What is Righteousness?
In its original meaning, righteousness meant a right relationship with the covenant of God that led to loving others as oneself and doing good in order to lead others into the same right relationship with God.
Fruits of the Spirit
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Receiving Jesus—Becoming a Follower
We’ve prioritized intellectual doctrine over practical application, turning us into armchair theologians instead of disciples. We become experts at pointing out sin, but struggle to extend the kind of love Jesus modeled.
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Image of God and Loving Your Neighbor
We are created “in the image of God,” reflecting divine qualities like creativity, reason, and moral capacity. This “image” isn’t about physical resemblance but about our inherent value and the responsibility to care for creation. We are given dominion over the earth, not for exploitation, but for wise stewardship and compassionate care.
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The Power of Non-Violence
The results of this systematic analysis show that nonviolent resistance is more than twice as effective as violent approaches in achieving intended goals. Based on a large dataset spanning over a century, their study demonstrates that societies experiencing periods of violent conflict, even when successful, tend to suffer from increased social unrest and instability in the aftermath.
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Test Everything – Hold to the Good
By centering our discernment on God as revealed through Christ, we gain a deeper and more personal understanding of what it means to test everything and hold fast to what is good. Does it align with God’s character, his promises, and his commands? Jesus is the perfect image of the invisible God (Colossians 1:15) and the clearest expression of God’s love, grace, and mercy.
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The Elusive Pursuit of Contentment
Harvey Deutschendorf shares how intimate, trusting relationships where one can openly share hopes, fears, and experiences are particularly valuable. Building strong connections involves actions like listening, being supportive, keeping commitments, and showing genuine interest in others’ lives. Overall, investing time and energy into meaningful relationships appears to be more rewarding than pursuing material wealth when it comes to finding contentment and joy in life.
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Loving our Neighbor like a Good Samaritan
Then along came a Samaritan. In a shocking twist, it is this individual, a member of a community ostracized and despised by the Jews, who stops to offer aid. He doesn’t hesitate; he simply sees a fellow human being in dire need. He embodies radical empathy, transcending the rigid social boundaries that defined his society. And this Samaritan’s response is Jesus’ answer to the man’s question, “And who is my neighbor?”
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Heart Healthy Media Detox
We may not consciously buy into the narratives presented in the media, but the emotions they evoke linger, leaving us feeling anxious, angry, or even hopeless. These emotions, even if triggered by a brief news story or social media post, can linger long after we’ve closed our laptops or put down our phones. They can seep into our subconscious, coloring our thoughts and influencing our behavior.
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Embracing the Absurdity of Faith
Genuine faith is not about blind obedience or adherence to dogma. It’s about a personal encounter with the divine, a continuous journey of discovery and deepening relationship with God. It’s about allowing our hearts and minds to be transformed by the love and grace that flows from the source of all being.
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Confronting Sin by Embracing Humility
The purpose of emphasizing a broader understanding of sin is not to condemn or overwhelm us with guilt. It’s to remind us we all need God’s grace and a humble heart. Sin is like a disease that affects our hearts and minds, distorting our perceptions and hindering our ability to love others as God loves us.
