Isaiah 53. I think it is probably a favorite for most Christians. This is the passage where we read: “But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, …
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There are so many good things to enjoy in this life that we can readily make them the focus of our lives: food, sex, alcohol, movies, etc. These pleasures are so powerful that Jesus warned that “life’s worries, riches and pleasures” are like weeds and thorns that choke the good plant of the Word of …
Continue reading "Loving God the Most: Lovers of God Rather Than Lovers of Pleasures"
One of the greatest blessings that humans can enjoy in this world is to be able to do work that blesses oneself and others and glorifies God. When God made Adam, He did not want him to sit passively in front of a beautiful creation. God wanted him to discover its latent possibilities and do …
Continue reading "Loving God the Most: Working for God Instead of Work as God"
When we love God above everything else, it means that we find our ultimate value, acceptance, security, delight, hope, blessing, and joy in Him. If we do this, our quest for these things is at an end. We don’t have to look for them in people. The love of God has a practical result in …
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“Trust in him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge.” – Psalm 62:8 Where do you go with your strong emotions? A lof of times, they just run around in our head. They keep us from important duties, people, and fun. They cause problems with our …
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A classic object lesson of time management involves a jar with sand, pebbles, water, and big rocks. The first part of the lesson is to put in the pebbles, the sand, and the water. Then, you try to put in the big rocks. You can’t. It’s already full. However, if you start with the big …
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There is no question that our greatest obligation as human beings is to love God above everything else. Jesus could not have been clearer: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment” (Mt. 22:37–38). This is what …
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Genesis 16 presents us with a family mess. It starts with anxiety, leads into pride, and ends in injustice. By verse 6, the family seems at the breaking point. Abraham abandons Hagar. Sarah treats Hagar harshly. Hagar runs away with Abraham’s child in her womb. The family now consists of a separted but complicated web …
Continue reading "Anxiety, Pride, and Relationships, Part 4: How God Redeems Relationships"
[This is the 3rd of a 4 part series. You can read the 1st part focusing on anxiety here and the 2nd part focusing on pride here] Pride, Anxiety, and Injustice in Relationships Why is it so hard to dislodge injustice? Why is it that families and communities can allow the worst sort of situations …
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[Note: this is a four part series based on the story of Abraham, Sarah, and Hagar, looking at the way sin affects our relationships in the family and how the presence of God can bring redemption to them. You can read the first part, looking at anxiety here] Life is full of problems that we …
Continue reading "Anxiety, Pride, and Relationships, Part 2: Pride as Response to Anxiety"