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In: Bible and Theology, God's Character, God's promises, Lament, Prayer and Devotions, Sin and Holiness, Suffering

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” (Isaiah 55:8-9) Some like to quote this verse to hurting people asking why God allows suffering. They’re misapplying it a bit. The immediate context for this statement is: Seek the LORD while he may be found; call upon him while he is near; let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the LORD, that he may have compassion on him, and to ourRead More →

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

“Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,” and any other commandment, are summed up in this word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.” (Romans 13:8-10) This can be read backwards and forward: forwards, it says love fulfills the law, so Christians who walk in love, having nailed our sin to the cross, need not fear the commandment any longer.  Backwards, itRead More →

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In: Bible and Theology, God's Character, Prayer and Devotions, Sin and Holiness

“O you who love the LORD, hate evil! He preserves the lives of his saints; he delivers them from the hand of the wicked.” (Psalm 97:10) What does it mean to hate evil? We know the Lord does not contradict himself, and Christ commanded us to love our enemies. So how do we reconcile this? I would cross reference both verses with Romans 12-19-21: Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; forRead More →

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

“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” (Philippians 4:8) Lately, I’ve been using the Verse of the Day for this column (M-F), and I groaned a bit when this came up. In the conservative circles that have heavily influenced me in my walk with Christ, this verse is most often mentioned in the context of disapproving of the media our brother chooses to consume.  We would generally be wiser to take heed to what media we feed ourselves, asRead More →

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In: Bible and Theology, Grace, Legalism, Sin and Holiness

“ Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted.” (Galatians 6:1) Many of us today are afflicted with one of two syndromes,  the Nice Christian Conflict Avoidance Syndrome or Bash Evildoers’  Heads  In Syndrome.  Some of us even manage to be afflicted with both. The shamefulness of Bash Evil Doers’ Heads In Syndrome is notorious.  However, Nice Christian Conflict Avoidance is often mistaken for a virtue, while in reality it is harmful to the entire Body of Christ. Because of it, we grow weakRead More →