Variety
God loves variety. That’s why He made all kinds of people with different interests and abilities.
How can we know if we’re really making progress in our spiritual walk? After all, the Bible offers no prescribed checklist of duties to perform that prove we’ve “arrived” as mature believers. But a list provided by Paul in Galatians 5:22–23 does offer proof both to ourselves and to those around us that the Spirit of God who dwells within us controls our thoughts and actions.
And that’s the catch. We can’t produce such fruit on our own—even with the most sincere effort. We can’t fake this fruit either. Rather, the fruit of the Spirit is a supernatural result of yielding to the Holy Spirit. Once we’re exhibiting the pure, holy fruit of the Spirit, the contrast is stark between those who are filled with the Spirit and those who obey the deeds of the flesh, as seen in Paul’s other list in verses 19-21! When we exhibit the fruit of the Spirit, all the glory goes to God.
God loves variety. That’s why He made all kinds of people with different interests and abilities.
The mind is an amazing thing. In a matter of seconds it can transport you to scenes you thought you had forgotten. Remember when your love for the Lord was in full bloom? Remember the passion you felt? Remember your deep devotion?
You may not be able to change your situation but you can change your response. The choice is yours. You can choose to wallow in self-pity, or you can respond to a disadvantage with courage.
Paul went from a Judaistic terrorist to a chosen instrument of God. How could that be? Because God is in the process of cutting down a tall poppy, bringing him to his knees.
In this message we look at Jonah's story as we see how God can bend a stubborn will.
God has a better idea than holding grudges! James reveals this alternative in the passage we're considering within this message. James not only tells us what to do in place of retaliation; he tells us how to do it.
In James 4:1-10, there is set forth the reasons for fights among believers as well as their tragic results. But James doesn't leave us without some answers on how to stop those conflicts that have taken their toll within our ranks.
It is virtually impossible to separate truth from the one who teaches it to us. That's why James begins the third chapter with a warning—don't swell the ranks of teachers!
If God promised to give you anything you asked for…what would you choose? Chuck Swindoll explains why we ought to desire wisdom above anything else.
Do you know that feeling when you've said the wrong thing and desperately want to take it back? Our words can be poisonous…and once spoke, they're impossible to erase.