“Now what I am commanding you today is not too difficult or you or beyond your reach. It is not up in heaven, so that you have to ask, ‘Who will ascend into heaven to get it and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?’ Nor is it beyond the sea ,so that you have to ask, ‘Who will cross the sea to get ti and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?’ No, the word is very near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart so you may obey it” (Deuteronomy 30:11-14).

People go to the gym religiously, but we cannot worship faithfully. People study the stock market as if their life depended on it, but we cannot study the scriptures as if our eternal destinies were at stake. We can spend hours upon hours on Netflix, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, but we have great difficulty praying for fifteen minutes.

What does this tell us?

Our commitment to other things demonstrates that we have the capacity to devote and commit ourselves. The issue is neither our capacity nor our inability to commit. It isn’t our hectic schedules that prevents us from practicing our spiritual disciplines. The problem has to do with our hearts, our willingness, our priorities.

Sure, I indulge in a movie or binge watch Netflix. But, I also am committed to reading the Bible, praying, and journaling every day. I don’t read the Bible and pray because I am a pastor. I read the Bible and pray because I am a Christian. The only thing preventing most people from being devoted to spiritual disciplines is themselves. It is a matter of priorities.

This is the only way we get to know who God is. Commit to spending time with God everyday. Ten minutes in God’s word and five minutes in prayer. If you’re already not doing so, no better day than today to get started.

“But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name” (John 20:31).

Our faith is in Jesus. Our faith is grounded in scripture. The foundation of our faith is in what is written.

I know. You already know all this. The reason why I am reminding you is because every single person you know will let you down. People will hurt you. People will desert you. People will betray you. And, I wish I could say that this only happens with people outside the church. But that’s not the case. Because the church is made up of people, church people will hurt you, desert you, betray you, and let you down.

But you are not a Christian because of people. You are a Christian because of Jesus. You are a believer because of what is written about Jesus in the scriptures.

Judas, one of the twelve closest disciples of Jesus, betrayed Jesus with a kiss for thirty lousy silver coins! But the eleven others didn’t stop believing in Jesus because of what Judas did. They continued believing. They continued following. That’s why the church is still here today.

If the actions of others cause you to fall away from faith, you have to ask yourself who you were following to begin with.

Our faith is in Jesus. Our faith is grounded in scripture. The foundation of our faith is in what is written.

“If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone” (Romans 12:18).

Truth matters. AND, kindness matters.

It is quite possible to declare the truth in a completely offensive way. It is absolutely possible to say the right things, but to say it in such a way where no one wants to hear it.

Therapists say that couple fight more over how something is said than over what is said. You can say the same thing in a way that honors the person you are speaking with, or you can say the same thing in a way and a tone that demeans to person you are speaking to.

More couples argue over the tone of what is said than over the content.

It is quite possible to be absolutely orthodox – have the right beliefs and understandings – and be a complete jerk.

Don’t be a jerk.

Once heard a wise person say, “Don’t be a porcupine. You’ve got a lot of good points, but nobody wants to be around you.

Don’t be a porcupine. That’s good advice. Pay careful attention to your tone of voice and how you are speaking to the people around you.