Ecclesiastes 12:10

  Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love . 1 st John 4:7-8     If you are a painter, you have to know how to paint. If you are a runner, you need to be able to run. If you are an author, you need to be able to write.   That is the basis to do that thing.   What about a child of God?  John spells it out to us very clearly. If we want to be born of God and know God, we must love. That is who he is and what we must do.   To follow Him is to learn how to love. It is the defining trait(1 st John 3:10). It’s how the world will see we are his (John 11:35). It's the top of the traits that will always be (1 st Corinthians 13:13).   Love is why we follow his commands (2 nd John 1:6). Love fulfills the law (Romans 13:8-9). It is how faith works (Galatians 5:6).   So, we'd better know how to love. Wha...

  Whether it’s a new job, a new team, or a new school, it is hard to be the new guy. The rookie has a lot to learn and must take a lot of guff. Eventually, they will figure things out, and the newness will wear off.   Even spiritually, we start off green. A person doesn’t come out of the water knowing everything. But that doesn’t mean we are supposed to stay that way. As Paul remarks in 1 st Corinthians 3, Paul remarks “ And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual men, but as to men of flesh, as to infants in Christ . I gave you milk to drink, not solid food; for you were not yet able to receive it.” But he continues by rebuking them for still being in that state.   He also gives us insight to see if we are still in a novice state, “ for you are still fleshly. For since there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not fleshly, and are you not walking like mere men ?”   We are still greenhorns when we are fleshy, that is, worldly-minded. Also, ...

    In Hebrews 12:4 we read, “ You have not yet resisted to the point of shedding blood in your striving against sin.”  The implication is that at some point you will. Which might be hard for us to accept. For many, the only thing that we expect to suffer in being a Christian is losing a bit of sleep on a Sunday morning or some FOMO for an event. Yet the Bible tells us something different.   “ For what credit is there if, when you sin and are harshly treated, you endure it with patience? But if, when you do what is right and suffer for it you patiently endure it, this finds favor with God. For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps ,” 1 st  Peter 2:20-21 Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted . 2 nd Timothy 3:12 so that no one would be disturbed by these afflictions; for you yourselves know that we have been destined for t...

    Job remarks about life that man “ is short lived ” and like a “ flower that comes forth and does not remain .”  He says that God “ put my feet in the stocks and watch all my paths; You set a limit for the soles of my feet .”   Every one of us has only so many steps we will take, only so many beats of our hearts.   So why then do we waste them?   Many of our steps go down empty paths. Wasted time, pointless path. Many of our steps pace back and forth, standing on the sidelines of our own lives.  Many of our steps go backwards to things that should be left behind.   We only have so many steps; why are we using them to move forward to a better place? Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil . Ephesians 5:15-16    Time is short. You only have so many steps to walk. Make sure that you are taking them to the full limit.  Watch your pa...

   There might not have been a more world-changing invention this century than the smartphone.  I remember in high school we would ask our math teacher if we could use a calculator, she deny us by saying, “Are you going to be carrying a calculator in your pocket every day?” Well, it turns out we would, plus a phone, computer, encyclopedia, message system, gaming console, news feed, and music player.   As great as the devices are, they come at a high cost and not just to our pocketbooks. Since the mainstream adoption of the smartphone, there has been a stark corollary increase in anxiety, depression, and suicide, especially in the younger generation.  It is easy to see the distraction they make on the roads, in the classroom, and in the workplace. As author Jonathan Haidt put it, “ The phone-based life makes it difficult for people to be fully present with others when they are with others, and to sit silently with themselves when they are alone .”   This...

  Some folks like to arrive at the airport minutes before the plane is about to take off. Some don’t get to the show till the curtain has gone up. Some people will only step out on the platform when the train is spewing smoke.   The only problem is that if you do that, you run the real risk of the gate being closed, the doors being shut, and the train is departing the station.   While that is not a wise way to go about life, it is a much worse way to approach God. Many will wait to seek forgiveness from God till the absolute last moment. They assume there will always be time.   Yet let’s consider what the psalmist tells us in Psalm 32.  As he espouses the goodness of being forgiven, he warns in verse 6, “ Therefore let everyone who is godly offer prayer to you at a time when you may be found; surely in the rush of great waters, they shall not reach him .” He warns that waiting till later may mean it’s too late!  Don’t wait till the rush, it might be...