“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…
“Why is it that you were looking for me? Did you not know that I had to be in My Father’s house?” Luke 2:49 Necessary will (had) – But this is so curious? The words “necessary will” aren’t in the English verse at all. So, why are we looking for them here? Be patient. There…
“And I saw a new heaven and a new earth;” Revelation 21:1 New – If heaven is such a wonderful place, why does God need a “new” one? We would all agree that a “new” earth would be nice. We would like to see the problems of this earth disappear, the balance of life restored,…
