death

Until My Dying Breath

November 28, 2024 by Tim Sherfy

While praying this morning, I blurted out, “Lord, let me serve and glorify You until my dying breath.” This is without a doubt the deepest desire of my heart. At the same time, I am only too aware of how often I fail to live this way. There is no higher calling in life than to love and glorify the Lord. Each of us is called to this privilege, yet most of us will live lives far short of this.

until my dying breath,commitment,death,discipleship,discipline,focus,salvation,surrender

Instead of pursuing the greatest purpose, we settle for a life that is, at best, mediocre. All the treasures and wisdom of Heaven are at our disposal (Colossians 2:3; James 1:5; 2 Peter 1:3; Philippians 4:19), but we live as if we are ignorant paupers. Life with Jesus should be so much more (John 10:10), and it will be so much more if we surrender and commit everything to Him.

The Hardest Part

November 21, 2024 by Tim Sherfy

From the research I’ve done on persecution, the hardest part is not the persecution itself, but the preparation before it begins. Standing firm in the face of pain or injustice is a small thing if one dedicates their life to living in full obedience and surrender to Christ (Philippians 1:27-28). The hard work comes before. The real difficulty is the lifetime of saying no to the pleasures and temptations of this world.

commitment,death,discipleship,discipline,fear,persecution,salvation,surrender,the hardest part

There are countless stories of people persevering through hard times. But how many examples can you recount of people putting aside their dreams, passions, and desires so they can devote themselves to Christ? How many people are dying to themselves every day and picking up their cross (Luke 9:23)?

[Read more…] about The Hardest Part

The Gospel of Jesus Christ

May 9, 2024 by Tim Sherfy

We live in a world of death. Wars, tornadoes, tsunamis, disease, crime–every day we read about another life taken from this world. It’s tragic. But what is even more tragic is the realization that the vast majority of those lives have not only lost their physical bodies but have died a second death as well. If they didn’t know Christ, and statistics say they didn’t, then they are now banished from His presence forever.

gospel of Jesus Christ,salvation,witness,commitment,mission,purpose,discipleship,death,Hell,priorities,witnessing,gospel

There’s no second chance. There’s no tomorrow. All there is now is an eternity without God spent in the nonstop torment of Hell (Revelation 20:14-15). Every death should devastate the hearts of we who know Christ. We know the better way. Yet we let almost every day go by without telling someone the wonderful truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

We Can Relate

April 1, 2024 by Tim Sherfy

The death of Christ on the cross is both horrifying and glorious. The crucifixion of Jesus is equal parts despair and hope. Without the cross, there would be no covering for our sins. Without the cross, there would be no resurrection and way to eternal life in Jesus. The cross is central to all we believe. For all its importance, it is impossible to relate to Jesus as He hung there.

we can relate,crucifixion,Easter,resurrection,death,eternal life,Heaven,Hell,salvation,hope,Good Friday

Few in all of history can relate to His immense suffering. None can relate to shouldering the weight of every sin, past, present, and future. We marvel at the sacrifice and love of Jesus, but we cannot feel what He felt that day. There were two others, though, to whom we can relate. We are not so different from the two criminals who hung beside Jesus on that most terrible and wonderful day.

[Read more…] about We Can Relate

Losing Loved Ones

January 16, 2020 by Tim Sherfy

One of the greatest pains we can experience is losing loved ones. We ache because they are no longer with us. Gone are their smiles, their wit, and their wisdom. We miss the conversations and even their proximity. Life is finite but we don’t think of it thus. Death is always the cruelest surprise. For our loved ones who share our relationship with and love for Christ, we need not be sorrowful.

losing loved ones,death,joy,sorrow,holding loosely,funeral

Jealousy may be the more proper emotion as they are seeing Jesus face to face, held within his arms, while we continue our toil in the physical realm on earth. To experience true joy instead of sorrow when losing loved ones, we need a change of perspective, a new way to envision their life with us before their inevitable passing.

[Read more…] about Losing Loved Ones