Obedience

  • A Tale of Two Sons

    Matthew 21:28–32

    Being able to discern the faithful son is actually an act of self-indictment on the part of the leaders. If they can rightly choose as faithful the son who left his disobedience, surely they must also be able to discern ...Read More

  • The Cost of Discipleship

    Matthew 8:18–22

    John Chrysostom comments on today’s passage that Jesus would not have us “think lightly of the honor due to parents.” His words only signify “that nothing ought to be to us more urgent than the affairs of the kingdom ...Read More

  • Divine Terror

    Genesis 35:5–8

    When we consider the Lord’s blessing, there are two errors we can make. Either we can expect too much in this age (perfect health, wealth, and so on) or we can think God does not reward His people at ...Read More

  • Finding Loopholes

    Ephesians 5:3

    Because it is hard to find a detailed list of do’s and don’t’s regarding sexual behavior, it is easy for us to justify certain activities or thoughts that may in fact not be edifying. Even if something ...Read More

  • A Mother’s Advice

    Genesis 27:41–45

    Though God’s grace was poured out lavishly despite His people’s wickedness, we must never sin so that grace may abound (Rom. 5:12–6:4). Are you guilty of using an “ends justify the means” theology to achieve ...Read More

  • And It Was So

    Genesis 1:3-8

    Modern Westerners assume every person determines for himself the difference between right and wrong, thus undoing the notion that there is an eternal, unchangeable standard of goodness. Genesis 1 tells us otherwise. Moreover, this unchangeable standard is not some impersonal ...Read More

  • Imitate Good

    3 John 9–15

    Whether we are in a position of authority or not, we all must be careful lest we try to place ourselves first. All too often our criticism of other people, especially Christian leaders, arises not from legitimate concerns but instead ...Read More

  • Walk in Love

    2 John 4–6

    Are you walking according to the truth, not just by studying the Word but by putting it into practice through concrete deeds of love toward others? Are you treating your neighbor exactly how you would want to be treated? Think ...Read More

  • His Commandments

    1 John 5:2–3

    Do you find the commandments of God burdensome? Or do you delight in keeping His law? Do you say you love God but then flee from obedience or commit the opposite error by trying to obey out of any other ...Read More

  • By the Spirit

    1 John 3:23–24

    It is very important that we never isolate the work of the Spirit from the other evidences of salvation. Even though we may say the work of the Spirit is foundational to our assurance, oftentimes the way we become convinced ...Read More

  • In Deed and Truth

    1 John 3:16–18

    As our income increases it becomes easier to spend the extra money on things we really do not need instead of using it to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, and extend the Gospel. While we cannot set some kind ...Read More

  • Passing Away

    1 John 2:17

    The decay we see around us every day bears witness that this world will not last forever. Indeed, the new age that began with the coming of Christ will one day be consummated in a new heavens and a new ...Read More

  • No New Commandment

    1 John 2:7–8

    The emphasis on love in 1 John is the love that we must have for other believers. However, while the needs of John’s audience required him to focus on love for other Christians, we would be mistaken if we ...Read More

  • His Commandments

    1 John 2:3–6

    Some in church history have advocated perfectionism based partly on verse 5 of today’s passage. 1 John 1:8 makes it clear that this cannot be the case, thus, we must scrutinize our lives to see if we are ...Read More

  • Love Earnestly

    1 Peter 1:22–25

    By what standard do you measure your obedience to the Lord’s command to be holy? Do you set up a checklist of those things that God forbids and then make sure to avoid them? While such an evaluation of ...Read More