Jesus did not publicly shame, threaten, or otherwise coerce people to come to repentance, which is why our efforts to do so “in Jesus name” only serve to drive them away from Him. The good news of the gospel is not the judgement to come, it is that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us, and that this amazing grace is still available today.
Archive for the ‘Thought for the Day / Quotes’ Category
Thought for the Day – The Path to Repentance
Posted in Commentaries, Heart of "The Father", Thought for the Day / Quotes, tagged amazing grace, good news, judgement to come, repentance, sinners on October 30, 2016| Leave a Comment »
Thought for the Day – Having a Good Day
Posted in Commentaries, Opinions, Thought for the Day / Quotes, tagged afraid, circumstance, disappointed, frustrated, good day, hurt, mad, sad on August 26, 2016| Leave a Comment »
We should not expect a “good day” to run through the obstacle course of our circumstance and find us. Indeed, it is incumbent upon us to press through the crowd of impediments and apprehend it. Every day comes with an armload of reasons to be sad, mad, hurt, disappointed, frustrated, or afraid. And if we choose to make any one of those the centerpiece of our consciousness, there is no “good day” with the power to wrestle it from us. (Deuteronomy 30:15)
Thought for the Day – Poisoned Apples
Posted in Commentaries, Thought for the Day / Quotes, tagged just and unjust, presumption, right and wrong, self-made, the tree of the knowlege of good and evil on August 18, 2016| Leave a Comment »
The fruit of the “Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil” (Genesis 2:17) is presumption. Partaking of it allows us to believe that we can rightfully discern for ourselves what is right and wrong; what is just and unjust; and ultimately, what is in our best interests. It’s pulp nourishes the notion that we are self-made and dependent on no one.
Thought for the Day – Insecurity
Posted in Commentaries, Opinions, Thought for the Day / Quotes, tagged coerce, insecurity, manipulation, self-doubt on July 27, 2016| Leave a Comment »
Insecurity will often cause a person to try to gain by manipulation what others would willingly give to them (e.g. attention, affection, respect). Self-doubt convinces them that illegitimate means are the only way to obtain what is legitimately available to them. Ultimately, these attempts to coerce are often what drive people away, which only serves to reinforce their feelings of insecurity.
Thought for the Day – The Other Side of the Sword
Posted in Commentaries, Opinions, Thought for the Day / Quotes, tagged Apostle James, epistle, quick to listen, slow to become angry, slow to speak, tight rein on the tongue on July 25, 2016| Leave a Comment »
The Apostle James was a leader of the early church in Jerusalem, and as such, his epistle is filled with practical guidance for Believers who are living in the midst of a culture that is often hostile to their value system. Early in his letter he says that “Everyone should be quick to listen,slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires” (James 1:19-20). Wow, imagine how following that counsel might impact our social media activity. A few verses later he lets the reader know that this is more than just friendly advice, when he adds, “Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless” (James 1:26). Ouch!
Thought for the Day – Francis J. Grimke
Posted in Commentaries, Opinions, Thought for the Day / Quotes, tagged civil rights, golden rule, Grimke, race prejudice, racism on July 21, 2016| Leave a Comment »
Francis J. Grimke was the byproduct of relationship between his white, plantation owning father, and a mixed race, enslaved mother. He grew up to be a passionate supporter of the civil rights movement in the early 1900s, and was also a Presbyterian minister in Washington DC. I recently ran across a couple of his quotes, which I think speak directly to where we find ourselves today.
“The secession of the Southern States in 1860 was a small matter compared with the secession of the Union itself from the great principles enunciated in the Declaration of Independence, in the Golden Rule, the Ten Commandments, in the Sermon on the Mount. Unless we hold, and hold firmly to these great fundamental principles of righteousness, … our Union… will be only a covenant with death and an agreement with hell.”
He also said, “Race prejudice cannot be talked down, it must be lived down.”
Thought for the Day – Solving World Hunger
Posted in Commentaries, Opinions, Thought for the Day / Quotes, tagged no control, serenity prayer on May 19, 2016| Leave a Comment »
I believe that much of our day to day struggle is rooted in trying to wrap our minds and arms around situations which are not ours to fix, and over which we have little or no control. Indeed, I suspect that this is why so many 12 step programs begin with the “Serenity Prayer” (i.e. Lord, grant me the strength to change the things I can change, the patience to live with the things I can’t, and the wisdom to know the difference between the two). Engaging in battles for which we’re not commissioned not only causes us to become exhausted and frustrated, it often results in us missing the opportunity to change the things we actually can. It is akin to the person who is so preoccupied with solving world hunger that they fail to notice the hungry man they pass on the street.
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Thought for the Day – Mission Statement
Posted in Commentaries, Thought for the Day / Quotes, tagged character of Jesus, heart of Jesus, personal connection to Jesus on November 1, 2016| Leave a Comment »
If the mission is to help people forge a connection to the person of Jesus Christ, there is perhaps nothing more damaging to that cause than to misrepresent His heart and character to them.
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