My Achilles Heel
Nobody is temptation-proof. Even mature Christians have weaknesses in their spiritual armor that make them vulnerable to a wounding attack by the enemy of their souls. Our pride can provide the very opening needed for the sharp thrust of a satanic dart. So can the love of money, a quick temper, a critical tongue, or chronic impatience.
A Balanced Attitude
Our world bears unmistakable evidences of God's wisdom, power, and goodness (Psalm 104:14-18). So do the star-studded heavens above us (19:1). And then there are all the blessings of human love and creativity, which are gifts "from above" (James 1:17).
Exercise Your Right
Thomas Jefferson, who in 1776 wrote the first draft of the US Declaration of Independence, took it for granted that all of us possess certain God-given, "unalienable rights." Yet, even in a democracy, there is fierce discussion about who is entitled to what rights.
Small Thing, Big Impact
Are most people truth-tellers? Can what they say be taken at face value? Or are they like the ancient Cretans, whose reputation was that they were "always liars"? (Titus 1:12).
Everyday Disciples
When I am asked how I'm doing as a man in his eighties, I reply, "My life moves along contentedly in well-worn grooves." As I observe my friends and neighbors around me, I realize that most of them are also following a basic routine. Although not trapped on a treadmill, they are working at their jobs, raising families, and serving in their churches. There's nothing necessarily heroic or exciting about their lives, nor is there about mine.
Tomorrow's Terrors
Peter Marshall, whose dynamic preaching attracted crowds of people, died suddenly on the morning of January 25, 1949, at the age of 46. In one of his sermons he had said: "When the clock strikes for me, I shall go, not one minute early, and not one minute late. Until then, there is nothing to fear. I know that the promises of God are true, for they have been fulfilled in my life time and time again. Jesus still teaches and guides and protects and heals and comforts, and still wins our complete trust and our love."
It Pays Better
What kind of lifestyle do you believe in and live? Is it one of focused selfishness, or one of lovingly seeking to meet the needs of others? (Romans 13:8).
Why Do You Ask?
You may have heard the saying, "Our small things are great to God's love; our great things are small to His power." How true! There's nothing in our lives so small that God isn't concerned about it—no need, no desire, no burden, no emotion. Likewise, no problem or crisis is so big that it baffles God's wisdom and power. And because He cares for us, we are invited to tell Him about any and all of our concerns (1 Peter 5:7).
Our Greatest Need
We are creatures with all kinds of needs. Without air, water, or food, for instance, we can't go on living. In addition to these absolutely basic necessities, we have a host of others that must be met if we are to be healthy and happy. But these needs are not just physical, emotional, and social; they are also spiritual.
