christianity
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The Golden Rule
“So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets” (Matthew 7:12). In the greatest sermon ever preached, this one statement is perhaps the most memorable. This saying of Jesus—often called the “Golden Rule,” sets forth a great principle, central to all our… Continue reading
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First Things First: Evangelism
“One of the two who heard John speak and follow Jesus was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. He first found his own brother Simon and said to him, ‘We have found the Messiah’ (which means Christ). He brought him to Jesus” (John 1:40-42). As a result of John’s testimony about Jesus, some of Jesus’ future disciples… Continue reading
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First Things First: Brotherly Reconciliation
“So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift” (Matthew 5:23-24). There will always be differences that arise in our interpersonal relationships.… Continue reading
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First Things First: Self-Examination
“First take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye” (Matthew 7:1-5). It is always easier to judge others than to examine oneself. It is easy to see the faults and sins of our neighbor, and we are too ready to… Continue reading
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First Things First: Seeking God
“But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you” (Matthew 6:33). It is easy to lose sight of the most important things in life. Even our concern for those things that we would all judge to be basic necessities—like food, clothing, and shelter—can become our… Continue reading
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First Things First: Devoted to God
“We want you to know, brothers, about the grace of God that has been given among the churches of Macedonia, for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. For they gave according to their means, as I can… Continue reading
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Admonish One Another
“I myself am satisfied about you, my brothers, that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge and able to instruct one another” (Romans 15:14). Paul writes these words neither as a rebuke nor out of flattery. Rather, he has confidence in the brethren at Rome. He believes they are fully capable of… Continue reading
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And Finally, Add Love
Growing in the grace and knowledge of the Lord involves the development of Christ-like character. This growth process requires diligence. It involves adding various graces to our faith. We come to the last in the series of graces listed in 2 Peter 1:5-7—love. Our spiritual growth is simply not complete without it. It stands here… Continue reading
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Brotherly Kindness
Have you ever been the recipient of a special act of kindness? Someone went out of their way to help you when you needed a hand. Someone did something nice that lifted your spirits. Someone offered a word of encouragement when you were down. Someone was kind to you even when you had failed to… Continue reading
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Godliness: Walking With God
The word godliness, or piety, occurs relatively few times in the Bible, but the idea is found throughout Scripture. The Bible says that Enoch and Noah “walked with God,” a statement that well expresses the idea of godliness. Godliness has both an inward and an outward dimension. Outwardly, godliness manifests itself in our conduct. Informed… Continue reading
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Perseverance
God’s word teaches us how to add spiritual qualities to our character that will enable us to become more mature, more useful, more fruitful, less likely to stumble, and more confident of our calling and of our entrance into the eternal kingdom (2 Pet. 1:3-11). One of those qualities is perseverance. Perseverance means patience or… Continue reading
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The Development of Self-Control
Self-control follows moral excellence and knowledge in Peter’s list of qualities in 2 Peter 1:6 that we need to add to our faith. This means that through the strength of moral virtue and the light of the knowledge of God’s word, the Christian is enabled to govern the appetites and passions and keep them under… Continue reading
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