Genesis 2:15; 3:1-24 So let’s go back to the beginning. Adam and Eve were God’s first human creations. God had given them life, favor, authority, and a paradise to live in. He only gave them one small restriction. He (basically) told them, “You can eat from any tree of this huge, beautiful garden. But you see… View Article
What happens when someone we’ve invested into decides to betray our trust? What about when we give to someone else but they never reciprocate? How much are we really required to forgive?
A holy lifestyle can look impressive upon first glance, but will prove to be empty and meaningless if there is no sincerity. In order to disciple others and show them who God is, our religious claims have to be matched by substance. We have to have fruit, not just leaves.
The enemy cannot do anything to you that God doesn’t allow to happen. And whatever God does ordain, He already knows you can withstand it and use it to make you stronger. When God allows struggles to come your way, it is not as a tool to break you. It’s as a test to strengthen your faith.
Let’s rejoice when the sinner receives their place in eternity. Let’s love one another and help each other in our walks with God. Let’s willingly step out of first place to humbly allow someone new in the faith to take our place. Let’s take the last place.
The scripture says that we can choose to use our words either as weapons to injure, or with wisdom to heal. What you say has immeasurable impact on the way others will, in effect, perceive themselves, your personality, and God’s character – and that perception can often last for a lifetime. Use wisdom and kindness in everything you say so that no matter where your words land, you know they are bringing restoration and not destruction.
Sacrifice means you have to make a trade – a total trade. You have to walk away from one thing you treasure in order to prove your love for something greater. There’s no such thing as a partial sacrifice, just like there’s no such thing as partial obedience and submission. We cannot value the world and honor the Lord at the same time: our hearts are not capable of holding a place for both. And anything you do sacrifice for the Lord is done in vain if your obedience is out of place.
You are just one person, and that may not seem like much. But a little goes a long way. You have the ability to influence your environment with just a few words, a couple of decisions, and some subtle actions. It doesn’t take much to change the atmosphere of your surroundings. You can create a place of hope or fear; of faith or doubt; revival or death. You get to choose what kind of attitude resides in your school, workplace, and even in your youth group by the presence you bring.
Can we say we have the same love for the lost as the Lord? Can we say that we are truly putting all our effort into reaching for the one percent – no matter how long or inconvenient of a task it may be? How can you be more like a shepherd today?
“It’s never a question of if God will answer us, it’s a question of how desperate we are to reach Him.”