Holiness

This Week's Recommendations

This Week's Recommendations
  1. What Convinced James His Brother Was God? Robby Lashua begins, “My brother isn’t God. It’s pretty obvious (we grew up together, after all), and nothing he could do or say could convince me of his divinity. I’m not God, either, and nothing I could do or say would convince him otherwise, too. Yet, somehow, Jesus convinced his brother he was God.”

  2. How Do I Know I’m Really Repentant? Jared Wilson takes on this important question. He begins, “What does a repentant heart look like? Does it just look sad? Timid? Is it simply agreeable? How would we discern the difference in ourselves between a heart turning from sin and one seeking simply to manage or alleviate the consequences of it?”

  3. Still: Chris Thomas contrasts the difference between finding stillness in our surroundings between finding stillness in our hearts. He says, “I mention that because I’ve seen it in my own children. I’ve heard their cries in the night, rushed to their room to comfort them, only to be fought off with flailing arms; their saviour isn’t seen, only the shadows and monsters of the night fill their vision. First with gentle voice, but then with firm command that carries the edge of comfort, I subdue their fight with hands that hold them tight, and a voice that is meant to remind them of my strength.”

  4. Americans Most Likely to Find Identity in Family and Accomplishments: Aaron Earls reports on findings. “When asked the open-ended question, “When you think about who you are, what are the first three things that come to mind?”…More Americans mention being a parent (25%), intelligent (12%), their job (11%), compassionate (11%), husband (10%), kind (10%), trustworthy (10%), wife (8%), friend (8%), hardworking (8%) and honest (8%).”

  5. Sin is “Barbs in Your Eyes, Thorns in Your Sides”: Ryan Hawkins invites us to consider, “First, sin isn’t just wrong, but hurtful. This is basic, but understanding this is profound step in our walk with God. For if we think God wants us to love him and love others and avoid sin (all of which are what “holiness” is all about) just because it’s what we “should” do, our understanding is woefully incomplete and our motivation won’t be there. Rather, whatever is according to God’s ways is also always for our good. Conversely, what isn’t according to God’s ways will lead to our harm.”