STRENGTH FOR THE JOURNEY THE BIRTH THAT BRINGS DEATH

JAMES 1:12-15 When temptations to do evil come into our lives, let us never think that they have come from God; instead, God is doing what He can to prevent us from falling into sin. However, our flesh is so weak that we disregard Him occasionally and follow evil. James...

Continue reading

STRENGTH FOR THE JOURNEY GOD IS NOT IMPRESSED

JAMES 1:9-11 When James wrote concerning a brother of “low degree” (James 1:9), we must remember that he was writing from a human viewpoint. Only humans characterize one person as being of low degree and another as being of high degree, because God is not a respecter of persons. James...

Continue reading

STRENGTH FOR THE JOURNEY GETTING “ON TOP” BY “GETTING UNDER”

JAMES 1:1-8 The more often faith is tried, the easier it becomes to endure trials because they produce patience. And through trials, the believer becomes more steadfast in his faith. Endurance is the ability to withstand hardship or stress. Patience is the ability to bear pain without complaint, evidencing self-control....

Continue reading

STRENGTH FOR THE JOURNEY BEWARE OF FALSE PEACE!

COLOSSIANS 3:13-17 We must beware of false peace. Some who do wrong may have a peace about it, but it does not come from God. As someone has said, “Peace of heart alone is not always the peace of God.” A significant test to apply to determine the origin of...

Continue reading

STRENGTH FOR THE JOURNEY GOD’S KINDNESS

COLOSSIANS 3:12; TITUS 3:1-7 The believer is to put on “kindness” (Col. 3:i2).This refers to a gentle, gracious disposition. When I think of this quality, a particular godly leader comes to mind. Years ago another leader in the area did him much harm and sought to ruin his reputation. In...

Continue reading

STRENGTH FOR THE JOURNEY THE LIFE THAT IS NEW

COLOSSIANS 3:5-11 In Colossians 3:10-11 Paul revealed three truths about those who have put on the new man. First, they have a divine nature. Each person who trusts Christ as Saviour has “put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him”...

Continue reading

STRENGTH FOR THE JOURNEY PRACTICING YOUR POSITION

COLOSSIANS 3:1-4 It is wonderful to realize that, as believers, we live by the power of Christ’s resurrection life. As we do this, we are letting Christ live again in the sense that He is living out His life through us. This is what Paul desired for the Ephesian believers,...

Continue reading

STRENGTH FOR THE JOURNEY NOT“OUGHT”BUT “ARE”

COLOSSIANS 2:10-15 Realizing that all of the fullness of the Godhead dwells in bodily form in the Lord Jesus Christ, it is then awesome to consider that we “are complete in him” (Col. 2:10). We are filled with His fullness. Notice it does not say we ought to be complete...

Continue reading

STRENGTH FOR THE JOURNEY YOU GROW THE WAY YOU WERE BORN

COLOSSIANS 2:1-7 Paul spoke here of the necessity of the Colossians to continue as they had begun. In other words, he was telling them, “Get settled in Christ; see that Christ is everything in your life.” Paul wanted the Colossians to recognize that if someone taught differently, then that teaching...

Continue reading

STRENGTH FOR THE JOURNEY “CHRIST IN YOU”

COLOSSIANS 1:21-29 On the surface, the emphasis of “Christ in you” (Col. 1:27) may not seem so important. But when we grasp the significance of this great truth, our thinking about Christ and ourselves will be changed and even our prayer life will be changed. I well remember when I...

Continue reading