Podcast

Today’s prevailing opinion tells you that as long as you’re sincere, you have a seat at God’s table. As long as your good deeds outweigh your bad deeds, the Almighty will give you a thumb’s up. But that’s not quite right, is it? Jesus’ words, “No one comes to the Father except through me,” may sound restrictive. But if He’s right, His words are actually the key to all of life.

How often do you keep track of other people’s mistakes? In today’s episode of Live the Bible, I begin by sharing a story I’m not that proud of—when I used to count the mistakes of my English teacher! Yep. Aren’t we glad God doesn’t do the same to us?

You’ve probably noticed, but balance is never a one-and-done deal. It takes constant focus. And it’s tough work! Oftentimes, the decisions and struggles we face each day pull us in every direction, threatening to knock us off the tightrope.

If you’re like me, there is something you’d like to change about yourself or your life. As a society, we’re obsessed with self-improvement. As Christians, we’re committed to it. Whether it’s exercise, dieting, or Bible reading, we’re convinced we can do better if only we give it the ol’ college try.

Here’s a tough question…What one problem in your life, if it were solved today, would make everything better? We tend to focus on symptoms (pain points) rather than on root causes. We want to fix the problems we feel rather than what causes those problems.

When someone does us a favor, we tend to feel obligated to pay back the kindness. It’s just part of who we are. It’s gratitude. Yet when it comes to God’s favor on us, we face a debt we can never repay. So what can we do to express gratitude?