(I realize this quote starts out kind of arrogant, but stay with me.) We lack for Christians who feel themselves expendable in the warfare of the soul, who cannot be frightened by threats of death because they have already died to the attractiveness of this world. Such Christians will be free from the compulsions that…
I’ve been reading “The Trouble With Grace” by O. Keith Hueftle and it is really really good. Keith shows a real depth for God’s hospitality as it shows His character. It’s not just a hospitality of “if you come, I’ll take care of you” but a pursuing, hungry hospitality that tracks you down and then…
Mark 10:23-27 And Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How difficult it will be for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!” 24 And the disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said to them again, “Children, how difficult it is to enter the kingdom of God! 25 It is easier…
Matthew 9:2-6 2 Just then some people brought to him a paralytic lying on a stretcher. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Have courage, son! Your sins are forgiven.” 3 Then some of the experts in the law said to themselves, “This man is blaspheming!” 4 When Jesus saw their reaction…
Matthew 6 (you should read this whole chapter first) Matthew 6 It is so CRAZY to read this stuff Jesus says about not worrying about money! I keep reading through Jesus’ teachings and I just wonder if the Church ever read this stuff! The awesome part is that I woke up worrying about money! Am…
Matthew 12:22 Then a demon-oppressed man who was blind and mute was brought to him, and he healed him, so that the man spoke and saw. It is really significant that this man is blind AND mute. Many people thought in that day (and today too) that a person could only be healed if they…
Romans 3:21 But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it The model of rightness, of what people aught to be, was shown through the Law. It WASN’T the Law, but it was shown through the Law. It was never intended…
Ezra 9:12 ESV Therefore do not give your daughters to their sons, neither take their daughters for your sons, and never seek their peace or prosperity, that you may be strong and eat the good of the land and leave it for an inheritance to your children forever. Never seek their peace or prosperity. Never…
Zechariah 12:10 And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and pleas for mercy, so that, when they look on me, on him whom they have pierced, they shall mourn for him, as one mourns for an only child, and weep bitterly over him,…
So now here we are in a state that we can’t boast or celebrate any of our good deeds, because it’s not the outward deed that matters, but what you are on the inside. On Saturday, a guy was raking leaves at my neighbor’s house. I sat in my car, about to drive away, and…
