At the Last Supper, Jesus said something that still unsettled me: “It is the one to whom I am going to give this piece [of bread] after I have dipped it.” So when He had dipped the piece of bread [into the dish], He gave it to Judas, son of Simon Iscariot.” (John 13:26). Think about that. Jesus — the Bread of Life Himself — dipped bread with the very man who would betray Him within hours. Proximity to Jesus did not change Judas’s heart. Access to the anointing is not the same as agreement with the assignment. That’s the Read More
Tag: obedience
The Calendar Test: Appointments With God
We keep careful track of our appointments. The doctor, the dentist, the lawyer, the professor’s office hours, we write them on the calendar, set a reminder, and show up, often ten minutes early with our paperwork in hand. We wouldn’t dream of not showing up for the dentist. We’d never casually skip a meeting with our attorney. These appointments matter to us, so we honor them. But what about our appointments with God? Do we even make them? Is there a set time when we say, “This hour belongs to my Father”? And if we do make that appointment, are Read More
Obedience: The True Path to Kingdom Growth
There have been seasons in my life when obeying the Holy Spirit did not feel like progress. In fact, it felt like I was losing ground, missing opportunities, or taking steps backward while everyone else appeared to be moving ahead. God told me to slow down when I wanted to accelerate, remain silent when I wanted to defend myself, and to walk away from something that looked successful on the surface. In those moments, obedience felt uncomfortable and confusing. Yet in the Kingdom of God, obedience is never wasted. The world measures advancement by visibility, achievement, applause, and position. God Read More
Is Your Life an Offering?
There is a kind of faith that sits comfortably in the pew on Sunday mornings and never costs a thing. And then there is the faith the Bible actually calls us to — one that lays everything on the altar and holds nothing back. “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God — this is your true and proper worship.” –Romans 12:1 Paul’s word choice here is striking. Not a dead sacrifice — a living one. The animal placed on the Old Testament altar had Read More
Born with a Purpose: Teaching Your Child to Seek God’s Assignment
“For we are His workmanship [His own master work, a work of art], created in Christ Jesus [reborn from above—spiritually transformed, renewed, ready to be used] for good works, which God prepared [for us] beforehand [taking paths which He set], so that we would walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us].”— Ephesians 2:10 From the time children are old enough to talk, adults ask them the same familiar question: “What do you want to be when you grow up?” It’s a well-meaning question — but it’s the wrong one. It points a Read More
The Wilderness: A Passage, Not A Promise
After the twelve spies returned from Canaan, ten spread fear and unbelief throughout the camp. That single act of disobedience cost an entire generation their promise. God declared in Numbers 14:34, “According to the number of the days in which you spied out the land… forty days, for each day you shall bear your guilt one year… forty years.” One decision rooted in fear led to decades of wandering. Disobedience will always keep you longer than necessary in a wilderness season. Are you still hanging out in the wilderness—the place of punishment—because you refuse to fully obey God? The wilderness Read More