James

Every Careless Word

June 12, 2025 by Tim Sherfy

Jesus said each of us will have to account for every careless word we speak (Matthew 12:36-37). No small, careless, or flippant word is small, careless or flippant to God. He hears and judges everything that comes out of our mouths. The Lord is holy, consistent, and always intentional (1 Peter 1:15–16).

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He demands the same from us (Matthew 5:48). Jesus didn’t waste words, but used every syllable to point people to the truth about who He was and to the majesty of His Father (John 12:49–50). The beautiful and cutting words of Jesus are life to all who will believe (John 6:63), but the foolish and wicked things we say and do result in our destruction (John 5:28–29).

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What Will You Do With Jesus

May 26, 2025 by Tim Sherfy

Having a loved one pass away is a sobering experience. No matter if the relationship was one of loving intimacy or marked by pain and resentment, the loss is real. More than the loss, it is always a stark reminder of how limited our time is (James 4:14; Psalm 90:12). The countdown is on. We are finite creatures with a guaranteed expiration date (Hebrews 9:27).

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The question one must wrestle with in times like these is, what will you do with Jesus in the short time you have remaining? It’s one thing to lament the time wasted in our past, but it is unacceptable to waste the rest of our lives. Jesus didn’t suffer so that we could live a lazy life of ease and indifference (Romans 12:11).

The Price of Betrayal

May 22, 2025 by Tim Sherfy

Judas Iscariot’s price for betraying Jesus was thirty pieces of silver, or about six months’ wages (Matthew 26:14–15). How high do you set the price of betrayal? Most of us recoil at the question because there isn’t enough money in the world for us to betray Christ. We’ve read the book and know how that decision ends (Matthew 27:3–5).

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Knowing history, we learn from it and can avoid making the same mistake Judas did. Or can we? Sure, we’d never accept money to walk away from Jesus. Still, we’re setting the price of betrayal every day and almost always multiple times each day. It’s a gut punch to think about, but the truth often feels that way.

Already Dead

May 15, 2025 by Tim Sherfy

What God wants, and the world needs, is dead people. Being willing to die for Christ is the necessary point of surrender for all who profess Jesus as Lord, but it’s only theory until you take the next step. Plenty of people say they would die for their faith, but very few ever do. I’m not talking about physical death, I’m talking about dying to everything in this world.

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God doesn’t need another person who claims Him as Lord but can’t let go of the entanglements of this life (2 Timothy 2:4). Christians who are already dead desire nothing and nothing sways them. This world no longer holds a single claim on their lives.

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One Moment of Distraction

April 28, 2025 by Tim Sherfy

There is never a moment when the purity of our commitment is not being tested. Every conversation we have, every activity we engage in, and every thought we entertain presents a choice: we can stand firm on the authority of God’s Word or allow Satan to encroach on our lives. None of us are above temptation or reproach, and every day is a battle for our heart and soul (James 1:14-15).

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One little crack, one moment of distraction, can not only lose the battle but cost us the war. We must always be diligent to guard against any compromise (1 Peter 5:8-9; Proverbs 4:23). Never give the devil a foothold in your life (Ephesians 4:26-27). Give him an inch and he will take a mile. Give him a mile and your witness for Christ will be annihilated.