Psalm 96:3
Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all the peoples!
Is Your Heart Blameless?
“You are witnesses, and God also, how devoutly and justly and blamelessly we behaved ourselves among you who believe” (1 Thessalonians 2:10).
Confessions of a Modern-Day Pharisee
People these days often say, “Don’t judge” right before admitted questionable behavior, but is judging people’s choices always bad?
I don’t much care for the parable of the prodigal son.
Bratty, entitled younger sibling wreaks havoc on the household until he finally leaves to receive the just deserts of his poor choices. No Daddy and Mummy to the rescue, to cushion him from consequences.
A Life of Godliness and Gratitude
“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-17). God’s children should make it a matter of conscience to rejoice in him at all times and in every circumstance. Rejoicing is not our choice; it is God’s command! If we treat these words as an option, we undermine God’s imperative to us.
Until God has our delight, he really does not have our heart. There are three steps that will help us maintain a stance of rejoicing in our Savior:
The Markers of a Perfect Heart
It is possible to walk before the Lord with a perfect heart! God said to Abraham, “I am God Almighty; walk before me, and be thou perfect” (Genesis 17:1, ASV).
David determined in his heart to obey this command and said, “I will behave wisely in a perfect way … I will walk within my house with a perfect heart” (Psalm 101:2).
We see the Lord’s command to be perfect in the New Testament as well when Jesus said, “Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect” (Matthew 5:48).
1 Timothy 6:6-7
But godliness with contentment is great gain, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world.
Psalm 34:8
Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!
Romans 12:2
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
Isaiah 54:17
No weapon that is fashioned against you shall succeed, and you shall refute every tongue that rises against you in judgment. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord and their vindication from me, declares the Lord.
Christ Is the End
True righteousness and sanctification come solely through faith in Christ, not human effort and self-righteousness.