Every emotionally stable individual has a proper interest in personal well-being. However, it is only the spiritually mature ones who put their commitment to themselves in its proper place. And that place is last. That goes against the philosophy that we need to love ourselves first before we will be able to love others and God. That life view is utter rubbish. We don’t love God because we love ourselves. No! “We love him, because he first loved us” (1 John 4:19). And two verses later we learn that our love for God generates our love for others: “He who loveth God love his brother also.” So you see, self-love isn’t first in our relationships and in our commitments.
The Commitment of Ruth
Sips & Snips
Need an inspirational sip for your soul?
Or a challenging thought snip for the day?
Check out these very brief excerpts from material found on this site (with an occasional bonus from elsewhere).
Restricted Way to Heaven: Jesus Only
We believe only those who have Jesus as Lord and Savior are saved and will go to heaven. We say there is no other way. We teach that no other religion or belief system will lead anyone to eternal life. We say Jesus is the only way. We neither flex nor give ground on our doctrine of salvation. But must we be so restrictive?
Christ, the Only Way
How to Discern the Holy Spirit in Someone
I have a hard time distinguishing lemon trees from orange trees. But I have a sure-fire way of eventually identifying such trees. No, I don’t wait around for someone to put special signs on these trees. I simply wait till the trees bear fruit. Then I know a lemon tree from an orange tree!
I have no other way of knowing if I or anyone else has received the Holy Spirit. But I need no other way. This method of discernment works amply well.
The Day of Pentecost
Speaking and Suffering for Christ’s Sake
“Speak…all the words of this life.” I wonder what they spoke in their effort to meet the mandate. We know they didn’t cease “to teach and preach Jesus Christ.” But what were all those “words of this life”? Whatever they were, they immensely displeased the Jewish leaders, who resorted to threats, prison, and beatings. The apostles, having been told by an angel to speak, humbly replied, “We ought to obey God rather than men.”
Suffering for Christ’s Sake
How to Get Better Self-Control
We don’t need better self-control and improved self-discipline. Our own efforts at cleaning up our lives will fail. We need God’s purifying and refining. Better self-control and improved self-discipline will result from God’s cleansing work in our lives, but those two wonderful character traits will not produce effective cleansing in God’s eyes.
God Deals With Sinner and Saint