“If you love only those who love you, what reward is there for that?” (Matthew 5:46a NLT) Whether we realize it or not, a lot of our values, in terms of what we believe, including how we treat others who are different from ourselves, is “caught” more than taught. What does that mean? It meansContinue reading “What Is Loving Others Supposed to Look Like?”
Tag Archives: love
Memories
“They shall utter the memory of Your great goodness, and sing of Your righteousness.” (Psalm 145:7 NKJV) Thinking about my life as a pastor, I’m discovering some of my most cherished memories are of the times I spent with people in the context of their pain and loss. Perhaps because it was in those sacredContinue reading “Memories”
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?”
Developing God-Honoring Relationships
“…our goal is to please Him.” (2 Corinthians 5:9b NLT) Yesterday we focused on the most important area of our lives, our walk with the Lord Jesus. We looked at setting realistic, attainable goals in the development of the basic disciplines of our journey with Jesus. Today we’ll look at another category of our livesContinue reading “Developing God-Honoring Relationships”
When Prayer Becomes Pleasure
“As the deer longs for streams of water, so I long for You, O God.” (Psalm 42:1 NLT) My wife and I have two dogs – a Pug and a mixed-breed we rescued. We love them, but they’re a lot of work. They both love attention and affection, but our Pug’s greatest delight is .Continue reading “When Prayer Becomes Pleasure”
When You’re Seeking to Reconnect”
“For there is only one God and one Mediator who can reconcile God and humanity – the man Christ Jesus.” (I Timothy 2:5 NLT) By God’s grace my wife and I have found a church that, to me, is the closest to the Biblical standard as any church of which I’ve been a part. AskContinue reading “When You’re Seeking to Reconnect””
Love and Relationship (Part 2)
“And while he was still a long way off, his father saw him coming.” (Luke 15:20b NLT) In Luke 15 Jesus tells a story about a father who had two sons. Though his younger son took his inheritance and left home with no intention of ever returning, the father, who in the story represents God,Continue reading “Love and Relationship (Part 2)”
Love and Relationship (Part 1)
“Anyone who wanders away from this teaching has no relationship with God. But anyone who remains in the teaching of Christ has a relationship with both the Father and the Son.” (2 John 1:9 NLT) A verse like the one above can raise some theological questions that are beyond the focus of this post. WhetherContinue reading “Love and Relationship (Part 1)”
Loving One Another Well
“This is My commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you.” (John 15:12 NLT) If, in the closing hours of Jesus’ life, He commanded us to love each other, we must conclude it was foremost on His mind. He even told us how to do it: “in the same way IContinue reading “Loving One Another Well”
Willingly!
“For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give His life as a ransom for many.” (Matthew 20:28 NLT) Damaras Carbaugh, sang a song entitled “Willingly” on her 1996 album, Giving My Life Away. It was written by Phil and Marie Armenia. You can listen to the song on YouContinue reading “Willingly!”
Walking With Jesus 