Revelation

A Meditation on Psalm 121

February 21, 2022 by Tim Sherfy

What do you do when worry overtakes you? Where do you turn? The author of Psalm 121 knew the answer. He lifted His eyes towards Heaven and knew His help came from the Lord (Psalm 121:1-2). We must never forget this truth when the troubles of life threaten to overwhelm us. The very One who made all of Heaven and the earth is an ever-present help in our times of need and distress (Psalm 46:1-3).

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God never leaves or abandons us (Deuteronomy 31:6). If God is for us, no person or circumstance can stand against us (Romans 8:31-32). Jesus defeated death itself on our behalf (2 Timothy 1:10; John 11:25; Hebrews 2:14-15; Revelation 1:17-18). There is no longer a reason to fear anything. It’s difficult to feel overwhelmed when you are fearless!

Opposition

May 24, 2021 by Tim Sherfy

Opposition means nothing to a person determined to follow God. If you set your mind on loving, living, and looking like Jesus, you will desire to do His will. Nothing else will matter, only Jesus. When you surrender to Christ, your desires will change. Your life will no longer be about yourself. It will be about God and others. But a life like this is only if you want it, and make no mistake, it will cost you.

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The devil sees your surrender to Christ as an open invitation to attack. You will find opposition at every turn. it’s probably time to check the level of your commitment to Christ if you aren’t facing opposition in your life. Jesus promised us we would have trouble in this world (John 16:33). If you aren’t experiencing it now, know that it is coming.

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We’re Not Home

November 16, 2020 by Tim Sherfy

As we go about our lives, it’s easy to forget we’re not home. If you have accepted the fact Jesus is Lord of your life, the place you live is not your home. We are here for only a little while, and then we can finally go home (2 Corinthians 4:17). If you’re discouraged by the events of this life, know whatever you are going through is temporary. It will not last forever.

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For followers of Jesus, we know His love is on the other side of our pain. Sometimes we get so caught up in this present world, we forget we’re not home. We live as if this is all there is, but all this is more temporary than any of us could imagine. The purpose of this life is to prepare us for the next.

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Renewing Your Mind

July 2, 2020 by Tim Sherfy

Disciples of Jesus are always going through the process of renewing their minds. The apostle Paul said we should be “transformed by the renewing of your mind” (Romans 12:2). Renewing your mind means much more than replacing dreadful habits with better ones, old habits with new ones. The renewing is a restoring to what God originally intended. When Christ returns, He will restore all things to their original design.

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All of nature, all the animals, birds of the sky, and fish of the sea will be resplendent in a majesty we have never seen. They will be renewed into what they were created to be. It will be the same with humanity. God makes all things new (Revelation 21:5). Renewing your mind then is to be a part of what God is doing in the world. It is to be a part of His redemption story.

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Can You Be a Christian Without Being a Disciple?

February 13, 2020 by Tim Sherfy

I heard a caller on a radio show ask, “Can you be a Christian without being a disciple?” I have been wrestling with this same thought of late. Before diving in, we should define the terms, so we are all on the same page. The term “Christian” now means many things in our world, but for this discussion, I mean someone who has trusted Jesus is who He says He was and has surrendered their lives to His Lordship.

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A disciple, again for our discussion, is someone who is constantly and consistently pursuing Jesus, desperate to live their lives as He lived His. My inclination is to say you cannot be a Christian if you are not a disciple. I could be wrong but let me give you some reasons for my belief, and then I’ll say a few words about why I might be wrong.