We have a spiritual epidemic spreading in our nation. It is impacting thousands of churches, leaving them unhealthy and unsuccessful in their Christ‐given mission to reach the world. The cause of the problem? Allowing a worldly mind‐set to filter into an institution called to be set apart and holy.
Favor is a concept that comes up during the Christmas season when reading the biblical story of the birth of Christ. Mary, Jesus’ mother, was one who found favor with God, thus she was chosen to bear God’s one and only Son. There were also many other people in the Bible who, due to their devotion to God, were greatly blessed by Him.
Every six months or so my husband Reed and I intentionally sit down together and assess how we’re doing with habits, routines, and working towards our life‐long goals. Well, we recently discovered a resource to help us do a very thorough assessment.
It’s been said that the first five books of the Bible, also known as the Pentateuch, form the theological foundation of the Bible. In the past few months, I’ve been journeying through these books and have learned so much about God’s character and love for mankind, even when we least deserve it. Hopefully this article will be an inspiration for you to rediscover this sometimes neglected part of God’s Word.
What is the will of God for our lives, and how do we make sure that we are living in it? We need to be faithful in using the tools that God has given us, and He will lead us onto a path that brings Him glory.
God is love, which means He wants to protect us from harm. Once we make this connection, we will see the Sabbath as a blessing rather than a burden. It may take some time to readjust your priorities, but don’t get discouraged. In the end, the things that you give up to observe this day of rest may not seem so significant after all.
The world is full of distractions. Distractions that keep us from living a healthy life (spiritually, mentally, emotionally, physically, and socially). Distractions that keep us running at full speed, nonstop, and still not getting where we need to go. If we aren’t careful, we’ll look back one day and realize how quickly our lives have passed us by.
We need to align our focus with the mission we have on this earth. We are in the middle of a spiritual battle, with the lives of non‐Believers on the line for eternity! Too many of us are coasting along, and as John Piper puts it, “treating Jesus like a helpful add‐on, but not as an all‐satisfying, all‐authoritative King…”
God must be mourning America’s departure from its Christian heritage. How are you doing at keeping “garbage” out, staying vigilant for “little” sinful habits, and living in the Spirit daily? Christ came to give us freedom from sin, so don’t live another day in captivity.