We are all aware of the conflicts we face in being citizens in the world and being citizens in God’s kingdom.  This tension is seen in John’s strong warning in I John 2:15, “Do not love the world nor the things in the world.  If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.” Certainly, the world operates with a different set of values and priorities.  Through opportunities and commercials, it appeals to the fleshly part of us and often leads us toward sinful things.  We would do well to heed Paul’s warning not to be conformed to this world but to be transformed by the renewing of our minds. Yet, Jesus was deeply engaged with the world in which He lived.  He healed the sick without checking their spiritual pedigrees.  [...]

As the days grow warmer and the daylight hours become longer, we recognize that it is time for spring cleaning.  It is time to clean up the clutter and discard some items that have accumulated through the winter.  It is time to organize closets, landscape the driveway, clean the gutters, and scrub the floors. As spring arrives, it may also be time to do some spiritual cleaning in our lives as well.  Maybe through the winter we have fallen into some bad habits by neglecting prayer and Bible study.  Maybe we have missed more worship services than normal or gotten out of the habit of ministering to others. Paul challenged the Corinthians, “Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves!” (II Cor. 13:5).  Maybe in looking at our lives this spring [...]