Here is a simple prayer to pray through and reflect upon as you prepare to worship God personally and with others. It is based upon the beautiful hymn: "May the Mind of Christ My Savior." Almighty God, may my worship of you cause the mind of Christ to be more fully present in me this … Continue reading Prepare Your Heart for Worship
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Cultivating a Healthy Marriage: Clothed with Love
“And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony” (Colossians 3:14). Love is that piece of clothing in your spiritual wardrobe that will hold your entire marriage relationship together. It serves sort of like a safety belt for your marriage and also every other relationship. God's Design for Passages Like … Continue reading Cultivating a Healthy Marriage: Clothed with Love
John 13 & The Distinguishing Mark of a Christian
In his booklet on John 13:34-35 entitled “The Mark of a Christian,” Francis Shaeffer called love ‘the final apologetic.’ The love of Christians for one another should be the distinguishing mark by which the world recognizes us as followers of Jesus. Such mutual interest in and concern for each other will arrest the attention of unbelievers. This recognition from the … Continue reading John 13 & The Distinguishing Mark of a Christian
Good Friday and Three Truths the Cross Enforces
When the Apostle Peter discovered that Jesus would experience humiliation and suffering, he exploded, "God forbid, Lord! This shall never happen to you." Then, Jesus' offered a devastating rebuke: "Get behind me, Satan, you are a stumbling block" (16:22-23). Jesus reminded him and us that the son of man came to give His life. This … Continue reading Good Friday and Three Truths the Cross Enforces
Pray to Love Your Wife Well or Else
you will give yourself to suicidal pleasures that will destroy your life and unravel your family... Hear these challenging words of an old Puritan preacher by the name of Thomas Watson who explains the significance of Proverbs 5:15-21: "It is not having a wife, but loving a wife, that makes a man live chastely. He … Continue reading Pray to Love Your Wife Well or Else
Five Keys to Authentic Community (Romans 16:1-16)
We all desperately need community. This hit me again with great force recently as I was watching the movie "The Count of Monte Cristo" starting James Caviezel as Edmond Dantes. Abbe Faria, aka the Priest, becomes a lifeline to the weary Dantes during his stay at the prison, Chateau d'if. Abbe is a great scholar … Continue reading Five Keys to Authentic Community (Romans 16:1-16)
Devoted to Loving Our Neighbor Well – Questions for Reflection
This past Sunday we learned what it looks like to be a church devoted to loving our neighbors well (Luke 10:25-37). Here are some follow-up questions and Scriptures for further study. There was One who into earth’s bitter waters of sin, injustice, hatred, and revenge poured a crimson flood to make them sweet. Never was … Continue reading Devoted to Loving Our Neighbor Well – Questions for Reflection
Five Different Love Affairs
The New Testament sets forth five different love affairs that we can have in this world. Which of these four seem to allure us away the most from a love for our Lord? Love of self (2 Timothy 3:2). Love of money (2 Timothy 3:2, 1 Timothy 6:10). Love of pleasure (2 Timothy 3:4). Love … Continue reading Five Different Love Affairs
Learning to love like Jesus – Who?
John 13:34a says, "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another." Who we are to love? One another. The love of Christians for one another should be the distinguishing mark by which the world recognizes us as followers of Jesus Christ. Love is one of the key terms in Jesus' Upper … Continue reading Learning to love like Jesus – Who?
Love is Not Self-Seeking
Here's a challenging word from E.M. Blaiklock that I have been mulling over this morning. I have adapted it a bit in order to personalize it. "Seeking [our] own, urgent for [our] rights, careless of those of others, demanding this and that, [we] have made [our] world a jungle. A little magnanimity, a little generosity, … Continue reading Love is Not Self-Seeking
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