“Therefore, however you want people to treat you, so treat them, for this is the Law and the Prophets” (Matt. 7:2). That single sentence is perhaps the most famous statement Jesus ever made. It is the “Everest of Ethics,” as one man put it. In some ways it is the cornerstone of true Christianity, certainly the capstone of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount.
Read MoreCategory Archives: Christian Living
God’s Sovereignty
Some people mistakenly use God’s sovereignty as an excuse for complacency, passivity, and uninvolvement. All is of God they say; God does everything. God’s sovereignty does not mean that I am released from responsibility. It does not mean I have no interest in today’s affairs, or that I cannot be bothered about decisions, or that I need not concern myself with the eternal destiny of the lost. It doesn’t mean that at all.
Read MoreWords
Like Jell-O, concepts assume the mold of the words into which they are poured. Who has not been stabbed awake by the use of a particular word . . . or combination of words? Who has not found relief from a well-timed word spoken at the precise moment of need? Who has not been crushed beneath the weight of an ill-chosen word?
Read MoreGod Doesn’t Have to Explain Himself
Even in the midst of disappointment, surprise, and mystery, you will discover an amazing thing. You will discover how very reliable and trustworthy God is—and how secure you are in His hands. And oh, how we need that in this day of relativism and vacillation, filled with empty talk and hidden behind a lot of semantic footwork.
Read MoreGenuine Joy
In my words, the apostle Paul would tell us that joy isn’t fickle; it doesn’t need a lot of things to keep it smiling. Joy is deep and consistent—the oil that reduces the friction of life.
Read MoreSalt and Light
Ours is a tough, rugged, wicked world. Aggression, rebellion, violence, cutthroat competition, and retaliation abound. Not just internationally, but personally. What is true in the secret council chambers of nations is also true behind closed doors of homes. We are stubborn, warring people. Outside of riots and war, studies have concluded, the most dangerous place to be is in the American home! With domestic violence and child abuse on the rise in our hard, hostile society, one might wonder what possible influence the servants of Christ can have.
Read MoreHelping Each Other Up
Several years ago my family and I were invited to spend Thanksgiving weekend at a picturesque ski resort in Colorado with about five hundred single young adults, most of whom were staff personnel with Campus Crusade. I spoke all week on the subject of servanthood, emphasizing the importance of believers being those who help, encourage, affirm, and care for others.
Read MoreThe Real Thing
I didn’t know what it was exactly that first drew me to Bob. More than anything else, I guess, there was something refreshingly unpretentious about him. He was devoted to the things of the Lord, no question, but it was never on parade, never for the purpose of public display. And I loved that.
Read MoreThe Secret Place
The psalmist said, “He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty” (Ps. 91:1). Do you have a place of shelter where you seek only His face? Do you spend time in that secret place? Have you given prayer the priority it deserves? And when you pray, do you remember that it is the Lord’s face you seek?
Read MoreLive Like It Today
When I think of fallen people, my mind returns to an ancient example, King Saul, the tall, dark, handsome monarch of the Hebrews. What an impressive specimen of humanity! He was the one of whom the Lord had said to Samuel, “Behold the man of whom I spoke to you! This one shall rule over My people” (1 Sam. 9:17).
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