Driven by the Bible

“Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out,”
‭‭Acts‬ ‭3:19‬ ‭

“"Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.”
‭‭Deuteronomy‬ ‭6:4‬ ‭ESV‬‬
https://www.bible.com/59/deu.6.4.esv

When we think of the Greatest a Commandment, we often want to move past this part of the verse and straight to the part that tell us what we are supposed to do. That’s a mistake.

“So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.”
‭‭James‬ ‭4:17‬ ‭ESV‬‬

We often forget that sin isn’t just doing the wrong thing, it’s not doing the right thing too!

What are some of the “right things”’we overlook? And why are we so quick to overlook them?

“Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus,”
‭‭Philippians‬ ‭2:5‬ ‭ESV‬‬
https://www.bible.com/59/php.2.5.esv

Usually when the Holy Spirit brings the same concept up again and again in short succession, it’s because it’s speaking to something in our lives.

“The ear that listens to life-giving reproof will dwell among the wise.”
‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭15:31‬ ‭ESV‬‬
https://www.bible.com/59/pro.15.31.esv

Arrogance and overconfidence are celebrated today. We act like the more pride we have, the better. But in the Kingdom of God, this results in destruction. Wisdom is only found through humility.

“For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.”
‭‭Luke‬ ‭9:24‬ ‭ESV‬‬

The world tells us the secret to success is to become obsessed with advancing our lives and agendas. Jesus tells us the secret is the exact opposite.

'If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. '

Galatians 5:25
https://my.bible.com/bible/59/GAL.5.25
How do we walk according to the Holy Spirit while living in a religious and political environment loaded with division, disagreement, condemnation and anger? Paul's letter to the churches of Galatia gives some really good advice.

And he said to him, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself."

Love God. Love others. Such a simple idea that is so hard to execute. Why? Because we're broken people. What are some ways we can live that out?

Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience...

Living as a Messiah-follower in this world isn't easy. But Paul's instructions to the Believers in Colossae give us some really practical tips for doing it successfully!

“...for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,”
‭‭Romans‬ ‭3:23‬ ‭ESV‬‬

While Paul is obviously saying that every individual human has the same spiritual condition and standing before God, the context of this passage is about Jews and Gentiles. Neither has a claim to relationship with God over the other.

Let’s talk about it!