The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and discipline. Proverbs 1:7 (CSB) _______________________________________________________________________ To “fear” God means that I have reverence for Him and am in complete awe of who He is and what He has done. If I want to gain true knowledge and apply it to my […]

Do not be conquered by evil, but conquer evil with good. Romans 12:21 (CSB) _______________________________________________________________________ It is so hard to do the right thing when the wrong thing feels more rewarding. When someone says or does something bad to me my first response is lash out. I want to get revenge. I want to hurt […]

If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. Galatians 5:25 (CSB) _______________________________________________________________________ One of the benefits of being a Christian is that I have God’s Holy Spirit dwelling within me. The Spirit convicts me when I sin. He shows me the truth when I study the Bible. He […]

Therefore, submit to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. James 4:7 (CSB) _______________________________________________________________________ I sometimes forget that the devil has already lost. Paul clearly describes the spiritual war that we’re engaged in. He tells us who the enemy is and he tells what weapons we have to fight with. I have […]

Stay away from every kind of evil. 1 Thessalonians 5:22 (CSB) _______________________________________________________________________ Different translations render this phrase in different ways. After consulting several commentaries and looking at the way this has been historically understood I would paraphrase it this way: Don’t mess around with any thing that is wicked. Don’t do it. Don’t even think […]

Therefore, brothers and sisters, in view of the mercies of God, I urge you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God; this is your true worship. Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is […]

Those who are in the flesh cannot please God. Romans 8:8 (CSB) ______________________________________________ When I deliberately focus on and pursue the things of this world, I can’t truly follow Jesus. Whether it’s my own sinful urges or the treasures of earth; I have taken Jesus off the throne of my heart. No matter how much […]

Do not be yoked together with those who do not believe. For what partnership is there between righteousness and lawlessness? Or what fellowship does light have with darkness? 2 Corinthians 6:14 (CSB) _______________________________________________________________________ As Christians, we are living in a fallen world but have been called to be separate from it. We have commanded to […]

So if you have been raised with Christ, seek the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also […]

Finally brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable—if there is any moral excellence and if there is anything praiseworthy—dwell on these things. Philippians 4:8 (CSB) _______________________________________________________________________ This was the theme for Senior High week at camp back in June. It is […]