GOSPEL :: FAMILY :: MISSION
The opposite of unity is disunity. The opposite of something that is bonded is something that is divided. And the opposite of peace is turmoil. Disunity, division and turmoil have affected every institution from the family, to the church, to the government.
There’s a lot of evil that happens on this earth. Violence against the innocent. Domestic abuse. Bullying. Sexual assault. The list can go and on. I don’t often think about the connection between money and evil.
The promises of God are like anchors for our souls. When the storms of life toss the boats of our lives back and forth we can trust in the promises of God.
The love of money is worthless. Money wealth and belongings won’t satisfy you because the more you have, the more you consume and even though wealth may look good it won’t help you sleep at night.
The Lord provides in miraculous ways. It can be hard to trust God when resources are thin. But he always provides. Sometimes he provides in small ways. Just enough to get us by. Other times he provides in big ways. More than enough to last a while.
We are called to walk in hope-filled obedience and Christlike character. It’s interesting to think about obedience like a glass that can be filled with something. And it’s also interesting to think of that same glass with little beads of perspiration on the outside that proves how hot or cold the character of the glass is.
We are called to walk in hope-filled obedience and Christlike character. We fill our lives with some flavor of hope and then like a glass with perspiration our obedience has a certain character to it.
The early church was totally devoted to the gospel and totally devoted to one another. What a radical picture!
But to you who are listening. What a way to begin one of the toughest teachings in all of Scripture! It’s almost as though Jesus knew that some people would stop listening at this point.
The way we walk out our Christian life is a direct result of the way we hear the call of God on our lives. This can be illustrated by thinking about my children playing in the backyard. When I call them to come inside for a meal they have been looking forward to, the way they walk (or run) into the house is much different than when I call them inside to get some chores done.
© 2026 joemarino.org
Theme by Anders Noren — Up ↑