“Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” Ephesians 5:1-2 ESV I have a young daughter who used to love to mimic people. If you laughed, she would laugh. If you made a silly face, she would make a silly face. If you clapped, she clapped. Watching her as she learned new things just by watching others was comical. We like to follow. Yes, there are people with leadership qualities, but everyone follows the example of someone else. It’s…
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.” Proverbs 3:5-6 How often have you cried in frustration “I just don’t understand!” I’ve done it plenty of times, especially when my life wasn’t turning out how I thought it would. When I miscarried the first time, then the second time, and especially the third time. When my heart hurt so badly I wasn’t sure it would ever heal. I’m sure you have your memories flooding your mind right now of times when you cried out “I just don’t understand God!” This verse tells us not to depend on our understanding – and I’m so thankful for that. I do not know the end from the beginning, but my God does. I have no idea what tomorrow will hold, but he has already walked my tomorrow before me. He will show us which path to take if we seek his will in all we do. We can feel and experience peace in knowing which direction to take, even if it does not make perfect sense at that moment. God…
“Jesus knew that the Father had given him authority over everything and that he had come from God and would return to God. So he got up from the table, took off his robe, wrapped a towel around his waist, and poured water into a basin. Then he began to wash the disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel he had around him.” John 13:3-5 NLT Jesus was and still is the ultimate example of a true servant. As I have read through the gospels, I feel that God has been reminding me of this foundational truth – that to be an authentic follower of Christ, you must have a servant’s heart. Jesus knew that Judas had already been prompted to betray him and that this would be his last chance to be with all of his disciples before things dramatically changed. Jesus stood from the table, removed his robe, and wrapped a towel around his waist. This towel was essentially an apron that a servant typically wore, and to us, it does not seem fitting for a King to wear. Yet Jesus humbled himself and washed his disciple’s feet, even Judas. The very one who had it already in his mind…
Growing up in Sweden, I loved receiving visitors in our home. I associated visitors with gifts—boxes of chocolates, beautiful cakes, and flowers—and as the recipient, it was always such a joy. My room would be converted to a guestroom as needed. Often, guests left gifts. I fondly remember running to my room after they left to find my surprise. I favored the guests by the gifts they left. Their kindness did not go unnoticed. I am reminded of individuals who did not go to the ones they loved empty-handed. Naomi brought an amazing gift with her back from Moab. There…
“Even my close friend in whom I trusted, who ate my bread, has lifted his heel against me” (Psalm 41:9, ESV). When considering difficult people, we must be careful to distinguish between truly dangerous people (who wish to destroy us) and those who are merely “different.” Culturally speaking, I have been called a godsend in some places and a nuisance in others. If we are honest, cultural differences can sometimes be deemed “difficulties.” But what does the Bible teach us? Sometimes the only thing that makes a person difficult to us is the way we perceive them. If someone does not carry themselves in a way that pleases us, we may immediately dislike them. This may cause division and blindness toward their gift and purpose in God. The Bible says we must esteem one another as better than ourselves. Humility will help us have patience. (Read Ephesians 2:1-8.) Pride can become a wedge between believers. Demanding that others conform will stifle the beautiful diversity of gifts and abilities. Everyone comes to the table with something different to offer. We need wisdom in dealing with souls; we are, after all, fishers of men. First Corinthians 13 speaks of love. It also…
A beautiful old church building in Québec was put up for sale by its founding denomination many years ago. For some time, it has been rented out to people who used this old cathedral, with its cavernous ceilings, crumbling paint, and fabulous acoustics, as a used book and rummage sale. Most recently, a controversial decision was made to tear down what was once a stunning edifice. I was talking with a reporter, and he asked me what I thought about the “destruction of the church.” I said, “As sad as it is that this beautiful building is being lost, the church can never be destroyed. The church is a living, breathing body of believers; it’s not a building. As long as people hold a vibrant, active faith, the church will live on.” The church was met with persecution almost as soon as it was born. But believers always multiply in the face of any attempt to destroy the church. Even today, Christians in China, Nigeria, Iran, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, and dozens of other nations, face danger daily because of their faith in Jesus Christ. Buildings dedicated as houses of Christian worship are vandalized and destroyed regularly. The vandals and criminals…