Colossians

The Christian Life Is Not Passive

November 5, 2026 by Tim Sherfy

The Christian life is not passive. We aren’t called to sit back and assume God will handle everything for us. From the beginning, our purpose has been to do the work He gives us to do. (Genesis 2:15; Ephesians 2:10) He never promises to do the work for us, but He does promise to give us the strength to accomplish all He asks. (Philippians 4:13; 2 Peter 1:3-8)

None of us are innocent bystanders. We are all guilty slaves and, as such, should live and work in obedience to our Master and King. (Romans 6:16-18; 1 Corinthians 6:19-20) To sit back and expect victory is not just lazy; it’s naïve. Jesus never takes a moment off from serving you. (Hebrews 7:25; Romans 8:34) Isn’t He worth your best effort at all times?

The Persecuted Church

November 2, 2026 by Tim Sherfy

Every November, congregations around the world take a Sunday to remember the persecuted Church. Perhaps yours did or will. Maybe you could even spearhead such a campaign with your local body of believers. Regardless of whether your church spent time remembering our brothers and sisters in chains, these brave and hurting souls should never be far from our prayers. (Hebrews 13:3; Colossians 4:2-4)

For many of those enduring persecution today, they could once worship without fear of consequence, just like most of us. It’s why we can never take our freedom to worship the one true God for granted. We can lose those freedoms quicker than most of us would ever imagine. As you pray for the persecuted, thank God for the enormous privilege of having the freedom to pray to Him and for them. (1 Timothy 2:1-2)

How Much Are You Willing to Sacrifice?

October 29, 2026 by Tim Sherfy

How much are you willing to sacrifice in doing the Lord’s work? Are you more concerned with success and a comfortable life or willing to forsake everything for the sake of Christ? (Luke 14:25-33; Philippians 3:7-8) We often think of “forsaking everything” in terms of physical possessions. That’s true, but everything might also include our health, safety, comfort, dreams, and goals.

“Everything” is all-encompassing; it touches every area of our lives. Are you willing to do that? Is Christ worth surrendering everything you’ve ever wanted and everything you might have dreamed to achieve? Is He worth your comfort, safety, and even your life? (Luke 9:23-24; Revelation 12:11)

Selfish Ambitions

October 22, 2026 by Tim Sherfy

The more I study God’s Word, the more difficult it becomes for me to justify selfish ambitions of any kind. I believe God instills specific passions, talents, and desires into every person. The catch is He expects us to use all of those things for His glory and to build His Kingdom. (1 Peter 4:10-11; Romans 12:6-8) There is no part of life that should be for our glory or satisfaction. (1 Corinthians 10:31; Colossians 3:17)

The reason we have the interests we have is so that we can figure out how best to channel those interests to draw others to Christ and put His excellencies on display. All our lives, we’ve been encouraged to follow our dreams and be true to ourselves. Such advice stands opposed to God and His Word.

[Read more…] about Selfish Ambitions

Hold Your Tongue

October 15, 2026 by Tim Sherfy

When someone insults you, what is your initial response? Most of us want to strike back and get even. This, of course, reveals our pride. How dare someone say anything negative about us! We don’t like to be put down, and we hate it even more when someone says something untrue about us. Our impulse is to justify ourselves and set the record straight.

When we act from a place of pride, we are not in the will of God, nor are we showing Christ to a dark and dying world. (James 4:6; Philippians 2:3-5) Jesus did not insult back when His adversaries would insult and defame Him. He held His tongue. Peter instructs us to follow the Lord’s example and to do the same. (1 Peter 2:21-23)

[Read more…] about Hold Your Tongue