And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession - to the praise of his … Continue reading Possessed
Grace Notes
Angels Would Give Anything to Have This
Because you kept on believing, you’ll get what you’re looking forward to: total salvation....Do you realize how fortunate you are? Angels would have given anything to be in on this! (1 Peter 1:9-12, The Message) Intimacy with God through Christ. We have it. Angels don’t. They’d give anything, Peter wrote, to experience it. Why do … Continue reading Angels Would Give Anything to Have This
Foolish Faith
“I thank you, High God - You’re breath-taking! Body and soul, I am marvelously made.” (Psalm 139:14; The Message) On a clearance rack at a bookstore I came across "Foolish Faith" by Judah Etinger. I e-mailed the author and asked him what prompted him to write the book, and promptly received a response. Here’s an … Continue reading Foolish Faith
The Blessing That Comes With Sharing Our Faith
“And God has given us the task of reconciling people to Him. For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to Himself….This is the wonderful message He has given us to tell others.” (2 Corinthians 5:18-19) “Dad, guess what!!” As a parent, when your 16 year old daughter calls and begins a phone call like … Continue reading The Blessing That Comes With Sharing Our Faith
We’re On a Mission From God
Jesus said to (Zacchaeus), “… the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost." Luke 19:10 (NIV) Even the Blues Brothers (one of my favorite all-time movies; 1980) were focused on their overriding mission: "We're on a mission from God," says Elwood. "We're putting the band back together." Someone once said, … Continue reading We’re On a Mission From God
Costly Grace
Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” And I said, “Here am I. Send me!” (Isaiah 6:8) "When Christ calls a man, He bids him come and die." That statement opens the introduction to Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s classic work, “The Cost of Discipleship.” For … Continue reading Costly Grace
How to Silence a Fool
“For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish men.” (1 Peter 2:15) We’re always making an impact on someone, somewhere – “leaving a mark” of sorts. Sometimes positively. Other times, not so positively. Years ago, Focus on the Family radio host, Mike Trout, admitted to having … Continue reading How to Silence a Fool
What Satan Is Working to Prevent
"Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen." (1 Timothy 1:17) Worship, in part, begins with "noticing." Noticing God. Becoming aware of His awesome, terrifying presence. (There’s a reason the Bible says, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.”) I’ve always … Continue reading What Satan Is Working to Prevent
The Sting of Hypocrisy
“These people honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me.” (Mark 7:6) A number of years ago I was visiting a friend in the hospital. She was having open-heart surgery. Another friend of mine was there, as well, with his wife. His wife said, “Nick, I used to work for one … Continue reading The Sting of Hypocrisy
Louder Than Words
“Let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.” (Matthew 5:16, NLT) “Actions speak louder than words.” What do you think about that statement? True? False? Somewhere in between? Around the turn of the 13th Century in an Italian village there lived a Roman Catholic Friar. … Continue reading Louder Than Words