The Plumbline

Jesus said to the people who believed in him, “You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings. And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” “But we are descendants of Abraham,” they said. “We have never been slaves to anyone. What do you mean, ‘You will be set free’?” Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave of sin. A slave is not a permanent member of the family, but a son is part of the family forever. So if the Son sets you free, you are truly free. ( John 8:31-36) We have been looking at the importance of making a life commitment to follow and serve Jesus. Saying "YES" to Jesus is just the beginning of us being truly free of the burden of sin and the condemnation sin brings into our lives. Jesus is quite emphatic - we are slaves to sin UNTIL we come to that place of accepting his finished work in our lives. We might still face temptations and failures, but we are free from the hold of sin. We may feel the ...

Ever been caught "off-guard" by something or someone? You were not prepared, got caught in the moment, and then fell for it hook, line, and sinker. Sin has a way of "taking us in" - catching us off-guard, just like that. To protect us from being "taken in" when sin's promises and our own lust entice us to do something or act a certain way, we need the correction of discipline. The "correction" of discipline - for no discipline is without correction. Even if you are trying to live a healthier lifestyle, rising early, taking walks, getting enough rest, and making wise food choices - there will be times when you need to "correct" your actions to still "match" the discipline you are trying to achieve. More than anything, you and I need the "action" of the Word over our soul - correcting and guiding us toward discipline. Dear friend, do what I tell you; treasure my careful instructions. Do what I say and you’ll l...

Honey in scripture often is used to describe all that is sweet and pleasing - both in the natural and spiritual sense.  Therefore, when scripture declares we should eat honey, it is saying we should pursue those things which will bring delight and satisfaction to our spiritual man.  There are definitely some things which are better to pursue than others - especially as it applies to being "built up", encouraged, or finding peace.  These are the things God wants us to become "acquainted" with in our daily "intake".  It is important to note that honey in the Old Testament region of Palestine was not harvested from bee farms, but rather had to be dug out of crevices in the rocks and the hollow of trees.  As such, we receive a word picture of having to "mine" the bountiful goodness God has prepared for us.  It requires some effort on our part, but it well worth the investment! Eat honey, dear child—it’s good for you— and delicacies that melt in ...