Month: August 2019

You shall love your neighbor as yourself. Matthew 22:39 We recently attended a social gathering, which we left early for reasons that I felt were justified. According to social norms, we perhaps should have stayed longer. Later, a brother asked me how it went, and I relayed that we weren’t there very long. He knows me…
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You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. Matthew 22:37 I hope that any observer would be able to look at my life and see that I love my wife and children. I spend more time with them than anyone else, I enjoy simply…
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Many are called, but few are chosen. Matthew 22:14 Years ago, an older, more mature Christian saw in me the need for guidance and offered to mentor me. I was too arrogant to acknowledge my need, but I agreed to meet. In our first meeting, he insisted that I accept the doctrine of predestination – that…
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The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son . . . Matthew 22:2 Jesus talked a lot about the Kingdom of Heaven. What did he mean? I can best understand the answer only in taking an honest look at my own life. My greatest life problem…
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The kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people producing its fruits. Matthew 21:43 Alcoholics Anonymous teaches that, We keep what we have by giving it away. Inherent to the process of recovery is reaching out. As we have been given much, we must share with those in need.…
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The tax collectors and the prostitutes go into the kingdom of God before you. Matthew 21:31 I’m not saying everyone should go out and develop a drug addiction, but I never really understood how badly I needed God until I tore my life apart by doing things my way. The truth is, I needed him…
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Which of the two did the will of his father? Matthew 21:31 In my first attempt at recovery, I ran my mouth more than I should have. I was supremely confident that I’d never relapse, so, I told my counselor and sponsor as much. I knew I’d never need to go meetings again and I certainly…
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The chief priests and the elders of the people came up to him as he was teaching, and said, “By what authority are you doing these things, and who gave you this authority?” Matthew 21:23 I’ve often been frustrated by my slow wit when it comes to sarcasm, put-downs, and the game of one-upmanship. I’m just…
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Jesus entered the temple and drove out all who sold and bought in the temple, and he overturned the tables of the money-changers . . . Matthew 21:12 I once listened to another Christian angrily vent about how someone had offended him. His story made it sound like his frustration was justified, but his tone and…
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The crowds that went before him and that followed him were shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” Matthew 21:9 I’ve been thinking a lot lately about chemical dependency treatment and how it works. Since going to inpatient treatment myself, it’s always amazed me…
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