FROM THE KEYBOARD

The most damaging lies we can tell are the ones we tell ourselves. For example, "to thine own self be true." You see, you cannot be true to self because self will not be true to you; for the heart is deceitful. And further, the Bible doesn't tell us to find self but to deny self. "Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me" (Matthew 16:24).

God's peace for us is always in the present. So when we stress about the future, peace can no longer be our present governor. Therefore, let us not worry about what tomorrow may bring, but let us hold our peace and trust that God is already there. "Now may the Lord of peace Himself give you peace always in every way. The Lord be with you all" (2 Thessalonians 3:16).

What the Bible calls sin is sin. Our feelings toward and our opinions about are irrelevant when the word of truth says something against God is irreverent. It's Scripture, not culture, that defines moral and spiritual order. "Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!" (Isaiah 5:20)

If you don’t see what is happening in our world with spiritual eyes, then you will be led away captive by all of the cultural lies. Thus, one must use the Word as a telescope, which takes things that are far and brings them near and takes things that are blurry and makes them clear. "Open my eyes, that I may see Wondrous things from Your law" (Psalm 119:18).

God is going to continue to draw hard lines and separate true believers from self-deceivers. Those that don’t know the Word of God will find themselves on the wrong side of the equation. "Then Moses stood in the entrance of the camp, and said, “Whoever is on the LORD’s side—come to me!” And all the sons of Levi gathered themselves together to him" (Exodus 32:26).

Activity without Christ is never productivity and is closer akin to negativity. You see, without Christ, our own toiling, our own building, and our own battling are in vain; our efforts are exhausting and depleting, unless they include Christ as the provision...