Promises for the Battle
Promises
Civility #3—Despicable Me
Why do you despise your brother or sister? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God. … All of us will give an account of ourselves to God. Romans 14:10–12 The waitress asked Descartes if he’d like another cup of coffee. He said, “I think not.” Then he disappeared. Our self-perception colors … Continue reading
Civility #2—Imitative Civility
Treat your enemies as valuable; do what is best suited to meet someone’s needs; and lend without despairing that you will have enough. Then your reward will be great and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is usefully kind to the ungrateful and the evil. Luke 6:35 We call the smallest … Continue reading
Civility #1—Irreproachable Communication
We am not responsible for how others communicate their thoughts and opinions as they respond to us. But we are responsible for how our communication style contributes to our relational environment. We are responsible for both the content and the character of our speech. We are responsible for the motive and the manner and the … Continue reading
Beatitudes #8—Able to Praise
Fortunate are those who live in your temple and praise you continually! Fortunate are those who are strongly inclined to go worship you! Psalm 84:4–5 O Lord, our God, King of the Universe, today we celebrate the privilege of praise. While we cannot all be tasked with the duty of constantly acknowledging your consistently superior … Continue reading
Beatitudes #7—Disciplined for Good
Fortunate are those whom you discipline, O Yahweh, those you teach to follow your instructions in order to protect them from times of trouble, until the wicked are destroyed. Psalm 94:12–13 “This is for your own good” goes the old saying. God said it first. Obeying the gospel’s command to pledge allegiance to Jesus is … Continue reading
Beatitudes #6—Living Justly
Fortunate are those whose lives are characterized by acting justly and by doing what is right! Psalm 106:3 There are two ways we can act justly with respect to the people around us. Both of them conform to the instructions the Lord has given us. Both of them are right in his eyes and beneficial … Continue reading
Beatitudes #5—The Way to Walk
Fortunate are those whose way is blameless, who walk according to Yahweh’s instructions. Fortunate are those who observe his rules, who seek him with their whole heart, and who, instead of doing wrong, walk in his ways! Psalm 119:1–3 Mel Brooks’ generated a cultural phenomenon when his character Igor said, “Walk this way,” and young … Continue reading
Beatitudes #4—Happily Forgiven
Fortunate are those whose rebellion is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Fortunate are those against whom Yahweh counts no iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no duplicity. Psalm 32:1–2 cf. Romans 4:6, 8–9 God’s instructions for how to live in fellowship with him and with our neighbors are not burdensome. They provide the way … Continue reading
Beatitudes #3—Fearfully Fortunate
I sought Yahweh’s help, and he answered me, and delivered me from all my fears. … How fortunate are those who seek protection in him! None of his loved ones who fear Yahweh will lack anything good! Psalm 34:4–9 From a watery mass characterized by emptiness and formlessness God created a full-featured world filled with … Continue reading
Beatitudes #2—Finding Wisdom
Fortunate are they who find wisdom, who obtain understanding, for these are more profitable than silver and yield better returns than gold. … Fortunate are all who hold on to them. Proverbs 3:13–18 Wisdom is the ability to see and secure a future for ourselves that we will enjoy forever, with no regrets. Applying it … Continue reading
Promises for the Battle 