Month: September 2024

What is progressive theology?

September 17, 2024

Here is a good explanation of progressive theology. In short progressive theology adds worldly ideas in with the Christian faith and the truths of the Bible.

Progressive theology approaches the Bible with a set of beliefs and tries to make them fit. It approaches the Bible with a set of beliefs and interprets the Bible from their established position.

This is opposite to true Christianity which reads and interprets the Bible in a way that tries to understand the original meaning. It then draws out these truths and tries to apply them to our daily lives.

Words of encouragement

September 17, 2024

Today’s reading and devotion is from Philippians 4:2-9. It is titled, “Words of encouragement”. In this passage three things spoke to me.

Get on well with each other

In verse 2 Paul appeals to Euodia and Syntyche. “Please, because you belong to the Lord, settle your disagreement”.

It is so important that we get on well because the world is watching and Jesus said people will know we are His disciples because our love for one another.

Don’t worry, pray

Verse 6 says, “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done”.

Sometimes I think worry is the default setting for us who live in this world. This is why prayer is so important. We connect with God and exchange our needs and concerns for His peace (v7).

Focus on what is good

In verse 8 Paul says, “Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise”.

Finally Paul encourages us to focus on what is good. He says to “fix our thoughts” on these things. We need to keep a Kingdom focus.

So today let us get on well with each other, don’t worry and keep praying, and focus on what is good. If we do these things, then “the God of peace will be with us” (v9).

Pressing on towards the goal

September 14, 2024

Today’s devotion comes from Philippians 3:12-21. It is titled, “Pressing toward the goal”.

In verses 12-14 Paul says, “I don’t mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me. No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us”.

As I was reflecting on this I read the notes in the Life Application Study Bible for verses 12-14. It is interesting and explains this section well…

“3:12-14 Paul said that his goal was to know Christ, to be like Christ, and to be all Christ had in mind for him. This goal took all of Paul’s energies. This is a helpful example for us. We should not let anything take our eyes off our goal—knowing Christ. With the single-mindedness of an athlete in training, we must lay aside everything harmful and forsake anything that may distract us from being effective Christians. What is holding you back?”

I think the first line says it all – to know Christ, to be like Christ, and to be all Christ had in mind for him”. This idea is much deeper than coming to Christ for our salvation and knowing we will go to heaven when we die.

It is all about knowing Christ, growing to be like Christ and being disciplined like an athlete to be all you can be for Christ.

Today I am asking myself the question – what is holding me back? Is there anything holding me back from being all I can be for Christ?

In His strength

September 10, 2024

I read this devotion just now from The Word for Today. I heard on the radio yesterday morning and I looked it up today. Please enjoy this timely message…

Do it in Christ’s strength, not your own

‘I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.’ Philippians 4:13 ESV

One of the quickest ways to get discouraged is to try living the Christian life in your own strength. It’s like trying to lift yourself up by your bootstraps; it cannot be done. Indeed, God designed it that way. Jesus said: ‘If you love Me, keep My commandments. And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever—the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you” (John 14:15-17 NKJV). 

God’s commandments are never too difficult for us to follow—if we do them through Christ’s indwelling strength. And you must learn to draw on that strength daily. He is in you and with you at all times to enable you to do what you cannot do and to do with ease what you would otherwise find hard to do without Him. Paul talked about the constant struggle between his flesh and his spirit. At times it drove him to despair. Then he gives us the key to victorious Christian living: ‘I can do all things through Him who strengthens me’ (Philippians 4:13 ESV). Learn from the light bulb; it cannot illuminate itself. But when it’s connected to an electrical power source, all that’s required is to flip a switch. So, do it in Christ’s strength, not your own.