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

“But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.” (James 1:22) According to James, we are deceiving ourselves about what we believe in our hearts when we read the bible, known intellectually what it says, and go out and ignore it in practice. So how do we not turn away from this uncomfortable mirror and promptly forget what we looked like and keep on as we are? In our instant culture and world, we often react by habit and by impulse. If our habits are godly, that is great. If our habits are indistinguishable from our impulses, that’s not so great. Contrary to whatRead More →

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

“You are my hiding place and my shield; I hope in your word.” (Psalm 119:114) This verse follows the statement, “I love your law,” thus it is reasonable this sentence offers a reason why:  in the pages of scripture he finds shelter in  it’s consistent,  unchanging, dependable definition of right and wrong, and its testimonies of God’s actions in history on the behalf of his people, and the promises we inherit from our spiritual forefathers. Through this, and the hope/faith it builds in him, he finds protection and deliverance–from what? Likely, the double-minded, wicked evil-doers he wants away from, double-minded indicating they waver between twoRead More →

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

“I will never forget your precepts, for by them you have given me life.” (Psalm 119:93) This falls in an a eight verse octane that begins in verse 89 and continues to verse 96. It starts off saying God’s word is fixed in the sky, that the earth is firm and consistent because it’s creator is, and that all creation serves him and remains where it is because he has put it there. From there it assert that only because he found joy and pleasure in God’s law was he able to survive great suffering that had caused him persistent pain and distress. This isRead More →

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In: Abuse, Bible and Theology, Lament, Prayer and Devotions, Sin and Holiness, Suffering

“I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:14) In this verse, we have Paul pressing on, running the spiritual long distance race to the finish line, seeking a prize–being called upward by God via King Jesus. Upward where? Heaven, communion with God, but in context, more than that–perfection. He puts his past failures and past successes behind him and strains forward to the next step of spiritual growth, bit by bit more like Jesus with every step of the way. In verse fifteen, he tells us this is a fit attitude for theRead More →

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

“ Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,” (Hebrews 12:1) This verse refers back to Hebrews 11 and the “hall of faith,” which commends the saints who persevered and fulfilled God’s calling on their lives despite adversity and without seeing any sign of the promise being fulfilled in their lifetimes. Now Hebrews 12 depicts them as spectators to ancient Olympic games, all past winners who ran the race and finished well, who now are in the standsRead More →