God Wants Us to Hold Unswervingly to Hope -Advent 23 (2019)

Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. (Hebrews 10:22-23)  When […]

December 23, 2019 in Articles and Devotionals, Devotionals by

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God Wants Us to Honor Purity-Advent 22 (2019)

It’s often said that Christianity is a relationship not a religion.  But there is a religious aspect to it, too, enough that God would put it on His Christmas List.  “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself […]

December 22, 2019 in Articles and Devotionals, Devotionals by

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God Wants Us to Pursue Peace and Holiness-Advent 21 (2019)

In a world filled with division, rancor, and deceptive behavior, God has as an item on God’s Christmas List for Christ followers to be every bit as countercultural as Jesus was.  The attacks upon Him were as hateful and cruel then as the attacks upon God-fearers today.  The vitriol oozed from every pore as they […]

December 21, 2019 in Articles and Devotionals, Devotionals by

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God Wants Us to Have Faith-Advent 20 (2019)

“Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see… And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.’ (Hebrews 11:1, 6) When we made Christmas lists and […]

December 20, 2019 in Articles and Devotionals, Devotionals by

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God Wants Us to Display the Fruit of the Spirit-Advent 19 (2019)

Why would God want our display of the fruit of the Spirit to be on His Christmas List?  The “fruit of the Spirit” isn’t like a divine Harry and David gift box showing up with festive wrapping.  It’s not many fruits…it’s one type: of the Spirit.  The fruit-filled life looks like Jesus’ life.  And there’s […]

December 19, 2019 in Articles and Devotionals, Devotionals by

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God Wants Us to Know the Greatest Virtue: Love-Advent 18 (2019)

“For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.  And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.” (1 Corinthians 13:12-13) The whole […]

December 18, 2019 in Articles and Devotionals, Devotionals by

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God Wants Us to Be His Witnesses-Advent 17 (2019)

The disciples gathered around Jesus and asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority.   But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on […]

December 17, 2019 in Articles and Devotionals, Devotionals by

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God Wants Us to Love One Another as He Loves Us-Advent 16 (2019)

Some standards are impossible to meet with our own abilities.  Jesus provides what we are lacking in order to fulfill what He wants from us. “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.  If […]

December 16, 2019 in Articles and Devotionals, Devotionals by

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God Wants Us to Receive His Spirit by Faith-Advent 15 (2019)

Have you ever stopped to think about why God would want us to receive His Holy Spirit and why it might make it onto God’s Christmas List? “The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord.  Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.”  And with […]

December 15, 2019 in Articles and Devotionals, Devotionals by

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God Wants Us to Be Born Again -Advent 14 (2019)

Of all the beautiful terms that have been skewed to pejorative status, the two words “Born Again” unquestionably tower above others for its disparity between perception in our wider world and its spiritual reality.  What a pity because the image—properly understood—is so lovely.  The idea is that we’re not tweaked, corrected, reformed, trying a little […]

December 14, 2019 in Articles and Devotionals, Devotionals by

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