AIM FOR HARMONY IN THE CHURCH Literally, Paul said that believers are to “pursue peace” and edify one another. Yet, the NLT’s use of the word “harmony” is appropriate because it captures Paul’s desire to preserve unity in the church, while allowing for diversity of individual conscience. The point of harmony in music is that
SPIRITUAL AND GOSPEL URGENCY The apostle Paul urged believers to get serious about their faith because of the lateness of the hour. This calls for spiritual urgency, because we must put off sin and any hindrance that belongs to the flesh, so that we might finish the race of life well. It calls for gospel
LEARN TO ENJOY THE COMPANY OF ORDINARY PEOPLE Look for someone “ordinary,” or as in the KJV, someone of “low estate,” to sit with next Sunday at church. Stop avoiding those that you feel are beneath you or who make you feel uncomfortable by their lower social status or awkward demeanor. And stop acting like
LEAVING A LEGACY OF BLESSING Righteous parents who live a life of integrity, leave a legacy that continues to bless their children. Integrity is that crucial character trait of consistency and incorruptibility, so that one’s walk matches one’s talk. They are the same in private as they are in public. Because children see both the
FAITH COMES BY HEARING THE GOSPEL Faith requires something to believe. It needs an object as it’s anchor. It’s not so much the amount, nor the quality of faith that matters. It’s the reality and quality of the object of one’s faith that counts. The more dependable and true the object, the more faith is
DON’T FACE TROUBLE ALONE Is anyone in trouble? Cry out to the Lord. You don’t have to face trouble alone. For the Lord will answer those who call on His name. Yet, we often try to keep our trouble to ourselves. We say, “I got this.” When we know that we don’t. Rather than turning
ARE YOU FULLY COMMITTED TO THE LORD? King Asa started well but finished poorly. Born in the line of David, king of Judah, he tore down the high places and Asherah poles, deposed his evil grandma, and overcame the million man army from Ethiopia with God’s help. Yet later in life, he trusted his accumulated
TRUSTING GOD’S GOOD PURPOSE FOR US Are you facing a time of difficulty and wondering where God is today? Have you gone through a time of suffering and questioning how God can possibly allow it, much less, use it? Or maybe you’re filled with shame because of your past sins and poor choices and you
PRESENT SUFFERING COMPARED TO ETERNAL GLORY We have been given the Spirit of Christ to abide in us, so that we have help in the present and hope for the future. Yet our bodies, and indeed all creation, groans in this present age of sorrow and suffering, while we await this future glory. Yet the
NO CONDEMNATION IN JESUS The phrase “those who belong to” in the translation of this verse is actually much more simply stated in the original Greek. It is literally: “Now no condemnation in Christ Jesus.” But what does it mean to be “in” Christ? Certainly, it must mean to “belong” to Him. Yet, perhaps the