Marching Forth!

" Rebuke is more effective for a wise man t han a hundred blows on a fool ." Proverbs 17:10 When it comes to cleaning products and countless other items, we want to use what is effective to do the job.  I remember as a kid cleaning the same window over and over.  It seemed no matter how many paper towels or sheets of newspaper I used, a greasy film stubbornly remained visible in direct sunlight.  Then in my adulthood I picked up a few tips watching a commercial window cleaner and noticed a completely different system in use:  instead of soggy paper and spray bottles an applicator and a squeegee was used.  This new system was better in every conceivable way because it allowed access without a ladder, took far less time, was far less labour intensive or tiring, and the superior results spoke for themselves. Everyone would agree washing windows is far more simple and predictable than how a child will respond to the discipline of a parent or how we will handle ...

The Bible describes sin as transgression against God, the failure to measure up to His righteous standards, whether it be due to a rebellious heart or in ignorance.  While some sins are clearly defined, in practice distinguishing sin can be tricky.  Because the root of sin grows in our heart, basing our answers only on what we see can miss the point.  Pharisees who kept the letter of the Law of Moses were condemned for their pride by Jesus who knew the hearts of men. It is a good question to ask when we are personally convicted by our conscience:  is this sin?  God's word often prompts us to consider and judge ourselves according to God's standard of righteousness rather than conform to the values of the world which justifies sin for countless reasons.  The flip side of identifying our sin is to repent and do what pleases God instead.  Avoiding sin is half the struggle:  we need to look to God in faith to be strengthened to do what He says is righ...

When people come to saving faith in Jesus Christ, it is common for them to be concerned about the eternal future of those they know and love.  They have made a decision to receive eternal life through the Gospel, and it isn't uncommon for them to be earnest in sharing with others.  It is fitting to put a high priority on eternity, for this life we experience now on earth is a breath by comparison.  The alternative to spending eternity in the presence of God in heaven is eternal torment in hell, so the stakes are shockingly high. What I have observed is when the loved one does not see their need for Jesus Christ or pushes back against the Gospel, conflict can arise.  The well-meaning believer can exert pressure on others by trying to change their minds with arguments.  Others can be very preoccupied with what I will call the "salvation status" of someone else, believing they are not born again or wondering if they are going to heaven.  In many of these cases...

God has given us the ability to learn from the mistakes of others, and God is able to redeem ignorance and sin to bring divine revelation.  We observe this in the life of king Nebuchadnezzar, God's chosen servant.  The odd thing is, for a long time Nebuchadnezzar had no knowledge of this.  From the captives taken to Babylon to teach them the language and ways of the Chaldeans, Nebuchadnezzar received a crash-course in the glorious God of Israel who is sovereign over all, the KING OF KINGS. There are three notable incidents recorded in the book of Daniel that all end with king Nebuchadnezzar having his eyes opened to the almighty God:  after Daniel revealed his dream and interpretation, after Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-Nego were miraculously preserved in the fiery furnace, and after king Nebuchadnezzar was rendered senseless like a beast for 7 years.  After Daniel revealed the dream and interpretation to the king no wise man or astrologer in the kingdom could, he...