Grace and Not Guilt
“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.” Galatians 5:1 (NIV) Freedom sounds too good to be true. You’ve been a Christian…
Rodney Garcia
Whose Voice Are You Following?
“So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him.” Colossians 2:6 (NIV) Your life is loud with voices. Every day, dozens of voices compete for your attention and loyalty. Social media tells…
The Power to Keep Going
“Israel served the LORD throughout the lifetime of Joshua and of the elders who outlived him and who had experienced everything the LORD had done for Israel.” Joshua 24:31 (NIV) Israel kept their commitment as long as Joshua lived. They…
As For Me and My House
“But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.” Joshua 24:15b (NIV) Joshua made his declaration personal and public. He didn’t just announce what Israel should do. He stood before everyone and declared where he stood. As…
Choose This Day
“But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living.…
What Are You Really Serving?
“Now fear the LORD and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your ancestors worshiped beyond the Euphrates River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD.” Joshua 24:14 (NIV) Joshua’s words sound extreme at first. These were Abraham’s…
Look Back to Move Forward
“Joshua said to all the people, ‘This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: “Long ago your ancestors, including Terah the father of Abraham and Nahor, lived beyond the Euphrates River and worshiped other gods. But I took…
Start the Year on Your Knees
“Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. Have I not commanded you?…
When You Can’t See What’s Coming
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” Proverbs 3:5–6 (NIV) The future is a mystery you can’t solve.…
Leave It at the Cross
“Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize…