Getting to the Heart of the Issue

Why do we argue and fight? Why do we lay awake at night stewing over what people have said or done or trying to work out what we're going to do about something? The answer according to James 4 is the desires that are within our hearts. It's because of what matters to us. In fact, when some things matter too much it can get a little ugly! We explore what the Bible says in James chapter 4 and Philippians chapter 4 about handling the conflicts that arise because of competing desires. There's nothing wrong with having desires - life would be pretty bland without them! However when desires go to war - growing from desires into demands - that's when we have a problem. Thankfully, it's a problem that God has the solution for!

Walking the Walk

One Step Closer pt 3:

Walking the Walk

(click for audio)

In Luke 9:23-26 Jesus speaks some stern words of warning about judgement to come. They are not easy words to hear nor are they easy to repeat, but they are words of eternal life for those who will listen.

In these verses Jesus warns people who reject His lordship and try to live on their own terms that the end result will be judgement resulting in eternal separation from God - what the book of Revelation calls "the second death". 

As Jesus explained in Matthew 7, there are people who claim to be 'religious' and even do great things in His name but yet do not personally know Him and have not received eternal life from Him. They rely on their own works instead of trusting in what Jesus has done for us. They seek to control their own lives and pursue their own sinful desires instead of living a new life with Christ as Lord. Genuine followers of Jesus are people who have been converted - they have believed the truth about Jesus, received new life from Him and now live differently as a result. 

The second warning is to those who have received eternal life through faith in Him, yet have held back from living out that life and speaking about Jesus among those who do not yet believe. They are ones who are ashamed of Jesus and His words, even though by them they have received eternal life.

To these people Jesus says that while they will inherit eternal life they will do as ones of whom He is ashamed, ones who have selfishly kept their wonderful salvation to themselves instead of sharing it with others.

As we explore these passages we are again reminded that it is one thing to talk a good talk, but if we want to be sure of our salvation and if we want to be confident of how we will be received by Jesus when we stand before Him, the essential thing is to know that in this life we have also 'walked the walk'.