Tag: Verse

The Verse that Saved my Week

The verse that saved my week.

The verse that saved my week rang loud and strong from the Craig’s lips last Sunday.

3Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.
Philippians 2:3,4 (ESV)

Every Thursday morning I meet with my administrators. Every Thursday morning I dread it. Every Thursday morning I sit, listen, nod, and hold all my negative thoughts inside.

This last Thursday, I read these verses before the meeting.

What a difference.

In the meeting, I actually listened with an open mind. We even had a short conversation about things unrelated to work. I looked for ways to be a blessing.

Not only did the meeting seem almost enjoyable, the rest of my day did too.

As you can see, I’m a slow learner, but I’m starting to catch on to some of the basics.

A Biblical Approach to Confessing Sin

Confessing sin – a Biblical approach.

The Bible tells us to confess sin. James 5:16 specifically says to confess our sins to one another and pray for one another. But what is the context of this verse? And are there other verses in Scripture that mandate confessing sins to one another? Should we reveal all the gory details of the sin when we confess? What is the Biblical pattern for confession of sin?

We attempt to answer that question in our article, A Biblical Approach to Confessing Sin.

Psalm 14 – Nobody is Good

Psalm 14 tells us that nobody is good. Does this mean I’m incapable of being good?

The one verse that really stands out for me in this Psalm is verse 3.

3 They have all turned aside; together they have become corrupt; there is none who does good, not even one.

What in the world does that mean? Am I incapable of doing anything good? Of course there’s the concept of universal depravity, but I want to know what this means for me. I want to understand the implication in my own life. Can I do good? What does this mean? Can’t I buy a mocha for the lady that works next to me that irritates me beyond belief? Isn’t that being good? Can’t I help an old lady fix her car tire? Isn’t that being good? Well, in our understanding of the word, of course it is. And anyone can do things like that. I think, in this context, the word “good” must mean something other than what I think it means.

Jesus said,

“Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone.”
Mark 10:18 (ESV)

Oh great. Now, not only do I not know what “good” means, but nobody can be good but God. Yet I’m called to be perfect.

You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
Matthew 5:48 (ESV)

So, let’s see what we have here so far. Nobody is good. Not even one person. So I must not know what being good means, because I do nice things for people all the time. So, I feel like I’m good, but based on this Psalm, I’m not. Then Jesus reiterates that in Matthew when he says nobody is good but God. So obviously I’m not good. It appears our modern meaning of “good” must mean something other than what most people think it means. But regardless of what it means, I’m called to be perfect, and being perfect has to have something in common with being good, which I’m not. What’s the heck is going on?

A few verses after Jesus says that nobody is good but God, the disciples ask Him a question and He answers. The answer gives me some hope.

26 And they were exceedingly astonished, and said to him, “Then who can be saved?”
27 Jesus looked at them and said, “With man it is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God.”
Mark 10:26, 27 (ESV)

The disciples didn’t understand either. They wanted to know how in the world anyone could get to heaven if being good was impossible. And Jesus made it clear that with Him, all things are possible.

My conclusion is that I (along with everyone) was born incapable of being good. Sure, I can do nice things and be pleasant, but I can’t be good in God’s eyes, because He’s perfect. He’s the only one who is truly good. But through Jesus (since he makes impossible things possible), I have the ability to have a relationship with a holy, perfect God – even One who despises my sinful nature.