Steve's Blog
Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your hope as a believer, always be ready to explain it. 1 Peter 3:15 (NLT)
The question of the hour is: “Are you ready?” Someone might ask, “Ready for what?” I would reply that I am not sure, but it does not require prophetic insight to see that we are living in unsettling times. I speak from the perspective of someone who has lived sheltered from the turmoil that so many other believers from around the world an...
For I can testify that they gave not only what they could afford, but far more. And they did it of their own free will. They begged us again and again for the privilege of sharing in the gift for the believers in Jerusalem. They even did more than we had hoped, for their first action was to give themselves to the Lord and to us, just as God wanted them to do. 2 Corinthians 8:3–5 (NLT)
Why is giving so difficult for many Christians? How many times have you heard someone say, “The church is al...
“So he returned home to his father. And while he was still a long way off, his father saw him coming. Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him. Luke 15:20 (NLT)
I suppose that we naturally return to themes that are real and pressing in our lives. Watching people that we love walk away from us, and even more critically, walk away from the Lord is difficult and heartbreaking.
A number of things transpire in our minds when prodigals depart. We may thi...
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Submit yourselves, then, to God. James 4:7 (NIV)
The unconditional surrender of Japan at the end of World War II meant that there were no negotiated terms. Japan had to accept the Allied demands without bargaining. Including disarmament, occupation, and the restructuring of its government. The country came under the control of the Allied Powers, subject to its demands.
Historically speaking, most surrenders are negotiated, having terms and conditions. When James says, “Submit yourselves, th...
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“Keep the Sabbath day holy. Don’t pursue your own interests on that day, but enjoy the Sabbath and speak of it with delight as the Lord’s holy day. Honor the Sabbath in everything you do on that day, and don’t follow your own desires or talk idly.” Isaiah 58:13 (NLT)
I would like to start with a confession; when I was growing up, I viewed Sabbath rest as a punishment. There were many things that we did not do on the Sabbath. Many, if not most stores were closed on Sundays. Youth sports were...
Therefore, “Come out from them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you.” And, “I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.” 2 Corinthians 6:17–18 (NIV)
What did Paul mean when he said, “Come out from them and be separate?” This statement is in the context of not being yoked together with unbelievers. We would expect that there would be no argument that Christians should not marry unbelievers, but what cons...
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He said, “And what about you? Who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Then Jesus replied, “Happy are you, Simon son of Jonah, because no human has shown this to you. Rather my Father who is in heaven has shown you. I tell you that you are Peter. And I’ll build my church on this rock. The gates of the underworld won’t be able to stand against it. Matthew 16:15–18 (CEB)
On one of my visits to Israel, we went to Caesarea Philippi where Je...
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There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved.” Acts 4:12 (NLT)
Acts 2 begins, “When the day of Pentecost had fully come.” This was the birthday of the church. This new era was ushered in with signs and wonders. They saw tongues of fire, and they spoke new languages. The festival brought people from every nation who heard about the wonderful things that God had done. They stood there amazed and perplexed. “What can this mean?” they a...
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For the Lord Most High is awesome. He is the great King of all the earth. Psalm 47:2 (NLT)
I need to get something off my chest. I am frustrated by the devaluation of language. It is a fact that the meaning of words can change over time. For example, the word “sincere” originally referred to pure honey. “Nice” once meant foolish.
While I acknowledge that the meanings of words can evolve over time, I find it disconcerting that terms traditionally used to describe the character and attributes...
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Remember, it is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it. James 4:17 (NLT)
“I will pray about it.” Is it used as a trump card, or is it an excuse for inaction or disobedience? We will not claim that every time someone responds with “I will have to pray about the matter,” it is an insincere attempt to deflect responsibility. However, there are many situations that do not require prayer, but obedience.
Prayer is good. We are instructed to “pray without ceasing” or “pray about...
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“And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” John 8:32 (NLT)
Truth is controversial. We live in a world of so-called “truth detectors,” and “fact checkers.” The self-appointed “guardians” purport to set the record straight, but then there are “fact checkers” for the “fact checkers.” And the cycle goes on and on. Does anyone know what the truth really is?
Jesus proclaimed that freedom was dependent upon knowing the truth. You have heard people claim that they live accordin...
I said, ‘Plant the good seeds of righteousness, and you will harvest a crop of love.” Plow up the hard ground of your hearts, for now is the time to seek the Lord, that he may come and shower righteousness upon you.’ Hosea 10:12 (NLT)
To declare that we need a revival invites a variety of responses. Sadly, a common response will be “What’s a revival?” Another might respond that “a revival would be nice, but there is nothing that we can do, it is a sovereign initiative of God.” Discouragingly,...
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“But if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted! When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples. This brings great glory to my Father.” John 15:7–8 (NLT)
What did Jesus mean when he said, “you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted!” Did he intend for us to think that there were no boundaries for our requests? Can we ask for extravagant amounts of money or fame? When we look deeper, we will find that th...
For David, after he had served God’s purpose in his own generation, died… Acts 13:36 (NET)
Last time we discussed the necessity of preparation before building a life or a ministry. Whether it means preparing the soil of our hearts, repenting and clearing away impediments to our spiritual journey, or the care and nourishing of the incorruptible seed of the word of God, our time will eventually end.
We must ask ourselves if the desire to have a legacy overshadows the concern of fulfilling God...
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A time to tear down and a time to build up. Ecclesiastes 3:3 (NLT)
We might be inclined to think that tearing down is negative, and building up is positive. It is a reasonable conclusion, but reality is more complicated. Ecclesiastes tells us that there is a time, or a season for every activity. Sometimes things need to be torn down before it is possible to build up.
Chip Gaines of Fixer Upper fame loves demolition day. He knows that you must tear down some walls in order to build toward th...
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“Physical training is good, but training for godliness is much better, promising benefits in this life and in the life to come.” 1 Timothy 4:8 (NLT)
Paul’s comparison of physical versus spiritual training is fascinating. While conceding that exercise has value, he finds that it is minimal when viewed in the light of training for godliness. Paul’s appraisal is not in dispute. In fact, he shows us the overwhelming importance of living a holy life.
I enjoy exercise, or rather, I enjoy the bene...
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My life is an example to many, because you have been my strength and protection. Psalm 71:7 (NLT)
We cannot escape the fact that our lives are on display for others to observe and judge. Celebrities and athletes have tried to claim that they are not role models, but that does not negate the influence that they have over others. A message that is not consistent with character and behavior will be viewed as hypocrisy.
Ralph Waldo Emerson put it this way, “What you do speaks so loudly that I ...
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Come close to God, and God will come close to you. James 4:8 (NLT)
God does not want us to just come to him, He wants us to come closer. Why are so many of us afraid to come closer to God? Is it because we do not believe that he is approachable? Do we think that we would feel out of place close to God? Or are we comfortable with our worldly dalliances?
Fear is certainly a factor in our unwillingness to draw closer to God. Yet, he is always calling for us to join him and know him more intima...
“Come to me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, because I am lowly and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28–30 (CSB)
Would it be any surprise if I told you that there is a shortage of counselors and therapists? Stress, anxiety, insecurity, addictions, and many other things are pervasive in today’s society. Sadly, there is also a great demand amon...
“If you continue in My word, then you are truly My disciples; and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” John 8:31–32 (NASB 2020)
We do not live our lives in a vacuum. When Jesus tells us “Continue in My word,” it is with the understanding that there will be opposition. The resistance comes from within, and from without.
In Ephesians 4, Paul tells us that God gave gifts to the church to build us up and fortify us in our faith. The goal of this instruction is maturity i...
A few days later this younger son packed all his belongings and moved to a distant land, and there he wasted all his money in wild living. Luke 15:13 (NLT)
Everyone has a story to tell about prodigals. Prodigal children, or perhaps, prodigal siblings, or even prodigal parents. When we understand what is at stake, it is agonizing and causes us to have sleepless nights.
As parents, we do our best to raise our children in the “fear and admonition of the Lord.” We do not claim to be perfect,...
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Dear friends, although I was very eager to write to you about the salvation we share, I felt compelled to write and urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to God’s holy people. Jude 3 (NIV)
In Jude’s short letter, he gets right to the point: “contend for the faith.” As with other references in the New Testament, we find a strong allusion to athletics. To contend is to strive or struggle with intense effort in the arena. He had the intention of writing about the “...
If possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Romans 12:18 (CSB)
This verse presents a daunting challenge, “live at peace with everyone.” We don’t always live at peace with those who are closest to us, let alone everyone. It begins with the condition, “If Possible.” What makes it possible? After all, Christ-followers don’t always have a good relationship with each other, so how can we expect to live at peace with everyone?
The words of Jesus come to mind: “Ever...
“I know all the things you do, that you are neither hot nor cold. I wish that you were one or the other! But since you are like lukewarm water, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth! Revelation 3:15–16 (NLT)
Is it better to be hot or to be cold? When I was coming-of-age, I understood this text meant that to be cold was bad, and that to be hot was good. We can make a case that either hot or cold can be desirable. However, to be lukewarm is repulsive, not to mention, dangerous.
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Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Matthew 28:19 (NLT)
In previous articles, we have covered growing and glowing. In this concluding post we will examine Christ’s Great Commission to the church to go. While most of us do not have any objections to the concept of growing and even glowing, the thought of going is likely to bring apprehension. We may agree in principle, but reality is daunting.
An exami...