Pride, Self-Sufficiency
Pride makes us strive to meet all the demands of others. We want to show that we can “do it all” but in the end all we’re doing is frantically sprinting through the day.
Jesus told His disciples to love one another “as I have loved you” (John 13:34). That wouldn’t be so hard if the love Jesus displayed was primarily the write-a-cheque or call-once-a-month kind of love. But Jesus set the bar immeasurably high. Jesus’ kind of love touched the skin of a leper and washed the feet of a soon-to-be betrayer. He didn’t mind interruption by another’s demands, even those of a person all others disdained. Jesus had the uncanny ability to look straight into a person’s soul to see the deepest need there.
Is that an impossible example to follow? You bet it is! That’s why God sent the Holy Spirit to live inside us and empower us with His supernatural love. Only when “plugged in” to that power will His followers stand out in their treatment of others and of one another. Then people will take notice and say, “My, how they love one another!” Let these resources set you on the path of loving with the Saviour’s love.
Pride makes us strive to meet all the demands of others. We want to show that we can “do it all” but in the end all we’re doing is frantically sprinting through the day.
With all we have on the go, it’s easy to get tunnel vision and only focus on our own lives. But God desires us to be winsome people who model grace and godliness to a lost and hurting world.
Jesus asks for nothing less than your whole heart. Being committed to Him means saying no to your own desires, yes to what He wants, and nothing in between.
Our souls will find no peace until we remember our Creator. Now is the time to remember Him in all our thoughts and actions.
We all need love and friendship, especially when times are tough. Friends take the sting and loneliness out of life.
Those who God saves by His grace need to look out for those who haven’t yet come to the Saviour. Don’t make it hard for others by insulting those who aren’t living the life you would like them to live.
Though Christians should strive for personal integrity, we must remember that integrity does not equate sinless perfection. No one can achieve that goal in this life. A person with integrity doesn’t hide his or her shortcomings but confesses them to the Lord and to others. Let’s learn more about integrity in this lesson.
When the Bible paints a portrait it doesn’t remove the imperfections. It’s reassuring to know the men and women God used to accomplish His will were real people.
Most communication today is electronic, without a personal touch. Did you know 21 of the New Testament books were handwritten letters? Something to think about.
Far too many Christians have bought into the “pursue pleasure at all costs” philosophy. Marriages are breaking up at almost the same rate inside the Church as outside. Christian leaders often create just as much scandal as any movie star. And many churches no longer place holy living at the top of their priority list. But purity, as Paul explained in Romans 6, is a powerful alternative to our culture’s formula for living.