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“Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.” (1 Thessalonians 5:11) This verse begs a few questions. First, explicitly: why in the “therefore” and secondly what are encouraging, what are we building up in one another? Verses 8-10 answer both questions: But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation. For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him.Read More →

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In: God's love, Gospel, Idols, Prayer and Devotions, Sin and Holiness

“For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.” (John 3:17) The most famous passage in the bible, John 3:15-18,  tells us Christ was lifted up on the cross so all who believe in him would have eternal life, that God loved us so much, he gave us his only son so that no one who believes in Christ should perish. Today’s verse asserts at this point that God’s goal was not to condemn everyone else, but to save the world.  Verse eighteen adds sadly, however, that those whoRead More →

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Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger;” (James 1:19) Oh to be more like this bible verse! What would it be like, to have open ears that hear the other person’s words, a mouth that doesn’t run before the other person is finished talking? To be patient and not quick tempered or easily frustrated? To be self-controlled, not impulsive? If more of us knew and lived by this advice, what would the world be like? Oh for grace to be such. Lord, grant me ears to hear, a patient, disciplined tongue, and a peacefulRead More →

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“Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.” (Romans 12:10)   These instructions come to us in the midst of similar instructions. At first glance, we are tempted to think context offers us no additional insights. But let’s look again anyway at the immediate context: Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good.  Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. (Romans 12:9-11) See it now? Again we have a careful balance between truth and love:  Being sincere, real, loathing evil/sin, doing good–butRead More →

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In: Bible and Theology, Legalism, Prayer and Devotions, Sin and Holiness

“Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to build him up.” (Romans 15:2) Yikes! Whatever happened to you can’t please everyone? Okay, lay some context on me, please: We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to build him up. For Christ did not please himself, but as it is written,”The reproaches of those who reproached you fell on me.” (Romans 15:1-3) Ah, there, Paul is continuing his discourse from Romans 14 on the varying convictions in the Body and saying we shouldRead More →