Category: Spiritual Growth
Tolerance of Evil is Evil Itself
“Congratulations to Corey Delaney . . . .” That’s how the news broadcaster began his story about a 16-year-old in Australia who recently hosted a party in his parents’ home while they were away on vacation. The party, which was advertised on Delaney’s “My Space” page,...
Time Will Tell
How do you spend your discretionary time? In other words, what do you choose to do when you are free to do anything you want? Consider the Apostle Paul’s instructions about the use of time: Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but...
Three Rules That Don’t Seem Right
Throughout my school years I had to memorize numerous rules I never completely understood. For example, why must I lie down instead of lay down for a nap? But there is a grammatical rule that governs such statements even if I don’t know it. I have...
The Rape of God’s Mercy: A Warning About Presumptuous Sin
Have you ever sinned on purpose? Have you ever known that something was sinful, had every opportunity to avoid the sin, yet decided to do it anyway? If so, were you comforted in your decision by thoughts of God’s forgiving mercy? Perhaps you said to yourself...
The Symptoms and Treatment of Spiritual Cancer
Some who profess to be Christians will fall away from the faith. This is called “apostasy.” Christians disagree about what falling away means. Some say it is a saved person losing his salvation. Others insist that the person who falls away was never truly saved. I...
The Victory that Requires Retreat
Ready, aim, fire! Fix bayonets! Charge! Hold your ground and fight like men! In days gone by, commands like these were among the ordinary sounds of the battlefield. The victorious army was the one that pushed forward. The winners were the men who overpowered and overran...
The Pronouns Preach: Lessons on the Glory of the Church
When reading the Bible, parts of speech make a big difference in our understanding. There are many examples, but here is one that demonstrates my point perfectly. It is found in Ephesians. I will be so bold as to say, “If you miss the pronouns, you miss...
The Cross or Loss
The cross is the character of Christianity. As the self-appointed spokesman for Jesus’ handpicked coterie, Peter says the right thing at the right time: “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” But Peter cannot leave good enough alone. As Jesus goes on to...
The Good a Bible Might Do
A daring nun once grabbed a small Bible out of a casket just before it was closed. This Bible had been gently placed by the side of her dead friend who had also been her priest. Why did this nun snatch the Bible at such a...
The God Who Rescues the Godly
Do you ever feel surrounded, outnumbered, overwhelmed by the ungodliness of our culture? Do you ever find yourself complaining about how difficult it is to consistently pursue holiness in the midst of such corruption? If you were completely honest with yourself, would you admit that you...
