goforwardinfaith Christianity, Religion, Theology

The Best Things

By Linda Tancs

Fashion designer Coco Chanel reputedly said, “The best things in life are free.” And so it is: the air we breathe, fresh water from a stream, our faith, our hope. Best of all is our salvation (Romans 6:23). How blessed are we that it comes to us without a price we need to pay. Jesus paid the price (John 10:9). All believers need to do is accept it for the precious gift that it is.

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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 and join the Facebook group @goforwardinfaith.

goforwardinfaith Christianity, Religion, Theology

The Great Evacuation

By Linda Tancs

Evacuation routes are common wherever devastating weather tends to occur. But there’s another type of evacuation that takes places for believers. Commonly referred to as the Rapture, it’s God’s evacuation of His people to Heaven. Unlike earthly weather events, there will be no signs anticipating this evacuation. As the Bible explains, it will happen in the twinkling of an eye (1 Corinthians 15:52). You won’t need a go-bag either, but you should be prepared nonetheless.

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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

The Guiding Light

By Linda Tancs

I love lighthouses. I love everything about them—their history, form, function, even romanticism. Although they don’t serve the same navigational function in maritime safety today as in previous centuries, many of those lights still sparkle for seafarers. Lighthouses remind me of Jesus. After all, He did say that He is the light of the world (John 8:12). He is the ultimate lightkeeper.

When we look to Jesus for salvation and follow His teaching, we’re restored in relationship with God, and He gives us new power and purpose. His transforming life and love—“the light of all mankind” (John 1:4)—shines in us and through us and out to a dark and sometimes dangerous world.

As believers in Jesus, we become “keepers of the light.” May others see His light shine from us and discover the life and hope He alone can give!

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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.

 

goforwardinfaith Christianity, Religion, Theology

Keep Your Eyes on the Road

By Linda Tancs

One of the rules of the road that every new driver learns is to keep your eyes on the road. Don’t get distracted. We’ve become accustomed to the sad statistics related to distracted driving. Even the Bible talks about “road rules.” Jeremiah 31 tell us to set our heart to the highway, to set up road signs and guideposts. Of course, the prophet isn’t talking about traffic rules. He’s warning against backsliding in your relationship with God. For Christians, the highway is salvation. Keep your eyes on that. Don’t be distracted by the things of this world (Matthew 6:19-21). Keep God first (Matthew 6:33). A popular hymn is titled, “Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus.” Do that, and you’ll never be distracted.

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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.

 

 

goforwardinfaith Christianity, Religion, Theology

Flying First Class

By Linda Tancs

If you’ve ever flown in a first-class cabin, then you know the comfort and convenience that it offers. But no airline benefit can compare with the first-class flight that Christ offers believers! The Bible says we’ll be caught up in the air to meet the Lord and be with Him forever (1 Thessalonians 4:17). And that will happen “in the twinkling of an eye” (1 Corinthians 15:52), undoubtedly the shortest flight you will ever have experienced.

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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.

goforwardinfaith Christianity, Religion, Theology

Coming and Going

By Linda Tancs

Archbishop Fulton Sheen said that the whole of Christian life comprises coming and going. In Christ, we’re first summoned to come to Him (Matthew 11:28). We’re meant to be united to Him (Isaiah 62:5). Then, through that union, we’re meant to go and make disciples of all the nations (Matthew 28:19). We spend much of our lives coming and going in the everyday sense. It’s often exhausting. There’s a different way of coming and going, and it’s exhilarating.

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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.

 

 

goforwardinfaith Christianity, Religion, Theology

Being and Acting

By Linda Tancs

Prophesying, casting out demons and performing mighty deeds are all activities that Jesus delineated as marks of discipleship (Mark 16:17). Yet in chapter seven of Matthew’s gospel, he rejects some of those who claim to perform those very activities in His name and disavows even knowing them (Matthew 7:22-23). Does that seem confusing? Is Jesus rejecting service in His name? Of course not. What He’s getting at is the difference between being and acting. You may invoke His name in all that you say and do, but does His presence dwell in you? Jesus wants disciples who know more than just how to act; he wants followers who know the right way to be.

Our work is ultimately to believe in the person behind the Word (Romans 1:17). Oftentimes people place their confidence in regular church attendance and service on committees but don’t understand Jesus or the work of Jesus inside them—that is, the Holy Spirit. You can’t “work” your way to heaven. Works are a sign of faith but should not replace faith. Those who do otherwise are the false kind of disciples that Jesus is criticizing in Matthew’s gospel because they fail to recognize that it’s their faith in Jesus that makes them acceptable to God and not their performance. Resolve to keep Him present in all that you say and do.

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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.

 

 

 

 

goforwardinfaith Christianity, Religion, Theology

Winning

By Linda Tancs

Some game shows let you play along at home. In some cases, you may have to set up a free account and check in to see if you won. Given the odds, in all likelihood you’ll receive a message informing you that “you are not a winner.” Nobody necessarily likes hearing that he or she is not a winner, but from a spiritual point of view it’s quite amusing. After all, a believer gets the best prize of all—eternal life (1 Corinthians 9:24-27). So the next time you lose a round in an earthly pursuit, remember that, and smile.

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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.

 

goforwardinfaith Christianity, Religion, Theology

Gifts and Earnings

By Linda Tancs

John Houseman was a British-American actor who became known for his commercials for the brokerage firm Smith Barney. He famously stated that they made money the old-fashioned way—they earned it. Of course, in the physical world, we work to earn a living, sometimes striving after the best that money can buy.

Thankfully, though, the most important things in life are not earned; you don’t have to punch a time clock to get them. They’re gifts from God. For instance, you receive salvation through Christ, not by your own works (Ephesians 2:8-9). You also receive peace. Jesus devised, gave and bequeathed His peace (John 14:27) to His followers, like a bequest under a will. It’s a gift, yours for the taking.

Receive your gifts with grace. They’re good and perfect (James 1:17), and there’s nothing old-fashioned about that.

goforwardinfaith Christianity, Religion, Theology

The Time is Now

By Linda Tancs

“I’ll do it when” arises frequently as a response to situations in life. I’ll go back to school when all my bills are paid. I’ll take a nice vacation once I retire. I’ll get married once my career is established. In some instances, prudence may dictate that you wait before a certain action is taken. But maybe it’s possible that the time is now. Circumstances will rarely ever be perfect for action. Imagine how impaired our salvation would be if Jesus had waited for more “perfect” behavior before sacrificing His life for us. As Romans 5:8 reminds us, while we were yet sinners, He died for us. It’s a good thing He didn’t wait.