Tag: Following Jesus

Morning Musing: 2 Corinthians 5:14-15

Leave a comment

“For the love of Christ compels us, since we have reached this conclusion: If one died for all, then all died. And he died for all so that those who live should no longer live for themselves, but for the one who died for them and was raised.”‬‬ (CSB – Read the chapter) 

What does it mean that Jesus died and rose again? That’s kind of a big question. There have no doubt been whole books written on the matter. I’m aiming for this to take less than five minutes of your time, though, so what can we say right now? Paul gives us one really good thing here. Let’s talk about it. 

Read the rest…

Morning Musing: Hebrews 12:5-6

Leave a comment

“And you have forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons: My son, do not take the Lord’s discipline lightly or lose heart when you are reproved by him, for the Lord disciplines the one he loves and punishes every son he receives.”‬‬ (CSB – Read the chapter) 

“This is for your own good.” Ever hear some version of that when you were growing up? I honestly can’t remember if I did or not. Usually the one hearing it is doing so in the context of an adult (most often a parent) forcing them to do, or perhaps doing to them, something they don’t like. It may be technically true in the moment—and even in a longer term sense—but it doesn’t make whatever it is that’s happening any easier to experience. 

Read the rest…

Digging in Deeper: Galatians 5:22-23

Leave a comment

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. The law is not against such things.” (CSB – Read the chapter)

The fruit of the Spirit. Even if you’re not a Jesus person you may have seen the phrase before on a piece of kitschy artwork in a store that tries to market to Jesus people. Even if you would consider yourself thoroughly secular in every regard, you have to at least admit it’s a pretty good list of attitudes or mindsets or character traits or whatever else you want to call them. 

Read the rest…

Morning Musing: Galatians 5:6 Part 2

Leave a comment

“For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love.”
– ‭‭Galatians‬ ‭5:6‬‬ (ESV – Read the chapter) 

In our first look at this verse we talked about the fact that Paul did some serious boat-rocking when he said that neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything. He waded right into the middle of a contentious cultural debate and announced that both sides were wrong. Whether you had been circumcised or not did not have any bearing on whether or not you could become a follower of Jesus. Jesus came for everybody and everybody can receive Him no matter the state of their…well, you know. 

Read the rest…

Digging in Deeper: Galatians 5:6 Part 1

Leave a comment

“For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love.”
– ‭‭Galatians‬ ‭5:6‬‬ (ESV – Read the chapter) 

Have you ever done an escape room? It’s one of the latest social trends sweeping American culture. The idea is that you have been locked in some room and in order to get out you have to work through a series of clues to find the right key. These aren’t just blank rooms with envelopes on a table, though, they are richly decorated with clues seamlessly worked into the decorations. And each room has its own theme running the gamut from cute and quaint to intense and frightening. The idea has even hit it big enough that you can buy a board game version at your local store. 

Read the rest…