caught in the act of adultery receiving no condemnation from Jesus. Continue reading
Do People Ever Really Change?
June 17, 2011
We often say that people don’t change. We warn those in relationships of that very thing. If you are in a relationship and think that you can change that other person with your love and care and nurture, you are wrong. You will never change that person.
Same is true with friendships. If you are staying in relationship that causes you grief, but you stay because you think that something you will do will change them, you are wrong. You might as well raise up the white flag and abandon ship right now. You will never change anyone.
But, people do change. I’ve seen the most despicable sinful people become godly men and women seeking after the Father. People I would have long since given up on become more than I ever thought they would become. I’ve had to eat my words. Continue reading
Hard Work
June 15, 2011
Hard Work…
We wear that phrase like a badge of honor.
“I worked really hard today”.
“I logged 50 hours this week at work”.
“Man, I’m exhausted I’ve worked so hard”.
And I know you can come up with many more. After all, we have said something like that so many times and been very proud of that very fact. Continue reading