“How foolish! Can’t you see that faith without good deeds is useless?” (James 2:20 NLT) Throughout the Bible there are numerous truths that are emphasized in comparison with something else. Things like “faith without good deeds,” “knowledge without love,” “pleasing God without faith,” and many more. In the next few posts, I’d like to highlightContinue reading “Faith Without Good Deeds”
Tag Archives: faith
The Choice to Believe
“But to all who believed Him and accepted Him, He gave the right to become children of God.” (John 1:12 NLT) At some point in our lives, we decide what we’ll believe. We, as human beings, are wired to be guided by some set of beliefs. Some of those beliefs include God, some do not.Continue reading “The Choice to Believe”
The Fear of Believing
“’Joseph, son of David,’ the angel said, ‘do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife.’” (Matthew 1:20a NLT) Fear is a very real and present danger when it comes to understanding and carrying out God’s will. It has many implications and can often be confusing and disturbing. But if we’re patient and openContinue reading “The Fear of Believing”
What Does It Mean to Trust God?
“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 NLT) Trust is a very sacred and fragile thing. Though it can take years to earn, it can be lost in aContinue reading “What Does It Mean to Trust God?”
Why So Many Miss Heaven
“The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way.” (Matthew 7:13b NLT) When I was in college, I worked part time at the local newspaper, where I met a young man about my age, whose nickname was “Garb.” That seemed a little odd, so one dayContinue reading “Why So Many Miss Heaven”
Jesus, Our Disciplinarian
“We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith.” (Hebrews 12:2a NLT) Our faith journey is begun in and by Jesus and will be finished/completed in and by Jesus. That’s what it means that He’s the One “who initiates and perfects our faith.” According to Strong’s Concordance,Continue reading “Jesus, Our Disciplinarian”
Does God Send People to Hell?
“No one is righteous – not even one.” (Romans 3:10 NLT) In yesterday’s post we looked at why we can’t trust our own goodness to get us into heaven, concluding that Jesus is our only hope, based on what the Bible teaches. Many with whom I speak can’t wrap their minds around why Jesus mustContinue reading “Does God Send People to Hell?”
When Prayer is Hard
“And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness.” (Romans 8:26a NLT) Has this Christmas season been hard? Perhaps a severe loss has you grieving. I get it. Pain is a tremendous deterrent to celebration. It’s as though life has been sucked out of us. Even as Jesus followers, we’re not exempt from the anguishContinue reading “When Prayer is Hard”
Faith/Faithful
“You say you have faith, for you believe that there is one God. Good for you! Even the demons believe this, and they tremble in terror!” (James 1:19 NLT) Yesterday, we looked at the word “Belief/Believe,” and talked about how vital it is to have solid, biblically based beliefs as it relates to Jesus. FaithContinue reading “Faith/Faithful”
Belief/Believe
“For it is My Father’s will that all who see His Son and believe in Him should have eternal life.” (John 6:40 NLT) A few days ago, we looked at the connection between the words: “love” and “relationship.” Today and tomorrow, we’ll look at two more words found in the Bible that are very interrelatedContinue reading “Belief/Believe”
Walking With Jesus 