Read Reflect I grew up traveling with my missionary parents, studied cultural anthropology in college, and visited almost every country on earth by my 50th birthday. One thing remains – nothing ever changes. You see, we might think that wars, economics, politics, religion or technology have changed our world significantly. But the truth of the […]
Read More perspective, confidence, veilThanks to media and the ubiquitous access modern technology has provided us, we are more quickly connected to unfolding catastrophes than any other time in our history. This passage is an unexpected, but strong “go to” in the midst of tragedy.
While we weep for victims of senseless violence or unfathomable persecution, we can know that those who have Christ have hope.
Read More unseen, suffering, light, hopeThis passage speaks loud and clear, especially in the midst of tragedies or when our news feeds are filled with stories of unimaginable persecution.
Read More hope, truth, perspective, jars of clayKaiser Wilhelm of Germany once quizzed his schoolchildren on the three kingdoms of natural objects in order to test their knowledge. One little girl identified an orange belonging to the vegetable kingdom and a piece of gold to mineral, but when the Kaiser asked the question that faces all humanity—which kingdom she belonged to—her reply caught him off guard.
Read More kingdom, eternityThe average response time after an emergency call is eight minutes or less. We are hardwired to respond quickly when danger is imminent. The same attention to urgency ought to be heeded in the spiritual realm as it is in the physical.
‘Indeed, the “right time” is now. Today is the day of salvation’ (2:6a NLT).
Read More urgency, reconciliationThis passage pulls no punches. If we are called to do God’s work, we must do it with pure hearts and motives. Because if we lose that, we lose everything. And we can’t be successful outside of the Holy Spirit’s divine leading and power in our lives.
Read More holiness, motives, clean hands, pure heartsWarning: Trouble WILL come when we commit to serving Christ. And we WILL make mistakes.
No one likes to make mistakes. But the reality is that we will need to be corrected from time to time. It’s how we respond that builds our character and faith.
Read More correction, repentance, restoration, encouragement, accountabilityIt’s easy to start but then abandon projects, initiatives, or relationships because we “don’t have enough time”…or money, as was the case in the Corinthian church.
We see in this passage that Paul is exhorting the Christians who have so little to give generously and finish what they started.
Read More generosity, responsibility, finishing