SEP. 24, 2025

A relationship governed by rules.

"If you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says...God will bless you for doing it." Jas 1:25 NLT

Going to heaven is based solely upon having a relationship with Christ; one in which you place your total trust in Him. This relationship also involves rules you live by and guidelines that make you more godly.

• A tennis player isn't free to play tennis if there is no baseline to let him or her know whether the ball is "in or out."
• A baseball player isn't free to play baseball without a foul line.
• A football player is not free to play football without sidelines.
• You cannot be truly free without restraints.

For example, a fish is not free to wander through the jungle, and a lion is not free to dwell in the ocean. Neither was made for that.

• Freedom is having the benefits accumulate to you that you were created to receive.
• Freedom doesn't mean no boundaries.
• Freedom "in Christ" means that within the right boundaries, you get to experience "life more abundant" (See Jn 10:10).

James writes, "If you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says...God will bless you for doing it."

On top of the Statue of Liberty is a crown with seven spikes depicting the seven seas and seven continents, meaning wherever you are, you can come to America. At the bottom of the statue is a broken chain, meaning you can come to America and find freedom.

But when you come, you must agree to honor the rules that govern the relationship.

A relationship governed by rules Freedom "in Christ"

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SEP. 23, 2025

God wants to work through you (3)

"For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him." 2Ch 16:9 NKJV

God is not hesitant or indifferent when it comes to showing Himself strong. Rather, He is looking "throughout the whole earth" for people who are loyal to Him so He can reveal His power through their lives! Here are three things you need to know about God:

(1) He is always at work in supernatural ways in our world, and He has a lot He wants to accomplish.

(2) He is actively searching for loyal partners-people who steadily care about what He cares about.

(3) He is consistently nudging people to respond, but most people miss it or say no.

Question: What would it look like in your life if you began to say yes? A minister writes: "A life marked by the miraculous is not just possible, not even just desirable, but is at the very center of God's will for every one of us.

When we settle for less, our lives lose

• delight,
• fulfillment,
• and purpose.
• Personal needs of people we meet get overlooked.
• Extreme needs in our communities and around the world go unmet.

When a whole generation settles for less,

• the character and motives of God get called into question.
• His shining presence seems to fade in the world."

But you can do something about it. You were born to be God's ambassador, making Him visible each day (See 2Co 5:20).

God desires to show Himself strong

• in you,
• for you, and
• through you,

because every person you encounter has a need that only God can meet.

God wants to work through you Be God's ambassador.

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SEP. 22, 2025

God wants to work through you (2)

"As my Father hath sent me, even so send I you." Jn

20:21

Jesus said, "The Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does. For the Father loves the Son and shows him all he does" (Jn 5:19-20 NIV).

The demands on Jesus were endless. Those who were sick wanted Him to help them. The Pharisees wanted to embroil Him in theological arguments. His disciples wanted Him to go to certain places and not others. But every step Jesus took, every act He performed, and every question He answered was in response to the leadings of His heavenly Father.

That's why He didn't burn out. That's why He could say on the eve of His crucifixion, "I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do" (Jn 17:4 NKJV). Now you understand why Jesus often prayed all night and rose early in the morning to pray while His disciples were still sleeping. He had only one purpose: doing what God wanted done that day. Is that easy to do? No.

People will pressure you, and unmet needs will guilt-trip you unless you are absolutely clear as to what God wants you to do. And knowing that calls for intimacy, dependency, sensitivity, and obedience to God. But living this way brings a level of joy and fulfillment that cannot be found in anything else. And this is the life you have been called to live, because Jesus said, "As my Father hath sent me, even so send I you" (Jn 20:21).

God wants to work through you Intimacy, dependency, and obedience to God

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SEP. 9, 2025

You will never be perfect enough (2)

"By that one offering he made forever perfect in the sight of God all those whom he is making holy." Heb 10:14 TLB

Author Dorothy Littell Greco writes: "For some perfectionists, the fear of making a mistake results in a sort of paralysis, causing us to agonize over every decision...To help you discern if [perfectionism] has crept into your life...consider the following questions:

(a) Are you comfortable asking for help or only offering it?

(b) Are you able to receive appropriate criticism without getting defensive?

(c) Do you have a nagging belief that you are falling short of some illusive standard?

(d) Do you harshly critique yourself?

(e) Are you able to experience joy?

An absence of joy might be one of the best indicators [of] perfectionism.

• It slowly squeezes the joy out of life by reducing creativity,
• accentuating mistakes, and
• making us slaves of success."

The truth is, no matter how hard we struggle, we can never be perfect enough to satisfy the sin debt against us. And we don't have to be! "Christ gave himself...for our sins as one sacrifice for all time and then sat down in the place of highest honor at God's right hand... For by that one offering, he made forever perfect in the sight of God all those whom he is making holy" (vv. 12, 14 TLB).

Notice: When God makes you perfect, it's going to be for forever, and once you get your head wrapped around that truth, it will change your life.

Gigi Graham Tchividjian says, "We don't have to be perfect to be a blessing. We are asked only to be real, trusting in His perfection to cover our imperfection, knowing that one day we will finally be all that Christ saved us for and wants us to be."

You will never be perfect enough The fear of making a mistake

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SEP. 8, 2025

You will never be perfect enough (1)

"By grace you have been saved...it is...not a result of works." Eph 2:8-9 ESV

A perfectionist seeks to achieve nothing less than perfection. Dorothy Littell Greco writes: "I've been a perfectionist for as long as I can remember…

• I had to get A's,
• had to win, and
• had to please everyone.
• Every mistake or perceived failure unleashed a torrent of self-condemnation...

Perfectionism often [comes from]

• insecurity and
• a faulty understanding of grace.

During the first few years...parents are meant to communicate through their words and actions that we're...lovable, even though we do nothing to earn that love...But not all of us were the beneficiaries of such parenting.

Many of our needs were met with frustration or even anger, which we interpreted as, 'There's something wrong with me! When that's the case, over time, shame creeps in... [and] distorts our understanding of our self-worth.

The voice of perfectionism increased when I started following Jesus. I feared being judged and...excluded, [which] motivated me to prove my worth to my fellow Christians. Though I believed, theoretically, that I was saved by grace,

• I lived as if I had purchased salvation on credit and was accruing an enormous debt.
• I [lived] as if Jesus would tear up our 'salvation contract' the moment I made a mistake.

As I began to understand that pride and a fear of mankind were driving my perfectionism, I confessed this as sin...[and] the chokehold started to loosen. Like the Samaritan woman at the well, I needed Jesus to break in and tenderly reorient me to his living water."

Remember, you don't have to be perfect to be a blessing to others-you just have to be real!

You will never be perfect enough Salvation on credit

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SEP. 5, 2025

SOS prayers.

"In my distress I cried to the Lord, and He heard me." Ps 120:1 NKJV

The three-digit emergency system has amazing capabilities. In most places in America, you need only dial those numbers to be instantly connected to a dispatcher. On a computer screen, the dispatcher instantly sees the caller's telephone number, address, and the name under which the number is listed. Also listening in on the call are police, fire, and paramedics.

A caller need not say anything once the call is made. Even rasping coughs and hysterical cries have brought a quick response. The dispatcher knows where the call is coming from, and help is sent immediately. Sometimes our situation is so urgent and desperate that we can't put it into words, so we send up the SOS prayer, "Lord, I need your help!" And help is on the way. "It shall come to pass that before they call, I will answer; and while they are still speaking, I will hear" (Isa 65:24 NKJV).

Sometimes you feel the effects of something, but you don't understand the cause and you can't explain it.

This is when the indwelling power of God's Spirit comes to your aid: "The Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don't know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words. And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God's own will. And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them" (Ro 8:26-28 NLT).

SOS prayers "Lord, I need your help!"

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SEP. 4, 2025

How your faith can produce results (4)

"[Abraham's] faith and his actions were working together." Jas 2:22 NIV

If you really believed God's Word concerning your situation, how would you act differently? Saying you believe is just the beginning; activating your faith means preparing for the answer to arrive. Ask yourself, "If I really expected an answer to my prayers, how would I prepare for its arrival?" In Scripture, Jesus gave His disciples this parable: "The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man... planted in his field...when it grows, it...becomes a tree'" (Mt 13:31-32 NIV). The farmer may sincerely believe he can produce a mustard tree, but nothing happens until he chooses the location, prepares the soil, plants the seed, and continually waters it. Once he does all those things, he can actively watch for its appearance. So, where do you start?

(1) Pray for wisdom to make the right decisions (See Jas 1:5-7).

(2) Plan your work, and work your plan. Aimless, passive waiting for the things to materialize without thoughtful, active involvement will prove disappointing and fruitless. God uses you as His partner. "We are labourers together with God" (1Co 3:9).

(3) Break your plan into small, accomplishable action steps.

(4) Don't wait for the fear to go or the faith to grow. Be prepared to take calculated, productive risks. Feel the fear and do it anyhow!

(5) Start thanking God even before you can see the answer.

And if you should miss the bull's-eye, remember the Revolutionary War militia's response: "Ready, aim, fire!" Adjust your aim-and fire again. "[Abraham's] faith and his actions were working together." And that's still the Bible formula for success.

How your faith can produce results Activating your faith

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SEP. 3, 2025

How your faith can produce results (3)

"In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead." Jas 2:17 NIV

James asks, "What good is it...if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds…Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says...'Go in peace; keep warm and well fed, but does nothing...what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. But someone will say, 'You have faith; I have deeds' Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds" (vv.14-18 NIV).

A veritable ocean of faith without the appropriate action to follow it up is nothing more than an ocean of dead, useless faith. On the other hand, an ounce of faith that's acted upon can produce an ocean of results (See Mt 13:31-32). Action breathes life and power into your faith.

The biblical prescription for faith is simple but potent.

(1) You decide to believe in God's promise and His power to make it happen— leaving the "how and when" up to Him.

(2) You choose to act in keeping with what you believe before you see any evidence of the results.

(3) God responds to your faith by keeping His unbreakable promise. "Hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?" (Nu 23:19).

God goes to work exercising His unlimited capacity to perform His Word. Jesus said, "Whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours" (Mk 11:24 NIV). Now—it's up to you to claim and act on His promise.

How your faith can produce results Action breathes life and power into your faith.

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