Here is a collection of good reads gathered from across the internet this past week. Enjoy!
On happily and humbly relating to others: The Gospel Frees You to Be Happy for Someone Else by Michael Kelley
Very practical stuff here. Practical, but difficult, and not just because your personality might not be emotional. It’s difficult to truly rejoice with those who rejoice, and to truly weep with those who weep. A big part of the reason it’s so hard is because way in the back of our hearts, behind all the congratulatory smiles and the consolatory tears there lurks that little thought we’re too ashamed to own up to. (click here to read more)
On reconciliation and the Gospel: That Part of Gospel-Centeredness We Avoid by Ray Ortlund
If we are unwilling to seek reconciliation with an ex-friend through preemptive forgiveness in our hearts and conditional forgiveness in the relationship, then let’s stop talking about gospel-centeredness. We don’t really mean it. But if we are willing to take up “the ministry of reconciliation” as our lifestyle together, pressing through the awkwardness with gentle courage, trusting the Lord, then our movement might indeed grow into historic revival. (click here to read more)
On responding to evil with love: Why Love, not Hate, Should Be the Christian’s Response to Evil by David Qaoud
Our sinful nature wants to repay evil with evil. When your spouse is short with you, you reply the same. When your boss belittles you, you cut corners at work. When your friends let you down, you ignore them in response. “That’ll teach ’em!” you think. You think that if you don’t retaliate, they’ll never learn their lesson. If you hurt the person in the way they’ve hurt you, they’ll stop. Is that true? Maybe. But that’s not Paul’s command. (click here to read more)
On fighting against sin in our lives: Rightly Handling Our Sinful Failures by Matt Moore
Sin is deceitful, friends. Every “stumble” into it has the potential to evolve into a spiritually catastrophic situation if we don’t deal with it seriously and immediately. If we aren’t sowing to the Spirit every single day, the flesh—even if seemingly quiet—grows stronger and will eventually rear its ugly head. If we aren’t walking in community with other believers and allowing them to spur us on (and us spur them on) in pursuit of Jesus, it’s only a matter of time before our sin will get the best of us. So let’s fight! Let’s fight to apply the gospel to our failures and to let grace pick us up and keep us going! Let’s fight to subdue the flesh by filling up on the Spirit! Let’s fight this fight of faith with one another and for one another! (click here to read more)
First Baptist Church 