By: T. M. Moore|Published Date: October 09, 2012
The Law of God is in his heart; his steps do not slip. Psalm 37:21
We can all think of missteps we’ve taken from time to time. Most of these don’t result in any serious harm, but some of them can be embarrassing, even to recall. Conversational gaffes, ungracious gestures, inconsiderate words or deeds, stupid mistakes, knowing sins, and stuff that can only be described as just plain dumb: we’re all guilty of such things, and we’ll probably be so in the future.
Wouldn’t it be nice to be a little more “sure footed”? If it were possible to improve our walk through this life by avoiding the landmines, pitfalls, snares, and morasses of various kinds of missteps, I think we’d all be eager to learn the way.
Read More > Rating: 0.00 By: T. M. Moore|Published Date: October 02, 2012
And Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus. Matthew 14:28, 29
The life of faith is fraught with all kinds of uncertain “next steps.” We are heirs and citizens of a Kingdom not of this world, on behalf of which we are also ambassadors. As Paul discovered in Thessalonica (Acts 17:1-9), following Jesus can lead us into paths that will be unlike anything our contemporaries have ever seen before.
Read More > Rating: 0.00 By: T. M. Moore|Published Date: September 24, 2012 When I think on my ways, I turn my feet to your testimonies; I hasten and do not delay to keep your commandments. - Psalm 119:59, 60 Whosoever walks the path of repentance would advance a step every day. - The Rule of Comghall (Irish, 8 th century)
We don’t hear much about repentance these days. The Westminster Confession of Faith reminds us that “As there is no sin so small, but it deserves damnation; so there is no sin so great, that it can bring damnation on those who truly repent” (XV.IV).
Read More > Rating: 0.00 By: T. M. Moore|Published Date: September 18, 2012
The steps of a man are established by the LORD, when he delights in his way. Psalm 37:23
We’ve all faced the challenge of trying to figure out what our next step should be in particular situations.
Wouldn’t it be nice if we could be assured that, whatever next step we take, it will be the right one?
Read More > Rating: 0.00 By: T. M. Moore|Published Date: September 11, 2012 {actionbar}
It’s the hardest next step you’ll ever take: Wait.
Americans are not good “waiters.” We’re “doers.” We like to get busy, get moving, get it on, get at it, or any other way of “getting” that puts us in action.
We are not good at sitting around doing nothing. Even if we do spend some time just sitting around, we have to have the TV on, or the Internet open before us, or a video or music in the machine. We are not adept at waiting. Waiting for what, for crying out loud?
Read More > Rating: 0.00 By: T. M. Moore|Published Date: September 04, 2012
A believer takes every next step in two worlds at the same time.
Solomon addressed this aspect of the believer’s calling in the book of Ecclesiastes. There he wrote about living in two worlds – “under the sun” and “under the heavens.”
Read More > Rating: 0.00 By: T.M. Moore|Published Date: August 27, 2012 I must be ready for winter. This morning I was thinking about shoveling the snow from our driveway. These thoughts were occasioned by a word from the prophet Asaph, who wrote concerning those who walk the paths of sin, "Truly you set them in slippery places; you make them fall to ruin" (Ps. 73:18). I think you can guess where this is headed.
Read More > Rating: 0.00 By: T. M. Moore|Published Date: August 20, 2012 {actionbar}
Recently Susie and I watched one of my favorite musical theater dance bits with our granddaughter, Reagan. It’s the piece from Mary Poppins called “Step in Time,” in which the chimney sweeps of London join on the rooftops to celebrate this, that, and the other in a very high energy dance routine.
Needless to say, our little three-year-old was amazed. Immediately she wanted to jump down and “step in time” herself, which she did.
Read More > Rating: 0.00 By: T. M. Moore|Published Date: August 13, 2012 Ken Boa has an interesting take on the life of faith. He compares it to walking up the down escalator: It can be done, but it’s a bit of a struggle.
I find it refreshing that the New Testament uses the term “walk” to refer to our relationship with Christ in the life of faith. We “walk” by faith, not by sight. We have the privilege of being able to “walk” in the Spirit. We “walk” in the light of truth and not in the darkness of unbelief, so we are to “walk” honestly and in love before the Lord. We “walk” in Christ and in His wisdom. And we “walk” in the path of God’s Law, just as Jesus did. Naturally, we need to pay careful attention to our “walk.”
Read More > Rating: 0.00 By: T. M. Moore|Published Date: August 06, 2012 {actionbar}
I have noticed of late a commercial on TV which brings groans to my aging bones every time I see it.
It features a bunch of young guys decked out in workout clothes, running the stairs in a football stadium, one step at a time. I think it’s an ad for sunblock, but I’m not sure, since, when that first guy heads up the stairs, the others following, my mind travels back 45 years to many an otherwise beautiful spring day spent in just such an activity.
We were required to run the stadium steps as part of our pre-spring football workout regimen. Usually this meant that every other day we would show up at our convenience, usually with one or two other guys, and make the 72-step trip up and down a minimum of six times.
Read More > Rating: 0.00 By: T. M. Moore|Published Date: July 30, 2012 {actionbar}
Both the Old and New Testaments counsel believers to maintain an active and effective self-watch over their lives.
Paul calls us to “watch our step” as we are going through our day, so that we can make the most of every opportunity for honoring the Lord with our time (Eph. 5:15-17). He counseled Timothy to “keep a close watch” over his life and teaching, insisting that he should persist in this, both for his own sake as well as for those he was called to serve.
Read More > Rating: 0.00 By: T. M. Moore|Published Date: July 23, 2012 {actionbar}
It is a mistake to think that the next steps we must take in the life of faith always have to be “new” steps.
In recent years churches, in a good faith effort to attract those who may be seeking the Lord, have set aside much that is considered “old” and familiar in order to adopt new ways of “doing” church. New facilities and programs. New forms of worship. New church architecture. New liturgies. Only the newest of everything.
But in always looking for what is new, we may have failed to notice that sometimes the best next steps are the ones we’ve taken over and over and over again.
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