Here is, as they say on Facebook, an unpopular view.
I have noticed a fascinating trend with regard to Jesus’ second greatest command to “love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:39). What this statement says, many insist, is that we should love ourselves, because Jesus says we should.
This is an excellent example of concluding the exact opposite of what the Lord is trying to teach. Continue reading “Love yourself?”
Remember the old line about the aliens from space – you know, the ones in a flying saucer with green scales and antennae – where they arrive on our blue planet and ask that great philosophical question:
“Take me to your leader.”
So who would you take him to? The president of our country? A five star general? A captain of industry? Oprah? Continue reading “The way up is down”
“Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God” (Matthew 4:7).
Following Jesus’ baptism, God said: “This is my beloved son” (Matthew 3:17). Immediately afterward, Jesus was taken to the wilderness to fast and be tested 40 days.
Satan tempted him there. His temptations all began with, “If you are the son of God…” He began with something that seemed perfectly reasonable: make stones into bread and feed yourself.
Men easily err when they think of what is perfectly reasonable to them, but fail to consult God. Why not turn stones to bread? He had the power. He had the opportunity. Continue reading “Logically right but spiritually wrong”
Scripture commands us to be humble but that doesn’t mean everyone is doing it properly. Let’s see how we’re hurting ourselves spiritually by misunderstanding what God intended.
Humility brings wisdom and honor (Proverbs 11:2; 18:12). It’s the foundation of all Christianity. Righteousness can’t occur without it. But how is humility being manifested in the lives of Christians? Continue reading “Dark side of humility”
Luke introduced the parable of the Pharisee and tax collector in Luke chapter 18 by writing, “And he also told this parable to some people who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and viewed others with contempt” (Luke 18:9 NASB). Continue reading “Pharisee and tax collector”
I think there are times when someone comes forward after a sermon that we think: “Oh he must be a sinner, he must have done something bad.”
Let me remind you that there are sinners who go forward … and there are sinners (that would be the rest of us) who do not.
In reality, who responds to the Gospel call? The spiritually sensitive, the soft- hearted, the ones who deeply desire to serve God better. Who does not come forward? Often the proud, the ones who fail to look in their own hearts, the ones who think they never make mistakes. Continue reading “When someone comes forward”
Humility anchors us to reality. Continue reading Take heed lest you fall
Take the lowly seat. Continue reading The wisdom of Jesus
Making things right is more important than our pride. Continue reading Reconciliation
As Will Rogers once said, even a president is nothing more than “our hired help.” Continue reading Taking on airs