Worthy Words

If you are not guided by God, you will be guided by someone or something else." (Eric Liddell)  The majority of folks get their sense of direction, as well as their general sense of right and wrong, from their peers. I would say that this applies to most believers as well. We let the group do our thinking for us: what we should want, what we should like, what we should do, and where we should go. This is why sins such as racism, gossip, and greed are overlooked in some circles, while "sins" such as voting the wrong way or listening to the wrong music are accentuated and considered central. Getting guidance from God means that you'll often stand alone, but it also means that you'll see more clearly than the rest. As David said, "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path." (Psalm 119:105) Our challenge is to look to God, not culture for guidance — not even the evangelical Christian subculture. Let God's Word establish your steps and d...

Bryan Wilkerson in his book, From Generation to Generation, relates this story. In the 2004 Summer Olympic Games in Athens, Greece, the American women's 4 x 100 relay race was favored to win the gold medal. The team featured Marion Jones, a sprinter who had won four gold medals at the previous games in Sydney. The American team was already off to a strong start when Jones took the baton for the second leg of the race. She gained ground as she ran her 100 meters and approached Lauryn Williams, a young speedster who would run the third leg. Williams began running as Jones drew near, but when she reached back to receive the baton, they couldn't complete the handoff. Once, twice, three times Jones thrust the baton forward, but each time it missed William's hand--she couldn't seem to wrap her fingers around it. Finally, on the fourth try, they made the connection. But by that time, they had crossed out of the 20-yard exchange zone and were disqualified. Everyone knew they w...

I was walking out of the grocery store the other day, deep in what you might call self-conversation, not really paying attention to anything or anyone around me. Suddenly, a man behind me began screaming at the top of his lungs. It scared the life out of me. I turned around to see where the noise was coming from. It was a wild-eyed man in raggedy clothes talking to no one but himself. My first thought was, "What a pity. This poor, disenfranchised homeless person is standing on the street talking to himself." And then I realized that before he started making noise, I had been doing the very same thing: talking to myself. The only difference between him and me was volume. Well, maybe that wasn't the only difference. Maybe the content of the conversation was different. Some people think that talking to yourself is a sign that you're going crazy. Actually, research indicates that the act of using personal verbal clues can help an individual function more effectively. In ...

What God has done at one particular time, He will do again. Man's ways are inconsistent, but God's ways are everlasting. That is the statement made by the prophet in Habakkuk chapter three and verse six. There are many reasons why this is a comforting truth. Let me list a few. First, the Lord's ways are the result of wise thought. He has ordered all things according to the direction of His own will. Our actions are frequently the hasty result of passion, or fear, and are followed by regret and a change of heart. In contrast, nothing can take the Almighty by surprise, or happen otherwise than He has foreseen.  Second, His ways are the outgrowth of an unchallengeable character. These ways are fixed and settled attributes of God and can be clearly seen. Unless the Eternal One Himself can undergo change, His ways, which are Himself in action, must remain for ever the same. Is He eternally just, gracious, faithful, wise, and tender? Then His ways must always be distinguished...