goforwardinfaith Christianity, Religion, Theology

Love Thy Neighbor

By Linda Tancs

Love is the greatest commandment, love of God being first and foremost, followed by love of neighbor (Matthew 22:36-40). Indeed, to love others is to love God because God is love (1 John 4:16). In its grandest sense, love of neighbor means to love everyone. Admittedly, though, it’s challenging to conjure affection for everyone, everywhere. A good first step is to recognize the connection with all of them as brothers and sisters in Christ. You can foster a connection locally through participation in community outreach and internationally through world missions. Whatever you do, it puts “love thy neighbor” within reach.

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As part of FOOT FORWARD MINISTRIES (a teaching and speaking ministry), Go Forward in Faith represents faith-based meditations for personal and professional growth. Follow us on Twitter @moveonfaith.

goforwardinfaith Christianity, Religion, Theology

Just the Facts

By Linda Tancs

The Book of Lamentations is attributed to the prophet Jeremiah, a collection of reflections on the destruction of Jerusalem in 586 B.C. It’s a gut-wrenching account of the fall of God’s people Israel. Yet in chapter 3 Jeremiah declares that, ultimately, God does not fail (Lamentations 3:21-23). That reflection is a good reminder to focus on facts, not feelings. Feelings are unpredictable, and they lie. Don’t be guided by your feelings. All of God’s promises are facts. When life disappoints, focus on the facts.

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As part of FOOT FORWARD MINISTRIES, Go Forward in Faith represents faith-based meditations for personal and professional growth. Follow us on Twitter @moveonfaith and join the Facebook group @goforwardinfaith.

goforwardinfaith Christianity, Religion, Theology

The Original Wireless Connection

By Linda Tancs

As of January 2021, nearly 60 percent of the global population were active internet users. Of this total, over 92 percent accessed the internet via mobile devices that are heavily dependent on Wi-Fi. Another statistic shows that a person averages nearly eight hours per day on devices. Can you survive without a Wi-Fi connection? You might think you can’t, at least technologically speaking. But the original wireless connection is God. The connection is always stable, safe, secure—and free! And, no device is necessary. Now there’s a connection worth using.

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As part of FOOT FORWARD MINISTRIES, Go Forward in Faith represents faith-based meditations for personal and professional growth. Follow us on Twitter @moveonfaith and join the Facebook group @goforwardinfaith.

goforwardinfaith Christianity, Religion, Theology

Covering and Atoning

By Linda Tancs

When we read the Bible’s exhortation that love covers a multitude of sins (1 Peter 4:8), we often think of it in terms of forgiving others for their transgressions. But the “cover” has another implication that frequently is overlooked. When we love, we atone for our own sins, our own shortcomings. Jesus reminded us, after all, that love is the greatest commandment (Matthew 22:36-40). Whoever does not love does not know God (1 John 4:8).

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As part of FOOT FORWARD MINISTRIES, Go Forward in Faith represents faith-based meditations for personal and professional growth. Follow us on Twitter @moveonfaith and join the Facebook group @goforwardinfaith.

goforwardinfaith Christianity, Religion, Theology

Fear and Courage

By Linda Tancs

Our common sense is apt to think of courage as the opposite of fear. But, spiritually speaking, the opposite of fear is love. As evangelist F.B. Meyer put it, “God incarnate is the end of fear.” In the apostle John’s epistle, he wrote that perfect love casts out fear (1 John 4:18). The perfect love of God casts out all fear and assures us of everlasting life through belief in Jesus Christ.

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As part of FOOT FORWARD MINISTRIES, Go Forward in Faith represents faith-based meditations for personal and professional growth. Follow us on Twitter @moveonfaith and join the Facebook group @goforwardinfaith.

goforwardinfaith Christianity, Religion, Theology

I’ve Got Good News

By Linda Tancs

There have no doubt been times in your life when you’ve thought, “I could use some good news.” Maybe you’ve suffered from a physical malady or a dry spell at work or some other life circumstance has you seeking more positivity. We all yearn for a good report. Proverbs, too, reminds us that good news is like cold water to a weary soul (Proverbs 25:25). And, of course, this time of year we rejoice in the proclamation of the angel Gabriel to the shepherds of good tidings of great joy on the birth of Jesus (Luke 2:10). He is the ultimate Good News, both the bearer of the message and the message Himself!

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As part of FOOT FORWARD MINISTRIES, Go Forward in Faith represents faith-based meditations for personal and professional growth. Follow us on Twitter @moveonfaith and join the Facebook group @goforwardinfaith.

goforwardinfaith Christianity, Religion, Theology

God’s Goodness

By Linda Tancs

There’s a type of atheist that I view as a “situational atheist.” Maybe you know the type: someone who grew up in the church but decided that God does not exist in response to a traumatic life event. This turn to atheism is often motivated by anger, not intellectualism. It stems from a misunderstanding about the nature of God. God is good, all the time, even when things go terribly wrong. God’s goodness is not dependent on your circumstances; he doesn’t have a “dark side.” (1 John 1:5). David extolled the goodness of God no matter what was happening to him (Psalm 106:1). It’s the key to trusting that, whatever happens, in the end it will all work together for good (Romans 8:28) because when you follow in His light you see light ahead (Psalm 36:9).


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As part of FOOT FORWARD MINISTRIES, Go Forward in Faith represents faith-based meditations for personal and professional growth. Follow us on Twitter @moveonfaith and join the Facebook group @goforwardinfaith.

goforwardinfaith Christianity, Religion, Theology

There He Is

By Linda Tancs

You’ve probably heard the expression, “No matter where you go, there you are.” In other words, you can’t escape yourself. That might not be comforting to some. But one thing that should be comforting to all is this: No matter where you go, there He is (Deuteronomy 31:6). He’ll even pursue us to the remotest part of the sea (Psalm 139:9). What a great peace to know that He is a constant presence in your life and nothing escapes His notice.

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As part of FOOT FORWARD MINISTRIES, Go Forward in Faith represents faith-based meditations for personal and professional growth. Follow us on Twitter @moveonfaith and join the Facebook group @goforwardinfaith.

goforwardinfaith Christianity, Religion, Theology

What’s in a Name

By Linda Tancs

What’s in a Name

There are plenty of sites dispensing information on the meaning of names and their origins. There are powerful names evoking warriors and protectors, like Alexander (Greek for “protector of mankind”). Or how about Lucy, a name derived from the Latin word for “light.” And then there’s the Name above every other name. Actually, God has many names, each signifying a different aspect of his character. He is Abba, or Father (Mark 14:36); the Ancient of Days (Daniel 7:13); El Roi, or “the God who sees me” (Genesis 16:13); El Shaddai, or God Almighty (Exodus 6:3). The list goes on. How many names can you find for God in the Bible? Try praying through them.

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As part of FOOT FORWARD MINISTRIES, Go Forward in Faith represents faith-based meditations for personal and professional growth. Follow us on Twitter @moveonfaith and join the Facebook group @goforwardinfaith.

goforwardinfaith Christianity, Religion, Theology

Brothers and Sisters

By Linda Tancs

National Siblings Day is April 10, a day that celebrates sibling relationships. It’s an especially good day to remember that brothers and sisters are a gift from God. And God commands sibling love (1 John 2:9). In fact, God feels so strongly about it that He reminds us that you cannot claim to love God if you don’t love your own brother or sister (1 John 4:20). God is love. You are created in the image of God (Genesis 1:27). Love who God loves.

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As part of FOOT FORWARD MINISTRIES, Go Forward in Faith represents faith-based meditations for personal and professional growth. Learn more at goforwardinfaith.com. Follow us on Twitter @moveonfaith and join the Facebook group @goforwardinfaith.