Do you struggle with the guilt of past sins even though you’ve confessed them to God and to the people you have wronged? Perhaps you said unkind words to a friend. You asked your friend for forgiveness and it was granted; but you still cringe when you remember what you said. Maybe you committed terribly…
Often, you may hear that it is OK to be angry because God gets angry, and we are made in His image. Those who agree with that reasoning should realize that God’s anger has some other descriptions that they should also portray if they are going to be angry “like God.” God is slow to anger – emphasis…
Biblical Perspectives in Everyday Life In recent years, terrorism has significantly altered global life and perspectives. Terrorists, however, have been around for millennia, wreaking havoc on individuals, families, neighborhoods, ethnic groups and, sometimes, entire countries and regions of the world. Terrorists use their personal biases to “legitimize” their deeply rooted self- centeredness that results in…
An excerpt from Grace, Mercy, and Peace Many believers are familiar with the phrase “rightly dividing (or handling) the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15). The recognition of this phrase, however, does not stop the “dividing” of key scriptural truths from one another when these concepts should not be separated. The concepts of grace and Spirit-filled are prime examples. How often do…
Pornography subtly destroys loving relationships through the “me, myself, and I” temptations that are listed in 1 John 2:16: (See Pornography Destroys the Ability to Love.) In addition to undermining relationships, pornography has other detrimental effects that impact the brain. John Piper refers to a recent publication titled The New Narcotic by Morgan Bennett that states, “Neurological research has revealed that…
Biblical Perspectives in Everyday Life Is the Bible relevant for today’s world? If so, it should deal with every aspect of life and relationships, including the political realm and, specifically, the people involved in politics. Three indisputable characteristics of “politics as usual” plague every government in the world and have created havoc throughout history. Scripture…
A church in our town recently lost its pastor for reasons of immorality. The other day I was talking with a member of its search committee who told me they had received over 50 resumes from potential pastoral candidates. They particularly liked one who was an excellent expositor, but felt this prospect’s race might be…
Natural wisdom proclaims that a fulfilled life rests in the inherent goodness and promotion of one’s self. On the other hand, God’s Word teaches that fulfillment depends on one’s relationship with God through Jesus Christ, and this relationship calls a believer to die to self. Both of these contradictory perspectives – promoting self as opposed to dying to self – cannot be accurate.…
If you want to live for Christ, you will realize the necessity of “dying to self.” It is a necessity. Jesus said so. Matthew 16:24-25, Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever…
Biblical Perspectives in Everyday Life Humility … I have worked hard to cultivate it, sustain it, and perfect it. After all, it’s an essential quality of both Christ’s and Moses’ character (Matthew 11:29; Numbers 12:3). Without humility, one can neither receive God’s grace (James 4:6; 1 Peter 5:5) nor be saved (Job 22:29; Psalms 76:9; James 1:21). As a result, prior…