We walk in the light, as He is in the light. 1 John 1:7 Walking in the light is more than a simple imitation of Christ. Walking in the light is a strategic identification with Christ. Imitation involves copying a single behavior, but identification adopts the entire behavior. Your entire attitude and outlook on life is based on your “new…
Wake up from your slumber. Romans 13:11 Focus on forgetting the sinful ways of the darkness. Maintain an attitude of wakeful anticipation for the time when we are reunited with Christ. Make a diligent effort to be spiritually fit to stay alert and stand firm in the faith. An absence of spiritual training will result in the presence of spiritual…
Godliness has value for all things. 1 Timothy 4:8 The benefit of physical exercise ends when our skin expires, but spiritual sculpting has permanent profits. The daily spiritual exercises we should be incorporating are giving, prayer, and fasting. Giving enhances our spiritual elasticity; it stretches us beyond our perceived charitable capabilities. Prayer is our spiritual cardiovascular workout; it gets our…
They are in conflict with each other. Galatians 5:17 Our skin and spirit are in constant conflict. “The flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh” (Galatians 5:17). Those who are unsaved live by the desires of the flesh. Their objective is to use time and money to gather more earthly…
Jesus sat down…and watched. Mark 12:41 Jesus was watching the crowds tithing to the temple treasury and pointed out the vast difference between the wealthy and the widow. The rich were giving large amounts, but still retained their fortunes. The poor widow put in everything, relying on her faith. The large amounts would have made a lot of noise on…
Strive for full restoration. 2 Corinthians 13:11 In the story, the “A Father’s Love,” the father receives his lost son back into the family and fully restores him. “Bring the best robe…put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feed” (Luke 15:22). The father also took shame from his fellow Jews for running to meet him(Luke 15:20). Men…
Forgive as the Lord forgave you. Colossians 3:13 The son in the “Father’s Love” returned to the father begging for forgiveness and acknowledging his sin. “Father I have sinned against heaven and against you” (Luke 15:21). The father forgave the son and showed instant grace and mercy. He received the son with open arms and accepted him back into the…
God opposes the proud, but shows favor to the humble. James 4:6 In the story, the “Father’s Love,” Jesus explained that it was when the son “came to his senses” that he decided to go back to his father (Luke 15). The son recognized his only option was to humble himself. “I will set out and go back to my…
“I am willing,” He said, “Be clean.” Mark 1:41 Shortly after Jesus called the first disciples, He healed a man with a severe medical condition. The diseased man, covered in leprosy, came and fell with his face to the ground and begged, “Lord if you are willing, you can make me clean.” (Luke 5:12). Jesus responded and the man was…
Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples. John 13:35 The story of the “good Samaritan” shows the love of Christ toward sinful, wounded people. We were once the distressed traveler. Satan tried to steal and destroy, but God showed mercy and compassion by sending Jesus to save us. “He who did not…