Author: Dwight Clough

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. — Galatians 5:22-23Suppose I’m not loving. Suppose I’m not joyful. Suppose I’m not patient. And so on. What should I do?Should I straighten up? Should I act more loving, more joyful, more patient?Sometimes we confuse description with prescription. These qualities describe the result of God’s work in our life; they are not a to-do list for us. This fruit validates the Spirit’s work in our lives. This list helps us test the spirits. If we find that we are not loving, then we…

They took Dagon and put him back in his place. — 1 Samuel 5:3Many people – maybe all people – believe deeply embedded lies. There is no other way to account for human behavior. Here the God of Israel shows up and knocks the Philistine god off his pedestal. What do Dagon’s slaves do? They scurry about to put Dagon back on the throne of their hearts. Deep down inside, some lie drove them to ignore the truth and cling to their worthless god. Maybe this is why Jesus said, "You shall know the truth and the truth shall set…

I the LORD search the heard and examine the mind, to reward a man according to his conduct, according to what his deeds deserve. — Jeremiah 17:10Clearly, deeds do not speak for themselves. If they did, there would be no need for God to examine the heart behind the deeds.This is a powerful truth for two reasons. First, we don’t know, most of the time, what is really going on around us. Someone who may seem not quite right to us may be very right with God. Second, God searches deeply for an opportunity to reward you, His child, for…

The heart is deceitful above all things … Jeremiah 17:9God is at work in our lives. A big part of His work is getting us to the place where we can be honest with ourselves.Now I believe that Peter really thought he was ready to follow Christ to prison and to death. His heart deceived him. Satan came along desiring to sift the disciples like wheat. Although Satan’s intentions were evil, God allowed some sifting to take place so that Peter could look at himself honestly and see what was really there. Even when we think that we really know…

The purposes of a man’s heart are deep waters, but a man of understanding draws them out. — Proverbs 20:5 NIVI’d like to toss out some questions for us to think about.What are your weaknesses? (You can bet the enemy knows; do you?)If sin is our attempt to solve a problem apart from Christ (and I think it is), then what problem are you trying to solve?If your feelings could talk, what would they say? How did those messages get inside your head?How do you bring Jesus into all of this?Think it over. The Lord will give you wisdom to…

Peter was upset … — John 21:17 The MessageIf your feelings could talk, what would they say? God often brings us to the place of looking inside, because it is in the "inner parts" (Psalm 51:6) that He wants to do His work. In John 21, we have an uncomfortable meeting between the Risen Lord and the man who denied Him three times. Jesus doesn’t try to smooth things over. Instead, He stirs them up! He brings the shame and hurt that Peter felt right out into the open.Jesus does not minimize. He does not ignore. There are no "elephants…

… being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. — Philippians 1:6 If you were going to make a chart of your spiritual journey, what would it look like? At what times in your life have you experienced the greatest spiritual growth?If spiritual growth were just a matter of spiritual disciplines, then the go-get-’em types would leave all the rest of us in the dust. But spiritual growth is not just a matter of setting goals and observing disciplines. We are in the…

After GOD had finished addressing Job, He turned to Eliphaz the Temanite and said, "I’ve had it with you and your two friends. I’m fed up! You haven’t been honest either with me or about me — not the way my friend Job has." — Job 42:7 from The MessageI like this rendering of this verse because it reminds us that God invites our struggle with Him. Job engaged God honestly. No, he didn’t have a clue about many things and neither do we. But Job didn’t settle for pat answers and comfortable theology. He led the way to authenticity.If…

I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death … Philippians 3:10 NIVTo be honest, I’ve always been afraid of this verse. Sure I want to know Christ, and yes I want to know the power of His resurrection. But suffering?Hey, I don’t like suffering any more than you do. But slowly I am beginning to understand that this verse isn’t a command to suffer more, but rather an invitation to suffer in a different way. Here’s the reality folks: All of us suffer. …

He who conceals his sins does not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy. — Proverbs 28:13What would happen if you were found out? I have had many thoughts, plans and desires that I wouldn’t want broadcast to the world. I have made stupid and embarrassing mistakes. All of us have felt the pain of shame. That pain is tied to a lie — if I talk, I will be exposed, and the whole world will laugh at me. Then I’ll be nothing more than a grease spot on the bottom of the floor.But God calls on us…