We have all known once seemingly faithful pastors and other believers who have fallen into sin or simply let their walks with God fall by the wayside. Too often they leave destruction, even despair, in their wake. What about you? Could you be drawn away from God’s call on your life by flattery, fear, money, success, favor with the right people, or other distractions? What can we learn from Nehemiah about protecting our testimonies, our jobs, and our ministries from those things?
Today our churches are full of people who do religious things. They go through the motions and may even look like faithful Christians to others. But God is always looking at the heart. Many of them have never understood or embraced the gospel and so have not experienced genuine heart change. Others are trying to appear one way while living another. When they do, it’s just empty religion and not pleasing to God. Could any of this apply to you or me?
Do you find yourself tempted to envy someone? We can envy when we have been lazy and not put in the effort that is required to accomplish something. But often, we’re working hard and can’t understand why someone or many someones seem to enjoy a level of success that we don’t. Either way, we can become discontent with where God has us. And instead of trusting that He knows what’s best, we grumble, complain, and run the risk of becoming bitter and resentful.
The latest statistics I could find say the rate of divorce in the US is about 40-50%, but I’ve discovered that statistics are hard to pin down. Some say the rate of divorce has dropped in the last decade and that as high as 70% of marriages make it to their 15th year. If that’s true, what about the 30 or 40% who don’t? And is it possible that the divorce rate is going down because many couples simply live together without marrying?
What does the Bible say about divorce? Is it allowable to divorce because we’re not happy or no longer in love? Is it okay to divorce if we realize we are unequally yoked? Are there biblical grounds for divorce? And one final question, why is it so important for singles to understand these principles, too?
What if our churches were closed down? What if it was suddenly illegal to own or read the Bible? Are you faithfully studying God’s Word for yourself or are you content to be spoon-fed on Sunday mornings? Do you have enough of God’s Word hidden in your heart to sustain you? Could you remain faithful? Could you teach others?
Ever feel like you have a purse with holes? Could it have something to do with your priorities? Are your priorities God’s priorities? Or have you put Him on a back-burner? Could He be using your finances or some other circumstance to get your attention?
Also:
Anger can hinder your relationship with God and the people in your life. If you’re struggling with anger, you’ll find some helpful resources in today’s post.
Serving God well in our anti-Christian culture can be challenging. We live in a world where many things that were once almost universally condemned are now celebrated. Christian values like virtue, morality, and even common sense are ridiculed. Those who stand up for God’s standard can become a target themselves. But we must choose … will we fear God or fear man in the increasingly anti-Christian culture in which we live?
Abuse is real and, sadly, it happens all too often. Abuse can be physical, sexual, mental, or even spiritual.
What does the Bible say about responding to abuse? Where does Jesus’ command to love your enemies fit in? Does it mean that we ignore or tolerate illegal, immoral, or abusive behavior or that we stay in a dangerous environment or relationship? Does it really require us to forgive and love those who mistreat us? And what if you or someone you know has been the victim of abuse, where can you turn for help?
Two people will be working together. One will disappear and the other will be left behind. Men and women will be eating and sleeping and going about their business. Some will be gone in an instant and others left behind. How about you? If Jesus came back today, would you go or could you be left behind?
Finishing well … it’s probably something we all desire. No one wants to fall flat on his or her face or bring shame to the name of Christ after serving Him well. And yet, if we read through the history of God’s children, we see numerous people who started out well but didn’t end so well. What allows one person to finish well while another fails miserably? Find out what can make the difference.
