Legalism is one of the worst enemies of grace. It tries to steal the joy of salvation. It tries to make us believe that somehow our salvation is depending on something we should do or leave undone. Legalism tries to tell us that if we follow certain set of rules we will be somehow saved. As human beings we were born sinful; there’s nothing we need to do to stand in need of salvation. There’s nothing we can do to…
Just today I was asked on Twitter “Why does God offer glimmers of hope only to yank them back ???” and felt that this is a question that deserves a little longer answer. I believe this is a real sentiment of many people in today’s tough economic climate. But I assure you: God is not a deceiver. What God says, goes. What God promises to us will be fulfilled. Times change but God doesn’t. God is the same yesterday, today…
Picking up your cross is not popular. This world talks about everything but the cross of Christ. Even Christians would like to take the good and easy parts of the gospel and leave the tough ones out. We all would just like to hear about God’s love and leave the carrying your cross part for others. Francois Fenelon asks us a hard question: “He asks nothing but death, and you desire nothing but life. How can you put up to…
God is calling us to a radical life-change. Are you ready? Because “God is kind, but he’s not soft. In kindness he takes us firmly by the hand and leads us into a radical life-change.” (Romans 2:4, MSG) We are called to be followers of Jesus Christ. Not just fans that keep on doing whatever they wish. Where are you in your walk? Are you a fan of Jesus or are you ready to really follow whatever the cost? This…
It might be Friday the 13th but This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. (Ps.118:24) Yes, let’s rejoice! It might be Friday the 13th but all the promises of the Bible are in effect also today. Earlier, before you knew God personally, you were enslaved to so-called gods that had nothing of the divine about them. But now that you know the real God—or rather since God knows you—how can you…
I was running some errands the other day when a couple of questions popped up in my mind. Who would have thought that God would become a man? Who would have thought the whole salvation history? Who would have thought all of it? I laughed out loud when I came across this C.S. Lewis quote: “Reality, in fact, is usually something you could not have guessed. That is one of the reasons I believe Christianity. It is a religion you…
It’s time! It’s time to move from an admirer of Jesus to a follower of Christ. Too often we believe God but we don’t let our faith change our actions. We are spectators in God’s story but we don’t enter in the story. We are fans of Jesus, we ooh and aah the great things God performs but we don’t become active participants in God’s work. Where are you in this picture? Are you a spectator? Or are you a…
Easter is such a huge event in the lives of Christians that we prepare for it for 40 days and now we celebrate it for 40 days. The meaning of resurrection really needs this much intentional reflection time. It is so unbelievably amazing and profoundly wonderful! But, most of all, it is life-changing! It’s resurrection, resurrection, always resurrection, that undergirds what I do and say, the way I live. If there’s no resurrection, “We eat, we drink, the next day…
The empty tomb on the Easter morning is a terrific symbol of Christianity. The tomb was opened so we could get in to see that Christ was risen. Christ did not need the tomb to be opened for him to get out. All the time God helps us to see the power of the resurrection. We have a mighty powerful God! Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia! God has prepared us the way back to him in Jesus….
It is disheartening to hear news of illness and death of loved ones. Even Jesus wept for his friend Lazarus. Illness, suffering and death are part of life here on earth but we are not without hope. Even if it might look like Good Friday ended every good thing it is not so. Even though it might look like the tomb is the end of everything it is not so. Even if it might look so that dead is the…
