Water has a powerful effect on stones. As it flows over rocks it smooths and shapes them into precious little stones. Erosion from water can carve deep grooves into the landscape of our hearts just like the word of God, but just like the beaver, we try to set up areas in our hearts to prevent the forceful effect of the word of God on our minds and hearts. Often we think our lives are open and willing to yield to the waves of the Spirit and the powerful force of conviction in our lives. We would much rather wade in the warm estuaries of our deception where silt and debris collect and the water is lifeless. But God desires that we enter into the waters of His word with total abandon. The water in Lake Michigan has been cold this week, hostile to my flesh. I find myself inching my way in instead of diving headlong. How often do we proceed gingerly through His word running back to the shore of our comfort when it does not feel good to our flesh. As we come to Him i...
Foundations are vitally important for the longevity of a building. It not only matters what the foundation is built on but also what is built upon that foundation. If the foundation is not securely fixed on stable ground it can be washed away or crumble due to its instability and the lack of integrity where the foundation has been placed. As believers in Jesus, our spiritual foundation has been laid as Christ. I Corinthians 3:10-11 According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and someone else is building upon it. Let each one take care how he builds upon it. For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. It is only by the grace of God that our lives have been laid on the foundation, the very Rock of Christ and it is He that builds upon this sure foundation. When we rely on our own methods or modalities to 'build' upon our foundation in Christ we are in great jeop...
What does it mean to have strong faith? How do we get strong faith? Our faith is nothing that we can boast about outside of the work of Jesus Christ. Although faith without works is dead, in other words as the NIV points out in James 2:17 , ... faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. Who wants dead faith? So we work and strive and try to do more to gain God's favor and in so doing we often convince ourselves that our faith is dependent on us. In Tim Keller's book, Romans 1-7 for you , says that if saving faith equals obedience then we have something to boast about but faith is separate from our works. He says that saving faith is a trust transfer. We trust in the promises of God through Jesus Christ and HIS work! If we want to live by works of the law and not Christ's atoning work then the law of faith is nullified and the promises of God are bankrupt! Romans 4:14 For if it is the adherents of the law who ar...
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