Every Sunday morning before church, I have been reading through chapters from the book Jesus, Keep Me Near the Cross. Each week, I am struck by the different facets of Jesus' sacrifice and how that reflects the tremendous love of God. I have also been thinking about how my life should reflect Jesus' pattern of …
Obedience to Christ and Experience of Christ (part 2)
The second part of Jesus' statement in John 14:21 reveals that obedience and love for Christ impact two other parts of our spiritual life. Our love for Christ becomes tangible on the pathway of obedience to Christ. That pathway of obedience leads to the love of the Father for us. Now, we know that God's …
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Obedience to Christ and Experience of Christ (part 1)
Whoever has My commands and obeys them is the one who loves Me. Anyone who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I too will love them and show Myself to them. (John 14:21) I find this verse inescapable. If I truly love Christ, then I will both know ("have") His commands and …
Continue reading "Obedience to Christ and Experience of Christ (part 1)"
At the Crossroads
This is what the Lord says: "Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls. But you said, 'We will not walk in it.'" (Jeremiah 6:16) A lot of us are standing at crossroads in …
Listen – Leave – Follow
Reading through the Gospel of Matthew, I came across a familiar story where Jesus calls His first followers: Peter and Andrew, James and John. I was struck by the responsiveness these men had to Jesus' call. Jesus called them, and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed Him. (Matthew 4:22) I have …
Matthew Erickson 