spiphywarfare

Author: Derek

  • We Better Check Ourselves

    We Better Check Ourselves

    Jesus is frequently portrayed as nothing but soft, sensitive, and never offensive. I think Jesus wasn’t that way. Do you view him that way? His followers won’t view him as a convenience, a comfort, or a merit badge you put on and say, “Ah, now I have Jesus.” He has us! We don’t add him to our life, we let him take over it.

    He’s to be viewed as a precious treasure which we give up everything for[ref]Matthew 13:44[/ref]. He’s to be so overpowering in our lives that our consideration for our own life and family might as well be hate when compared to him[ref]Luke 14:26[/ref].

    Do you feel this way about Jesus? If not, contemplate the Lord’s very own words in Matthew 7:21-23. He says “many.” He doesn’t say “some” or say “few”.

    If your friends don’t think you’re at least a little too fanatical about serving Christ, why is that? Can your co-workers tell any difference between you and the rest of their peers? We should check ourselves to make sure we are doing the will of the Father. That’s as plain as it can be. You can say “Lord, Lord” but lip service won’t work. Only the ones doing God’s will make it.

    I shudder to think of Jesus plainly telling me, “I never knew you.”

  • Getting a Jesus Hug

    Different parts – Same body

    This seems to be one of a few themes running through my devotionals and sites I regularly read. Reading in Galatians 2:4 last night with the family I looked at the study note. The comment there was that they came in and did that because people can’t stand to see freedom in others.

    Don’t let others control your freedom through conformity. It doesn’t really matter if that conformity comes from their pressure or your own comparisons.

    Don’t compare too much to others, but do what feels natural, do what honors the Lord, do what really draws you closer to Him, even if that is perhaps a little more intellectual, a little less emotional than you might see modeled or hear described by other people.

     

  • Low Carb Goodness

    I have been, shall we say, less than dedicated to eating healthy for a while. That is as a result of a poor reaction to some major stressors in my life.

    I’m glad to say that I have started back. I don’t know why I ever quit when eating a meal like this on the patio with my wife is part of healthy eating!

  • Fave Song as of 050918

    I’ve always thought the effect that music has on us is so under-appreciated. This song has changed the direction of my day on several occasions recently. This lively song points to the the futility of our efforts and successes if they don’t include the main ingredient.

  • What’s Your Problem?

    via What is the biggest problem facing Evangelicalism? Comfort

    This article from UK Pastor Stephen Kneale has application across the pond as well, not just in the UK.

    We’ve allowed our culture to define our religion and in doing so are losing it.

  • Can’t Nullify Grace

    I, I am he who blots out your transgressions for my own sake, and I will not remember your sins.
    Isaiah 43:25

    God forgives our sins at his own good pleasure for his own reasons. We can’t earn it, force it, or defeat it.[ref]John 10:29[/ref]

  • Anxious?

    What comforting words from the mouth of our Lord. To think that God himself “delights” to give us the kingdom!

  • Yeakley on the Need of the Hour

    Tom Yeakley nails it. The church today seems to have lost its way. Not only is it easy to find outright false teachers masquerading as preachers of a prosperity gospel, the ones who deride them often turn around and preach a happiness gospel. Others preach a “we gotta change them gospel.” None of those are any good. Christ didn’t call us to be rich, happy, or to change others. (more…)

  • Halloween Lesson

    While our office was celebrating Halloween, someone had this decoration laying in the floor. Every time I walked past it I thought, “There I am. That was me.” I finally took a picture of it when the decorations were about to come down so I would remember it. (more…)

  • Compartmentalizing Our Lives

    Jared Wilson at the Gospel Coalition writes that:

    any time any human being is dealing with utter emptiness and lack of fulfillment in life, it is the result of the God-embedded message in them that they need him.

    This article talks about how compartmentalizing our lives leads to a loss of our spiritual selves. It also reinforces a theme I see again and again. As humans when we leave God out of our lives, or ignore his express directives, we inevitably get it wrong. The Bible is full of stories that illustrate this point. For instance when Samuel informs Saul, “to obey is better than to sacrifice” (1 SAM 15:22 CSB).

    Feeling frustrated, convicted, or general dissatisfaction with things? Consider reading the above article.