Matthew

Go All the Way

January 17, 2019 by Tim Sherfy

While apparently never finding truth himself, Buddha is credited with a wise quote I find applicable to our Christian walk. It is reported he said, “There are two mistakes one can make along the road to truth…not going all the way, and not starting”. How tragic it is for anyone who never embarks on a journey of pursuing Christ. I don’t understand it. I can’t even conceive how they get through a single day.

go all the way,commitment,discipleship,mission,purpose,Matthew 7:21-23,depart from me,Revelation 3:15-16,spit you out,lukewarm Christian

I find believing in anything but Jesus requires far too much faith and suspension of disbelief. But that is all fodder for a different article. Since I’m assuming most if not all the readers of this blog believe Jesus is indeed the Son of God, I want to focus on those who begin their faith journey but quit too soon.

[Read more…] about Go All the Way

Nothing to Fear

January 14, 2019 by Tim Sherfy

We spend too much of our lives in fear. We fear violence, terrorism, being disliked or ridiculed. We fear speaking up for justice or being the dissenting opinion in a crowd of peers. Some fear dying, while others fear being alone. Still others fear being forgotten, passed over, overlooked, or ignored. We fear financial markets and technology. There are so many things about which so many are afraid. This isn’t the way God designed us to live.

nothing to fear,love,God's will,fear,faith,A.W. Tozer,James 1:27,true religion,I Corinthians 13:13,greatest is love,Romans 5:8,Christ demonstrated love,Hebrews 13:6,what can man do,Deuteronomy 31:6,never leave or forsake,Romans 8:37,more than conquerors,Mark 12:30-31,love your neighbor,Luke 10:27,love the lord your God,2 Timothy 1:7,spirit of timidity,Romans 8:31,who can be against us,Matthew 25:31-26,sheep and goats

He created us to be more than conquerors (Romans 8:37), with a spirit of boldness, not timidity (2 Timothy 1:7). You were created to love, not fear (1 John 4:18). Since God is for us, we know nothing can stand against us (Romans 8:31). As long as we are living our lives in the pursuit and will of God, we have nothing to fear.

[Read more…] about Nothing to Fear

A Radically Uncommon Life

January 10, 2019 by Tim Sherfy

I want to live a radically uncommon life. I want to live so differently everyone takes notice. I don’t care if they love me or hate me, I just don’t want them to be able to ignore me. I say this not because I want to be noticed, but so Jesus would be glorified. I want my life to be so different people must acknowledge I am living for a purpose different from that of societal norms. Too often we as Christ followers look no different than our contemporaries.

radically uncommon life,mission,radical,David Platt,uncommon,Tony Dungy,discipleship,humility,love,priorities,works,1 Peter 2:9,peculiar people,Matthew 22:37-39,greatest commandment

We allow ourselves to be so assimilated within our culture no one would ever know we live for a higher calling and purpose. This isn’t how it’s supposed to be. Peter, one of Jesus’s closest friends, said we are a chosen people, called out of the darkness to walk in the light (1 Peter 2:9). Why do we insist on blending with the shadows when we have been called to shine gloriously?

Satan’s Promises are Always a Downgrade

January 7, 2019 by Tim Sherfy

No matter how appealing they may seem at the time, Satan’s promises are always a downgrade from what you already have in Christ. Accepting the promises of the evil one is akin to trading in a brand-new car with all the bells and whistles for a forty-year-old vehicle that barely runs. Of course, The devil is far subtler than this.

satan's promises are always a downgrade,downgrades,trade-in,new car,used car,focus,mission,temptation,fasting,1 Peter 1:8-9,unspeakable joy,Matthew 4:1-11,temptation of Christ,Romans 8:16-17,joint heirs with Jesus,Psalm 50:10,cattle thousand hills,John 8:44father of lies

He’s more like the used car salesman who sells you a car which looks beautiful on the outside and even runs great for the warranty period but afterward becomes erratic and unreliable until you find yourself stranded in the middle of nowhere.

Are You Sinking?

January 3, 2019 by Tim Sherfy

Are you sinking? Does it feel as if the waves of this life are on the verge of pulling you under? Perhaps the busyness and stresses of life are weighing you down so much you can’t seem to rise to the surface. I submit any time you feel as if you are sinking is because your focus is somewhere other than Jesus. It sounds so simple, just look at Jesus and life will be smooth sailing.

are you sinking,drowning in despair,busyness,busy,mission,focus,priorities,Matthew 14:22-31,walking on water,Colossians 3:23-24,do everything for Jesus

Well, not exactly, and keeping our focus on Christ is far easier said than done in a world where Satan never ceases to bombard us with distraction after distraction. If you said, ‘yes’ to the “Are you sinking?” question, it’s probably time to evaluate whether we’ve taken our eyes off Jesus and placed them somewhere else.

[Read more…] about Are You Sinking?