“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.” Romans 12:1
Have you ever read this verse, or heard it quoted on Sunday morning and wondered just exactly how you’re supposed to be able to do this?
I know I have, and for years I assured myself that I was just taking this too literally; there mustn’t be anything I must do… right? It’s just a platitude, surely.
One day, I kept reading and it occurred to me that Paul followed it up by showing us how this is accomplished. It’s amazing what happens when you keep reading!
Years after my confusion about this subject, I have taught this many, many times in church groups and in Seminary. Each time, there’s at least one person who comes to see the amazing and wonderful truth of Paul’s teaching about the Christian Life for the first time.
Starting next week, October 20, I’ll be teaching the study again, this time in an Informational Series right here on this blog. I hope you will make plans to join our class, starting next Tuesday, October 20, posting at 6am Central US time on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
There is a moment every year when the green world around us begins to whisper a breathtaking secret. Almost overnight, entire forests burst into a riotous celebration of color—fiery crimsons, deep ambers, vibrant oranges, and luminous golds. It is as if the Master Artist takes up His brush and sweeps across the landscape, turning ordinary hillsides into galleries of living art.
Autumn’s colors are not merely a biological byproduct of changing temperatures; they are a profound testament to the extravagant creativity and imagination of God.
A Masterpiece of Hidden Brilliance
What makes the brilliant display of autumn even more wondrous is the science behind it. For the entire spring and summer, leaves are packed with green chlorophyll, which hides other pigments like carotenoids (yellows and oranges) and anthocyanins (reds and purples). Hidden all along beneath the surface were entirely different shades, waiting for the right moment to emerge.
When the days grow shorter and trees prepare for winter’s rest, the green chlorophyll fades. Suddenly, colors that were kept secret all year long are revealed in all their glory.
In this, we see a beautiful echo of our Creator’s heart. God hides beauty and potential deep within His creation, timing things perfectly according to His wisdom. Just as He designed the leaf to hold hidden brilliance, He has woven unique gifts, talents, and beauty into the fabric of our own lives, waiting for the right season to bring them to light.
The Extravagance of Grace
Human artists are often constrained by budgets, scarce resources, or efficiency. Yet when God creates, He does so with breathtaking abundance. He didn’t have to paint the autumn leaves in a thousand shades of fire; a simple brown or muted gray would have sufficed for survival.
Instead, He chose to flood the world with breathtaking beauty. He painted mountainsides in blazing brilliance simply to display His glory and delight our senses. It reminds us of His extravagant grace—a God who does not just give us what we need to survive, but who crowns our days with stunning reminders of His goodness and creativity.
“O Lord, how manifold are your works! In wisdom have you made them all; the earth is full of your creatures.”Psalm 104:24
There is a moment every year when the green world around us begins to whisper a breathtaking secret. Almost overnight, entire forests burst into a riotous celebration of color—fiery crimsons, deep ambers, vibrant oranges, and luminous golds. It is as if the Master Artist takes up His brush and sweeps across the landscape, turning ordinary hillsides into galleries of living art.
Autumn’s colors are not merely a biological byproduct of changing temperatures; they are a profound testament to the extravagant creativity and imagination of God.
A Masterpiece of Hidden Brilliance
What makes the brilliant display of autumn even more wondrous is the science behind it. For the entire spring and summer, leaves are packed with green chlorophyll, which hides other pigments like carotenoids (yellows and oranges) and anthocyanins (reds and purples). Hidden all along beneath the surface were entirely different shades, waiting for the right moment to emerge.
When the days grow shorter and trees prepare for winter’s rest, the green chlorophyll fades. Suddenly, colors that were kept secret all year long are revealed in all their glory.
In this, we see a beautiful echo of our Creator’s heart. God hides beauty and potential deep within His creation, timing things perfectly according to His wisdom. Just as He designed the leaf to hold hidden brilliance, He has woven unique gifts, talents, and beauty into the fabric of our own lives, waiting for the right season to bring them to light.
The Extravagance of Grace
Human artists are often constrained by budgets, scarce resources, or efficiency. Yet when God creates, He does so with breathtaking abundance. He didn’t have to paint the autumn leaves in a thousand shades of fire; a simple brown or muted gray would have sufficed for survival.
Instead, He chose to flood the world with breathtaking beauty. He painted mountainsides in blazing brilliance simply to display His glory and delight our senses. It reminds us of His extravagant grace—a God who does not just give us what we need to survive, but who crowns our days with stunning reminders of His goodness and creativity.
When you walk through a dusty farmyard or a freshly tilled field, you don’t have to guess whether you’ve been there—you can look down at your boots and see the dirt clinging to the leather; you naturally pick up a little bit of wherever you’ve been walking. The same principle applies to the people we surround ourselves with. You can’t spend your time walking closely with cynical, harsh, or dishonest company without letting that dust rub off on your own heart and attitude. The ancients understood this better than most, and Scripture puts it into plain, unmistakable language:
“Walk with the wise and become wise, for a companion of fools suffers harm.”
Proverbs 13:20
Wisdom isn’t just something we study in a book; it’s something we catch by watching how godly, grounded people live their lives. When life gets complicated and the culture around us is spinning out in every direction, the people we look to for counsel matter immensely. Do the voices in your inner circle point you toward patience, kindness, and trust in God, or do they stir up anxiety, division, and complaint? Choosing wise companions keeps our feet on steady ground when the cultural winds try to blow us off course.
Who are the primary voices shaping your perspective right now, and are they leading you closer to wisdom or further into distraction?
Have you ever been in a conversation where the other person wasn’t actually listening to a word you were saying? You could tell they were just waiting for their turn to jump in, reload their argument, and prove why they were right all along. It’s frustrating, isn’t it? It usually leaves everyone feeling unheard, defensive, and worn out. If we aren’t careful, we can carry that exact same habit right into our spiritual lives and our relationships with each other. We come to God with our prepared speeches, our checklists of demands, and our fixed opinions, forgetting that wisdom usually starts with a closed mouth and an open ear. The New Testament gives us a piece of practical, down-to-earth advice that cuts right through the noise:
“My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry”
James 1:19
Notice the order James lays out. Quick to listen. Slow to speak. Slow to become angry. When we slow down long enough to listen—really listen—to God through His Word and to the people He places in our path, everything changes. Wisdom doesn’t bark the loudest in the room; it observes, it considers, and it responds with grace. When we stop rushing to have the last word, we suddenly find ourselves having a lot fewer arguments and experiencing a whole lot more of God’s peace.
Are you rushing to speak and defend yourself today, or is God inviting you to be quick to listen and slow to anger?
If you’ve ever driven down an unfamiliar country road at twilight, you know how quickly a simple curve can turn into a guessing game. The headlights sweep across the ditch, the shadows lengthen against the tree line, and if you aren’t paying close attention to the road signs, you can easily find yourself taking a wrong turn that adds miles to your journey. Life gives us plenty of sharp curves and unexpected forks in the road, doesn’t it? Every single day, we face choices big and small—how to handle a tense conversation at work, how to respond when someone treats us unfairly, or how to navigate a difficult family decision. We need more than just good intentions; we need real direction. King Solomon, a man who asked God for discernment above all else, left us a timeless reminder about where true direction begins:
“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
Notice what Solomon didn’t say. He didn’t tell us to lean on our own cleverness, or to trust whatever gut feeling happens to be shouting the loudest in the moment. Human understanding is limited, easily influenced by our moods, our pride, or our anxieties. Walking in wisdom starts the moment we stop trying to navigate life entirely on our own strength and choose to submit our choices to the Lord. When we invite Him into the decision-making process, the fog clears just enough to see the next right step.
What decision are you trying to force on your own strength today instead of submitting it to the Lord’s wisdom?
There is a strange myth floating around that living according to God’s truth is a narrow, restrictive kind of existence—like being locked in a tiny room with a long checklist of things you aren’t allowed to do. People often assume that freedom means doing whatever you want, whenever you want, without answering to anyone.
Yet, we all know folks who lived that way—chasing every appetite, serving their own impulses, ignoring God—only to end up trapped in bitterness, addiction, broken homes, and quiet regret. Self-rule isn’t freedom; it’s just a different kind of cage.
Jesus spoke straight to the heart of what true liberty really means:
“To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, ‘If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.'”
John 8:31-32
Think about the sheer relief in those words.
When you anchor your life to the truth of Jesus Christ, you are set free. You’re set free from the exhausting rat race of having to impress everyone around you. You’re set free from carrying the burden of always having to be right. You’re set free from the shame of your past, because the truth of the Gospel declares that your slate has been wiped completely clean by His grace.
Holding to His truth doesn’t box you in; it sets you free to live the peaceful, purposeful life God created you for in the first place.
What old burden, false expectation, or past regret can you leave behind today in the freedom of Christ’s truth?
“While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, winter and summer, and day and night shall not cease.”
Genesis 8:22
There is a distinct shift in the air as summer fades and autumn arrives. The morning breeze carries a crisp, refreshing bite, the sunlight softens into a golden hue, and the trees—once steadfast in their emerald summer attire—begin to transform into a breathtaking canvas of crimson, amber, and gold.
Autumn is a masterpiece of divine artistry. It is a season that speaks directly to the human soul, reminding us of the rhythm, beauty, and intentionality woven into the fabric of the universe by our Creator.
The Artistry of Letting Go
When we look at the changing leaves, we witness both a grand celebration of color and a profound lesson in surrender. Trees do not cling desperately to their summer leaves; rather, they gently release them in preparation for a season of rest.
In our own lives, how often do we struggle to hold onto seasons that have passed? We cling to old routines, past comfort zones, or expired chapters, fearing what change might bring. Yet, autumn reminds us that God is a God of seasons. He designed nature to cycle through growth, harvest, release, and renewal. Letting go is not the end of the story—it is the holy preparation for new life to come.
The Symphony of Harvest
Autumn is also the season of harvest. It is a time when fields yield the fruit of months of rain, soil, and quiet cultivation. Every apple picked, every squash gathered, and every field of golden grain standing tall is a testament to God’s faithful provision.
Scripture tells us that “every good gift and every perfect gift is from above” (James 1:17). When we bite into a crisp autumn apple or watch the autumn leaves drift softly to the ground, we are tasting and seeing the tangible goodness of a God who sustains us day by day.
Heavenly Father,
Thank You for the breathtaking wonder of Your creation. As we watch the world around us transform into shades of gold and crimson, help us to see Your hand in the changing of the seasons. Grant us the grace to embrace change with open hands, trusting in Your faithful provision and timing. Teach us to rest when we need rest, and open our eyes to the everyday miracles of Your grace. We ask these things in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Have you ever met someone who seemed to know all the right answers, but delivered them like a sledgehammer?
They carry around an opinion on every subject, love nothing more than pointing out other people’s flaws, and walk around with a chip on their shoulder as if God appointed them chief hall monitor of the universe. It’s exhausting, and it rarely draws anyone closer to Christ.
Truth without love isn’t discipleship; it’s just harsh religion. But love without truth isn’t love either—it’s just empty sentimentality that leaves people wandering in the dark.
The Apostle Paul laid out how followers of Jesus are called to carry themselves:
“Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ.”
Ephesians 4:15
Jesus never compromised the truth, but He never weaponized it to crush the brokenhearted, either. He offered truth with gentleness, with patience, and with an open hand.
As His representatives in our neighborhoods, workplaces, and families, the way we hold the truth matters. When truth is wrapped in genuine kindness, humility, and grace, people don’t just hear an argument—they see the living character of the Savior.
When you share what is true with the people around you, are you speaking to win an argument, or are you speaking in love to build them up?
It’s been quite a journey through our study of What the Bible Says About Forgiveness. I hope that you have found it to be interesting and useful. We’ve looked simply and honestly at what our Lord had to say on forgiveness, both God’s forgiveness of us and our forgiveness of each other. We have also considered thoughts about getting even with others for what we perceive them as doing, and holding grudges, and the difference between forgiving and forgetting.
Perhaps the most significant aspect of forgiveness is learning to forgive ourselves for the times when we have acted as our own worst enemies, which inevitably leads us to moving on from the hurt into new and better days of our lives.
With all of this said, and rather than rehashing everything we’ve learned in our study, I’d just like to leave you with a true story about a couple who ran into some serious trouble in their marriage.
I’ve never really understood how this got started, but I have had quite a few people call me when they had marriage problems. I am not a counselor or a therapist, not by a long shot. Yet when these things happen, they are usually members of a church congregation in which I was a member of the Leadership Team… so I guess that’s the real connection.
One night I had a phone call from Bill who asked me if I would help him with his marriage. He made it clear that he was calling me because he knew that I would not tell him what he wanted to hear; that I would be straight with him, no matter what.
I agreed to give it a try.
Over several lengthy sessions, I got the picture of the problems and brought Bill to a place where he was ready to forgive his wife Pat for her part in their problems and accept total responsibility for his part. He admitted that he could be rather arrogant and demanding, inconsiderate and on and on. Without getting into too much detail, it seemed to me that Pat and Bill had both erred in the marriage relationship each in their own ways, but more or less equally. Bill made a commitment to me to repent of his previous negative behaviors and to forgive Pat entirely of hers; to wipe the slate clear and completely clean.
About six weeks later, after Bill had done his best to keep his promises to me, Pat agreed to sit down with Bill and me in the hope of working things out for good. During the three hours we were together, Pat agreed that Bill was practically a new man, kind, considerate, and so on. We had worked out many household issues, both sides giving and taking and being perfectly reasonable, even loving. And then it happened…
Bill promised Pat that he had forgiven her for all past deeds, things said, and so on, that he would move on and that she had a clean slate with no getting even or resentment—all of that was put into the past forever. Pat, much moved, also agreed to forgive and move on; the slate was clean and the past was over. They embraced; I noticed Bill was moved to tears. When the embrace was done, Pat turned to Bill and said, “I hope you don’t think there won’t still be repercussions.”
That was the end of the marriage.
The last lesson on Forgiveness is this: God has commanded us to forgive one another because we need to forgive one another. Without forgiveness our lives will be way too hard as we carry the baggage of the past with us. Where will we go for relief? There are no relationships without forgiveness.
My prayer for all of you is that you carefully consider what God is telling each of us in His Word about forgiveness. I pray that you will hear what He is teaching all of us and take whatever action He leads you to take. May His peace and grace live in your hearts and minds.
If you take a walk down an unfamiliar country lane on an overcast evening, it doesn’t take much to get turned around. The tree line looks identical in every direction, the brush grows thick along the fence line, and when a fork appears in the dirt road, your own sense of direction can easily steer you wrong.
Our modern culture loves to tell folks: “Just follow your heart.” It sounds poetic on a greeting card, but anyone who has lived a little while knows that human feelings are terrible navigators. Our hearts can be fearful, easily flattered, tired, and led astray by whatever looks shiny in the moment.
The Psalmist understood where real direction comes from:
“Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.”
Psalm 119:105
Notice that God’s Word isn’t described as a high-powered spotlight that illuminates five miles down the highway. It’s a lamp for our feet—giving us just enough light for the very next step.
Walking in truth is a daily, intentional relationship. It means opening the Scriptures not to win theological debates, but to let the Lord guide your conduct, check your attitudes, and keep your feet from wandering off into the ditch. When you let God’s truth be your compass, you don’t have to worry about where the road bends; you just take the next step with Him.
What is one area of your life right now where you need to stop following your feelings and let God’s truth light your next step?
Join us on a journey through life following Jesus Christ. Our journey of life is an adventure of discovery that is both exciting and challenging. It is a discovery of clear and simple faith that comes from the a clear and simple understanding of the Word of God.
No, we aren't perfect, we are works in progress. There's no judging, no guilt and no condemnation here, just perspectives on life and truth as we work on our Project to become a little more like Him every day.
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