Christian
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Real Faith
1 Timothy 1:5 (NIV): “The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.” Paul tells Timothy that the goal of Christian instruction is not merely greater knowledge, better… Continue reading
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HOPE BEYOND THE MYSTERIES
1 Corinthians 15:17 — “And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins!” There are questions about life and God that I cannot answer in any final, simplistic way. There are mysteries I… Continue reading
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WHOSE APPROVAL ARE YOU SEEKING?
There is something deeply human about looking for approval. We say something in a conversation and almost instinctively look around the room to see how people responded. Did they smile? Did they nod? Did they agree? A child does much… Continue reading
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LIVE IT FORWARD
Ephesians 2:14–18; 4:1–6 Jesus reconciled us to God—and, get this, He reconciled us to one another. Paul says that Christ Himself “is our peace.” By His cross He tore down the wall of hostility and created “one new man” from… Continue reading
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A Sly Attempt At Control
One of the most dangerous forms of spiritual manipulation begins with the words, “The Lord showed me.” That phrase may sound deeply spiritual, but when it is followed by a directive—you need to do this, you need to go there,… Continue reading
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When Dreams Become Dangerous
Living and ministering from supposed prophetic dreams can become spiritually dangerous because dreams are inherently subjective. We experience them privately, interpret them personally, and often remember them imperfectly. Scripture, however, gives us something substantially different: an objective revelation that stands… Continue reading
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When We Claim A Voice God Has Not Given
Jeremiah 23:25 — “I have heard what the prophets have said who prophesy lies in my name…” There is a serious difference between sincerely desiring to be used by God and claiming a prophetic gift that God has not actually… Continue reading
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Knowing the Unknowable
Paul prays in Ephesians 3:19 that believers might “know the love of Christ which passes knowledge.” At first, the words seem contradictory. How can we know something that surpasses knowledge? Paul is not saying that Christ’s love cannot be known.… Continue reading
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Rooted And Grounded In Love
Paul prays in Ephesians 3:17 that believers would be “rooted and grounded in love.” He reaches for two pictures to describe the same spiritual reality. One comes from the field and the other from construction. A plant has roots; a… Continue reading
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When Everything Changes
The price of gas changes with every fill-up. Our culture seems to invent a new crazy idea every other week. My favorite Mexican restaurant recently shut down. And to make matters worse, the man looking back at me in the… Continue reading
