Monthly Archives: June 2016
One main difference between Christian friends and other well-meaning friends is that Christian friends can bring real comfort. Christian friends will focus on the power of Christ to get you through whatever grief you may be experiencing. Only God – and those pointing to his love for us – can show us his plan for eternal comfort. Indeed, even at the darkest moments, He leads us and guides us safely to the other side, where there is hope and light……
So how do we “fear not,” as the Bible says time and time again? Some people seek power to conquer fear. That doesn’t work; I once read that Joseph Stalin was afraid to go to bed, sleeping in different rooms, and he traveled with five limos, all for safety. Some people seek possessions to conquer fear. Well, we all know the story of Howard Hughes, how he distrusted people and had paranoia about germs. And yes, he had many possessions!…..
If God is for us, who can be against us? That is what my Christian friends remember whenever we are fearful of what lies ahead. My favorite scripture is Philippians 4:13: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” That, more than anything else, is where my own courage comes from. Remember when Jesus was with his disciples on a boat and calmed the storm at sea? It may remind us that following Christ can mean that we…..
What does the Bible say about living in the Truth? First, the Bible claims its authority as the living truth. Hebrews 4:12 says, “The word of God is living and active…discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” We cannot achieve truth without acknowledging the authority of the Bible. In Matthew 22:29, Jesus said to them, “You are mistaken, not understanding the Scriptures nor the power of God.” Next, the Bible advises us to stay in the word to discern…..
When you are blessed to have a friend who is slow to anger, you can learn to imitate that behavior and be more like Christ. Certainly, Christ showed anger, but it was only when he saw the disobedience of someone as leading to self-destruction (not because he didn’t get his way)! The example of Jesus is really of one who denied himself on a daily basis from the human tendency toward wrath. So we are called to be slow to…..
There is value in holding our tongue, or practicing temperance. The Old Testament emphasizes self-control as a core virtue as evidenced in both Solomon’s books of Proverbs and in the Ten Commandments. The New Testament does as well, with self-control being one of the fruits of the spirit. Remember Matthew 5:39? Jesus said, “Do not resist one who is evil. But if anyone strikes you on the right check, turn to him the other also.” It is always unexpected when…..
When we criticize a friend, we are judging the merits and faults of something they have said or done. Criticism can correct another person in a godly way if the criticism is given with that intent and in that spirit. Winston Churchill was quoted as saying the following: “Criticism may not be agreeable, but it is necesary. It fulfills the same function as pain in the human body. It calls attention to an unhealthy state of things.” The Reverend Charles…..
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