In dimming twilight, I broke the news. It was never going to make the top story at six o’clock: a homeless woman died in her car. “It was three days before anyone found her.” My husband’s head dropped, hand to his mouth.
She and I had a brief friendship many years ago. We sat at my dining room table with Bibles open. She had been working at what she loved, counseling hurting families and orchestrating reunifications. And she was struggling, like all of us, to overcome the lusts of our flesh.
And I yelled, “I can’t bear the sins of this world!”
Jerusalem was in an uproar over the son of a carpenter, called Jesus. Fear was everywhere. Do we kill the Man who makes Himself God? Or do we let Him live and possibly lose everything?
Fear makes us think, and do, crazy things.
America is getting ready to cast its vote. And more than ever I’m feeling the weight of this wisdom: to do justly, to love mercy, and walk humbly with my God. (Micah 6:8) Praying fervently: Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done.
We cannot bear the sins of an old friend, the sins of our kids, the sins of a broken, busted world—the sins of our own craving nature. But there is One who can.
Christ is the same Savior He was from the beginning. (Heb 13:8) And loving the Lord our God, and our neighbor—no matter their party—is forever His greatest commandment. Saints are a people born of God. A new creation—a holy nation. And there’s worlds more to living than our temporal passions.
Christ raised us to walk carefully, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. (Eph 5:15-16) Our labor is to know what the will of our Father is. “Therefore, I exhort first of all, that supplications, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet, peaceable life in all godliness and reverence.” (1 Tim 2:1-2) This is still God’s way of saving sinners. The Liar’s gonna tell us . . . that’s nonsense. Jesus never rescued anyone through prayer, through love and awe for God.
Amused is the Accuser when we fight with our fists and backbite in our heart, like a people without legions of angels in our corner. Demons will call us cowards, for dying to the lusts of our flesh and submitting to the Spirit of God. It’s eye for eye, tooth for tooth, wound for wound for crying out loud.
But Christ made public a new covenant—in His blood. Not with laws and letters that kill, but by the Spirit who gives new life—life not of this world. (2 Cor 3:6)
The innocent body of Christ was crucified. Enemies of God thought they could drain His veins, and they’d never hear from Him again. But He rolled the stone—because man can easily kill the body but doesn’t stand a chance against the soul.
When Peter heard Jesus say He would suffer and be killed by the hands of men, he argued with Him for saying such things. Heaven forbid. This will never happen! And who did Jesus say was speaking?
Insisting on seeing things from mere human perspective, we cease to abide in the Spirit of Perfection. We start thinking like Satan. (Mat 16:23)
God has a purpose for every brief life. And it’s not for us to decide.
Our eyes cannot see, no ear has heard, nor has anyone ever fathomed what God has prepared for those who love Him. An inheritance incorruptible, undefiled, reserved in heaven for every single repentant sinner.
God be thanked, that though we were once slaves to sin, now we’re enslaved to Him—and the devil has lost control over us.
Now Christians are able to love the hateful, the cursing, the spiteful—because we do not forget our former condition. It’s by the goodness and kindness of Christ in us that we’ve become servants of right living toward holiness. (Rom 6:19) And this may just be our moment to show it.
In dimming twilight, I broke the news. It was never going to make the top story at six o’clock: a homeless woman died in her car. “It was three days before anyone found her.” My husband’s head dropped, hand to his mouth.
She and I had a brief friendship many years ago. We sat at my dining room table with Bibles open. She had been working at what she loved, counseling hurting families and orchestrating reunifications. And she was struggling, like all of us, to overcome the lusts of our flesh.
And I yelled, “I can’t bear the sins of this world!”
Jerusalem was in an uproar over the son of a carpenter, called Jesus. Fear was everywhere. Do we kill the Man who makes Himself God? Or do we let Him live and possibly lose everything?
Fear makes us think, and do, crazy things.
America is getting ready to cast its vote. And more than ever I’m feeling the weight of this wisdom: to do justly, to love mercy, and walk humbly with my God. (Micah 6:8) Praying fervently: Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done.
We cannot bear the sins of an old friend, the sins of our kids, the sins of a broken, busted world—the sins of our own craving nature. But there is One who can.
Christ is the same Savior He was from the beginning. (Heb 13:8) And loving the Lord our God, and our neighbor—no matter their party—is forever His greatest commandment. Saints are a people born of God. A new creation—a holy nation. And there’s worlds more to living than our temporal passions.
Christ raised us to walk carefully, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. (Eph 5:15-16) Our labor is to know what the will of our Father is. “Therefore, I exhort first of all, that supplications, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet, peaceable life in all godliness and reverence.” (1 Tim 2:1-2) This is still God’s way of saving sinners. The Liar’s gonna tell us . . . that’s nonsense. Jesus never rescued anyone through prayer, through love and awe for God.
Amused is the Accuser when we fight with our fists and backbite in our heart, like a people without legions of angels in our corner. Demons will call us cowards, for dying to the lusts of our flesh and submitting to the Spirit of God. It’s eye for eye, tooth for tooth, wound for wound for crying out loud.
But Christ made public a new covenant—in His blood. Not with laws and letters that kill, but by the Spirit who gives new life—life not of this world. (2 Cor 3:6)
The innocent body of Christ was crucified. Enemies of God thought they could drain His veins, and they’d never hear from Him again. But He rolled the stone—because man can easily kill the body but doesn’t stand a chance against the soul.
When Peter heard Jesus say He would suffer and be killed by the hands of men, he argued with Him for saying such things. Heaven forbid. This will never happen! And who did Jesus say was speaking?
Insisting on seeing things from mere human perspective, we cease to abide in the Spirit of Perfection. We start thinking like Satan. (Mat 16:23)
God has a purpose for every brief life. And it’s not for us to decide.
Our eyes cannot see, no ear has heard, nor has anyone ever fathomed what God has prepared for those who love Him. An inheritance incorruptible, undefiled, reserved in heaven for every single repentant sinner.
God be thanked, that though we were once slaves to sin, now we’re enslaved to Him—and the devil has lost control over us.
Now Christians are able to love the hateful, the cursing, the spiteful—because we do not forget our former condition. It’s by the goodness and kindness of Christ in us that we’ve become servants of right living toward holiness. (Rom 6:19) And this may just be our moment to show it.