Trust and Obey, There’s Still No Other Way…
Michael Kelley:It’s an old song – written in 1887 – but it’s still true. If you look at this simple lyric, there are three components in play. There is faith (which the song calls trust), there is action (which the song calls obedience) and there are feelings (which the song refers to as happiness). These are three important components in our lives; but it’s vitally important for us to know a little something about how they are meant to relate to each other.
Saying “No” To the Glory of God
Trillia Newbell:Now that I’ve had a few years to learn and evaluate, I’ve put in some safeguards to help me. I’m still busy, like everyone else, but I’ve learned that in order for me to prioritize more effectively, it’s okay to disappoint others to the glory of God. You and I can make decisions that will help us serve others, namely our families and churches, more effectively when we say no, even to good things.
You Don’t Want What You Actually Deserve
Kristen Wetherell:To think rightly about what we deserve, we must start with God. Our flesh wants to make everything about us, as if the world revolves around humans, but creation tells a different tale: “The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork” (Psalm 19:1). If we pause to consider the grandeur of a starry sky, the delicate beauty of a sunrise, or the diversity of plant and animal life, we must confess that our lives are but a tiny blip in the radar.
Gospel Driven Sin Fighter
Michael Taylor:Killing sin begins not with law and self-control. Killing sin starts with the Gospel. Our pursuit, our aim is not the defeat of sin, but as Paul says, “the things that are above.” The aim of the heart is to be purity in relation to Christ. We will only find that purity when we are dwelling where Christ is. So God’s aim for us is a re-orientation of our hearts toward Christ. Then in Colossians 3, it is after a re-orientation of the heart that the command to put sin to death is given.
Evangelism Must Explain What’s Wrong with the World
Becky Pippert:People around us today often scoff at the notion of sin. Our world has new names for what ails us: poor self-esteem, neurosis, addiction, anxiety, psychological wounding, and so forth. It isn’t that these issues aren’t a reality; it’s that such analysis doesn’t go deep enough to reveal the root cause.
