Scraps of Life

Jesus took our nature in Bethlehem, to die our death in Jerusalem, that we might be fearless in our city. Yes, fearless. Because if the biggest threat to my joy is gone, then why should I fret over the little ones? How can you say, “Well, I’m not afraid to die but I’m afraid to lose my job”? No. No. Think! If death (I said, death—no pulse, cold, gone!)—if death is no longer a fear, we’re free, really free. Free to take any risk under the sun for Christ and for love. No more bondage to anxiety. If the Son has set you free, you shall be free, indeed!

No wonder Satan tried to turn Jesus from the cross! The cross was Satan’s destruction.

How does Paul confront the Corinthians’ inconsistency and lack of love? In 1   Corinthians 13 he paints a vivid picture   of love, that stunning, ever-inspiring catalog of attributes  — patience, kindness, humility, generosity of spirit, preferring others, a peaceful demeanor, love for truth, readiness to   bear and believe and hope and endure all things. Paul didn’t have weddings in mind when he wrote this. This is actually one of the sharpest rebukes in the Bible, because the attributes of love described everything that the Corinthians were not. "When you come together as a church . .  . there are divisions among you . .  . factions. . .  . When you come together, it is not the Lord’s Supper that you eat." 1   CORINTHIANS 11: 18-20

In 1   Corinthians, we are told that we can have rich skill sets, decorated résumés, even exemplary commitments to morality and biblical law-keeping, but if we don’t have love, we gain nothing and we are nothing.

Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us. Selah

The danger of all dangers would be to lose trust and confidence in the mercy of God… To distrust him would be a far more terrible thing than any physical evil which all the enemies of God put together could inflict on us, for without God’s permission neither the devils nor their human ministers could hinder us in the slightest degree.

You have heard it said, I’m sure, that nature abhors a vacuum. This is absolutely true when it comes to leadership. If you do not lead your family, someone else will; someone else will have to. But God has called you to lead, to lead with great joy and delight, to lead though it may be costly, and to lead with love. Lead your wife, lead your family, and do it all for the glory of God.

Can your courage endure, or can your hands be strong, in the days that I shall deal with you? I the LORD have spoken, and I will do it. I will scatter you among the nations and disperse you through the countries, and I will consume your uncleanness out of you. And you shall be profaned by your own doing in the sight of the nations, and you shall know that I am the LORD.

If we don't live in unity to build the kingdom of God, life just becomes a competition to build your own kingdom.

Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.