Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.” John 14:6 (NLT) To confidently share the truth of the Gospel, we have to know what and who we believe. For example, I’ve had people tell me, “I wish all the world religions would just realize they all believe in the same God.” The idea sounds nice, but it’s actually not true. Jesus said He was the way. He never said, “I am one way,” or “a way”, but the way. So, if Jesus is the only way, all the other options are not. When Jesus said, “I am the truth,” that means there is no other god that’s truthful out there. If …

Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 1 John 2:15 (ESV) What does it mean to love the world? John is not saying that we should avoid hanging out with nonbelievers. After all, everybody has family members and friends that haven’t accepted Christ yet. He’s also not saying we should ditch kayaking, movie-making or roasting marshmallows over a bonfire. The love of the world means placing a higher value on our achievements, possessions and physical pleasures over God. It is putting yourself and your pleasures first. First John 2:15-16 in the Message translation explains it this way: “Love of the world squeezes out love for the Father. …

Keep a close watch on how you live and on your teaching. Stay true to what is right for the sake of your own salvation and the salvation of those who hear you. 1 Timothy 4:16 (NLT) Today, there is no shortage of books, arguments and debates on Christian doctrine. Watching TV or YouTube, I see people pedalling tons of questionable ideas and false doctrine to viewers. As believers, we can’t believe something blindly just because they mention Jesus’ name. We need to be rooted deeply in God’s Word to stay savvy against false doctrines. Otherwise, the less grounded we are in the concrete truths of God’s Word, the more our beliefs can fluctuate whenever we encounter people who don’t understand or know God. How …

When Joshua was near the town of Jericho, he looked up and saw a man standing in front of him with sword in hand. Joshua went up to him and demanded, “Are you friend or foe?”  “Neither one,” he replied. “I am the commander of the Lord’s army.” Joshua 5:13-14 (NLT) Many Christians think God is like a fairy godmother, running around showering us with blessings and helping us live the life we want. Sure it sounds good, but is that accurate? After all, the Bible doesn’t say that Jesus is following you. Jesus said, “My sheep hear my voice; I know them, and they follow me.” (John 10:27, NLT.) God needs believers who recognize and follow His voice—like Joshua. After forty years of desert-wandering, …

For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naïve. Romans 16:18 (ESV) Naivety—which means to lack experience, wisdom and judgment—can be dangerous for believers. For example, naive Christians can have their beliefs swayed by anyone who shares a logical-sounding thought about religion or faith. However, the more we begin to embrace human-made doctrines, the more we gradually slip away from God’s truths. Innocence is different from naivety. Innocence means unimpeachable and guilt-free. If we have accepted Jesus as our Lord and Saviour, God sees us as innocent—blameless and faultless. So, we are innocent in God’s eyes, but we can’t live naive and ineffective in the world. For instance, …