Part 1. The hymn “Amazing Grace” has a wonderful phrase we sometimes forget the power of: “I once lost, but now am found.” What does it mean to be lost? If we are found, what should change? Is God the center of who we are, or just an add-on? These question set us looking at what it means to be part of something bigger than ourselves. We are “The People of God.”
Tag: Jesus
Stop Loading Others with Baggage You Don’t Understand
My favorite people are those who really want to know all there is to know about God and His Word. They aren’t trying to better than anyone else. It isn’t a Bible Quiz competition or a “good Pharisee tactic.” Their heart just wants to get closer to God and serve Him the best they can.
One of my best friends is like that. He’s so hungry for more of God. He posts his daily reading completions on Facebook, more to keep on eye on himself than to impress anyone. Because he continues to learn and wants to understand better, we have some really interesting discussions.
Recently we sat together and he brought up one of my sermons he was listening to online. Since it was one of those rare occasions where we get our families together for a couple of days, we had one of those long talks. These are my favorite opportunities to find out if people really know what kind of baggage they are burdening people with.
Continue reading “Stop Loading Others with Baggage You Don’t Understand”
The Importance of Remembering Where You Started
I like driving. My wife would love to have a chauffeur. Together we make a perfect pair. I drive and she tells me where to go. Every once in a while we’ll be driving down the road and I’ll forget where we were headed. “Where are we going?” I’ll ask.
It doesn’t always hit me right away. I suddenly realize my autopilot has kicked because my brain has drifted elsewhere. If I’m lucky I will figure it out in time to get there without any trouble. Other times I have to pull into a parking lot or driveway to turn around so I can get back to the place I was supposed to go.
A dangerous road to forget where you’re going is the Narrow Road of the Christian life. This special road with fewer travelers on it leads to the eternal life promised to us as we believe in Jesus. But it isn’t enough to keep our eyes on the destination ahead of us. There is another point in the journey that Scripture encourages us to remember and hold on to until we reach the end.
Continue reading “The Importance of Remembering Where You Started”
Restoring a Relationship of Love
Conclusion. When it comes to love, redemption is not enough. To buy back, to own, is not the end of the plan. There is one step left. Without this step the great Lover cannot receive what they long for. It empowers the “happily ever after” and it comes at a price.
http://www.audiomack.com/embed4/chrismackinnon/restoring-a-relationship-of-love
True Love, Abandoned and Heartbroken
Part 3. Hosea fell in love with and married a beautiful woman and had children together. But Hosea’s wife ran off to be with another, leaving him heartbroken. Amazingly, even God’s heart can be broken when He is rejected or people leave Him. But when others claimed Hosea’s wife and God’s people, both were willing to pay the cost to bring back the ones they loved.
http://www.audiomack.com/embed4/chrismackinnon/true-love-abandoned-and-heartbroken
To Love And Be Loved
Part 1. God is love, and He created us to love and be loved by Him. We understand the image of a Heavenly Father loving His children, but Scripture reveals another picture of His incredible love. One man’s family became the living portrait of that love.
http://www.audiomack.com/embed4/chrismackinnon/to-love-and-be-loved
Chris MacKinnon 