The Social Mirror I spent this evening in a Zoom call with a senatorial candidate’s prayer team - in Florida. Only one person knew me (he'd organized the call). I wasn’t teaching or recruiting donors. The candidate wasn’t even on the call until the very end. It wasn’t...
The world is crappy. There, I said it. It’s okay. We all know it. The glass-half-empty people will be happy to hear me say it (ironic that they’re happy about anything, right?). The hopelessly optimistic people (again, ironic) pretend that thinking things are better...
My sweet wife reminded me recently about a contractor coming over to our house that morning. We didn't know exactly what time, but we knew it was anytime between seven and noon! I went bounding up the stairs, threw on clothes to work outside, and then proceeded to...
"…Pilate said to him, 'Do you not hear how many things they testify against you?' But He gave him no answer, not even to a single charge, so that the governor was greatly amazed." — Matthew 27:13, 14 ESV At the time of this writing, I’ve recently been attacked by...
It’s been a really tough couple of weeks physically for me. God is graciously giving me a lot to do with Him, but it’s hard to see the grace in how difficult He is allowing it to be. Can you relate?
Ever had prayers – conversations with God – that were tough to have?
Paul said, “I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his…
One will say it’s not worth it. Another will ask why. Others will say it cannot be done. Some will be more concerned about the cost to you than amazed at Christ within you. Bring them along when you can, but move forward.
In our moments of trial, we rarely see any benefit. Later in life, we often see how God has shaped us by trials and missteps along the way. Faith then, is leaning into God’s unseen plan for our good when all we see in the immediate is the struggle. Repeat after me: This is not for nothing.
God’s good in me is greater than my grief in this. His work through me is greater than my cost through this circumstance. His sufficiency for me is greater than my sacrifice in this moment.
We’ve been sharing about God’s sufficiency by grace in our tough spaces this week. You’ll see some links below if you want more encouragement.
Evil is not winning. God is wooing. You have sufficiency in Him. This wold is not our home. He is loving people out of the faux life of quasi hope in temporal things to a true and eternal hope in the Life of Christ. Every temporal tragedy – every blow of the enemy – awakens us to the limitations of this life and reminds us of our real home and hope in Him.
Today will have weighty burdens. To do lists, undesirable tasks, deadlines, traffic, relational hurdles, unmet needs and desires for self and for others… to say the day has a lot of drag working against you as you move forward in your relationship with Christ is an understatement! It’ll feel like carrying an anvil, or running through a swimming pool with an open parachute behind you. I’m exhausted just thinking about it!
Did you notice the contrast? I’m Christ Jesus, you are uncondemnable, but instead led by the Spirit as God’s child. The Spirit of God never condemns a believer for sin, but is convincing us by His love and trustworthiness of who we are as God’s reborn new creation in Christ. He’s not making you feel worse so you will try harder, but making you feel loved, despite our stumbling, so you will trust Him more.
People are often confused about the nature of obedience – whether with regard to sin or with regard to religious activity or anything else – when they discover the grace of God and the finished work of Christ really is sufficient for all God requires.
God’s agenda actually isn’t behavior improvement (though He certainly desires you to know the freedom His righteousness affords you). It’s not impact for His glory (He does that with or without you). So what’s He doing with your life? After the resurrection, and the...