Is it wrong to wear blue jeans to church? How about spending a million dollars on a car? Is eating certain things wrong? How about drinking alcohol?

These are kind of trick questions, but considering them is a good exercise for us. Paul writes in Romans 14:1, “Accept other believers who are weak in faith, and don’t argue with them about what they think is right or wrong.” He goes on in verse 10, “So why do you condemn another believer? Why do you look down on another believer? Remember we will all stand before the judgment seat of God.” and verse 13, “so let’s stop condemning each other. Decide instead to live in such a way that you will not cause another believer to stumble and fall. Finally in verse 15:2 he says “We should help others do what is right and build them up in the Lord.” NLT

Each of us need to follow the conscience God gave us when answering these types of questions, for ourselves. When interacting with others, however, we need to remember that everyone is on his or her own faith journey. Paul says in Romans 14:17,18 “For the Kingdom of God is not a matter of what we eat or drink, but of living a life of goodness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit. If you serve Christ with this attitude, you will please God.” NLT

Dear Lord, It is hard for some of us to suppress the critical nature to judge others. You have given each of us a conscience to judge ourselves, and You have also given others a conscience to judge themselves. Help us focus our actions more on how we can help others feel Your love, and as they grow closer to you, they will listen to your guidance. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

It is amazing occasionally to think about the history of Christianity. Through the years many have tried to stamp it out, from the Jewish leaders, Greek, Roman and Ottoman Empires, the Communists, and many others. Today from many other directions Christianity is being attacked. But from the original 12 disciples who followed Jesus, Christianity has grown to over 2 billion people; the largest religion in the world.

We know that those opposing Jesus will never succeed, as Isaiah prophesied and Peter repeated in 1 Peter 1:24,25, “..the grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of the Lord endures forever.” Until the Lord returns, we know that God’s word will endure.

Dear Lord, Thank you for growing your church throughout the world. Help us be a part of spreading your good news. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

We put time, energy and care into protecting and providing for those that we love; parents and children, siblings, friends that need help, and those less fortunate who cannot provide for themselves. So we watch over those who we love.

An interesting verse to think about is Psalm 145:20, which says, “The Lord watches over all who love him, but all the wicked he will destroy.”

It would make sense if the verse said, “the Lord watches over all who he loves,” but the verse turns it around and says he will watch over those who love him. So when we love God we affect God’s response to us.

Dear Lord, help us show our love for you by putting your will first in our lives, and following your guidance. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Illustrations are very helpful in clarifying and understanding biblical concepts. Jesus’ used parables in the same way. I have been working to find a good illustration to describe Paul’s words in the verse that is a foundation of Christianity, Ephesians 2:8,9 “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-not by works, so no one can boast.”

We talk about grace, and faith, but how do they fit together?

Think of water flowing through a garden hose. The water is God’s grace, and the hose is faith. So grace (water) comes through faith (the hose). Before we are saved, we have put a kink in the hose, and are holding it to prevent the water from flowing. When we release the kink, the water flows. God’s grace is a free gift ready for anyone who will release the kink in their hose, and stop rejecting the grace. Faith is the way it comes to us.

Dear Lord, Thank you for the free gift of eternal life that we have by your gift of grace. Help us accept it completely, and share the peace it brings with others so they might remove the “kink in their hose” and accept your grace as well. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

I am sure you have heard the expression “I’ll believe it when I see it.” That is the opposite of how we need to live as Christians.

The bible tells us is that we have to believe before we can see. We must have faith described in Hebrews 11:1 as, “..confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” or as Hebrews 11:6 says, “..because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” and Psalms 27:13 says, “I would have been without hope if I had not believed that I would see the loving-kindness of the Lord in the land of the living.”

Just like a builder does not start construction until he “believes” he will complete his project and see the result, we need to believe in the promises God gives us, to answer our prayers, protect us, and guide us, and most of all forgive us, while we wait to see the result.

Dear Lord, help us put our confidence in you, and have the strength to believe before we can see. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.