Young District Anglican Ministry

07/06/2026

WHY TRUST JESUS? – 5

Matthew 9:18-26 begins with Jesus on his way to make an emergency house call.

Matt. 9:18 …a synagogue leader came and knelt before him and said, “My daughter has just died. But come and put your hand on her, and she will live.” 19 Jesus got up and went with him, and so did his disciples.

In the crowd surrounding Jesus was one woman “who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years” (Matt. 9:20). We don’t know her specific medical condition, but we do know that she was beyond the medical help available at that time and that, in desperation, she came to Jesus. But her challenge was how could she get Jesus’ help without making her personal problem very public. On top of that, according to Jewish Law, a woman who was bleeding was considered unclean and under law wasn’t touch anyone. So, she came up with a plan so that no one would ever know. “If I only touch his cloak, I will be healed.” (Matt. 9:21). We think to ourselves, “how naïve and superstitious, things don’t work that way.” But the instant she touched his cloak, “Jesus turned and saw her. ‘Take heart, daughter, your faith has healed you.” And the woman was healed at that moment” (Matt. 9:22).

Jesus knew precisely what had happened. Nothing is hidden from him. Somehow, in the midst of the crowd pressing in on him, he felt the touch of one single person. We can’t ever say that in the enormity of the cosmos, with so many things to manage, God doesn’t care about us or our individual needs and concerns. He does. As I said in an earlier post, he always has our best interests, our greatest good, at heart. This woman came to him, and the desperation of her faith became the channel that led to her healing. Once again, we see Jesus’ authority and power over sickness.

But let’s get back to the dead girl who Jesus was on his way to see at the start of the passage. Just as the woman with the bleeding reached out in faith to physically touch Jesus’ cloak, this girl’s father also begged for the touch of Jesus. He believed that Jesus’ touch could give his daughter life, and his faith was vindicated. “After the crowd had been put outside, [Jesus] went in and took the girl by the hand, and she got up” (Matt. 9:25). Through Jesus’ physical touch, received in faith, death itself was reversed. Jesus has authority and power, even over death. But I want to suggest that Jesus’ physical touch was also accompanied by his spiritual touch on the girl, and her father, and everyone who witnessed those events, including us. To all of us, God is speaking, saying, “I am your God, who longs to give you life. Come to me in faith and live.”

Over several weeks, I’ve been trying to answer the question, “Why should we put our trust in Jesus?” I’ve argued that we can put our trust in Jesus, first, because he is someone who does not discriminate but welcomes us all equally. Second, because he is someone who can be relied on to fulfill his promises. Third, because he can be relied on to fulfill his promises because he has both the authority and the power to make his will a reality in this world. Fourth, because we know that he acts with our best interests at heart. Fifth, because we know that his authority and power extends to all things, physical and spiritual. Sixth, because, as we do trust him, we experience the power of life-giving faith in our lives. And seventh, because Jesus alone, as God, can forgive our sins. Today I want to add one final thing to the list. Jesus has authority and power, even over death. His touch brings life. And that is our eighth reason for why we should put our trust in Jesus.

03/06/2026

WHY TRUST JESUS? – 4

In a previous post, I defined authority as the right to control, to command, or to make decisions, usually backed up by the power to implement or enforce those decisions or make them a reality.

In Matthew 9:1-8, a crowd, after witnessing Jesus perform another miracle, “were filled with awe; and they praised God, who had given such authority to man” (Matt. 9:8). People recognised that Jesus had authority. We’ve already seen his authority over disease. We’ve already seen his authority over the natural world. We’ve already seen his authority over the spiritual world. And in this passage, we see his authority to do something that only God can do – to forgive a person’s sins.

“Some men brought to Jesus a paralyzed man, lying on a mat” (Matt. 9:2). To outward appearances, it seemed that he had a physical problem - he was paralysed. Perhaps he was born that way, or had suffered a spinal cord injury, or this was the result of a disease. But we quickly discover that the root cause was something quite different. “Jesus said to the man, “Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven” (Matt. 9:2). Clearly, this disease was the direct result of sin.

Before we go further, let me qualify that statement. All disease is not the direct result of sin. It might be an indirect result of the fact that we all live in an imperfect, fallen world, but Jesus himself, when asked about this in John 9, challenged the direct association. The purpose here was something quite different. Jesus went on to explain, “I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” (Matt. 9:6). In this case, there was a connection between the man’s sin and his sickness, but it existed specifically so that Jesus could heal him, and in doing so, demonstrate that he, and alone in this world, has the authority to forgive sins.

Jesus’ opponents, the “Teachers of the Law,” were outraged. “At this, some of the teachers of the law said to themselves, ‘This fellow is blaspheming!’” (Matt. 9:3). Blasphemy means to curse or slander the name of God. It was the worst possible offence under Jewish law. What did Jesus do that they found so offensive? He said to a paralysed man, “Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven” (Matt. 9:2). Everyone knew that only God could forgive sins, so it was blasphemy for a mere human being to claim that right and effectively put themself in the place of God.

But, of course, there is another possible explanation that was not blasphemy. Jesus could say these words because he is God and therefore has the authority, or the right, to forgive sins. Some people understood that, which is why they responded with awe and wonder and were moved to praise God.

Jesus knew what he was doing. I’m sure he knew how his actions might be interpreted by his opponents. He was forcing the issue. He was challenging his audience to consider what they believed. He wanted them to make up their minds. Could they put their trust in Jesus? What about you? Can you see that in Jesus, God himself is present in our world and our lives? Can you put your trust in him.

18/05/2026

WHY TRUST JESUS? - 3

So far we’ve come up with four answers to the question, “Why should I put my trust in Jesus?” First, he is someone who does not discriminate. Second, he is someone who can be relied on to fulfill his promises. Third, he can be relied on because he has both the power and the authority to make his will a reality in the physical world. Fourth, he has our best interests at heart.

Today, I want to expand on the scope of Jesus’ authority and show that he is uniquely qualified to have our backs, not only in the physical world, but in the spiritual world as well. A father brought his sick child to Jesus for healing. “’Lord, have mercy on my son,’ he said. ‘He has seizures and is suffering greatly. He often falls into the fire or into the water’” (Matt. 17:15).

Obviously we can’t make a precise medical diagnosis from that description, but this looks and sounds very much like some form of epilepsy. When the seizures occurred, he lost control of his body and was at risk of falling into the fire or the local river. This was clearly distressing to the boy, but also distressing to his father, who was living in constant fear for his child’s safety. However, whatever the symptoms, the cause was more than just a physical problem or abnormality in the brain. The origins of this illness were in the spiritual domain. That’s evident in Jesus’ response. “Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of the boy, and he was healed at that moment.” (Matt. 17:18).

We certainly shouldn’t take this to mean that every physical complaint has a spiritual cause, but sometimes they do. The fallenness of this world does have an impact on our entire being—physical, emotional, and spiritual. In this particular situation, the root cause was spiritual. But even in the spiritual world, with just a word, Jesus could heal, demonstrating that he has complete authority and power there as well.

A second thing brought out of this story is the nature of faith. The man had already brought his son to Jesus’ disciples for help and they had failed. “I brought him to your disciples, but they could not heal him” (Matt. 17:16). We get the explanation for their failure in verses 17-20.

First, Jesus went beyond the disciples to condemn an entire generation. “‘You unbelieving and perverse generation,’ Jesus replied, ‘how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you?’” (Matt. 17:17). This is a reference to everyone who had witnessed Jesus’ miracles and heard his teaching, all of which declared him to be Israel’s long-awaited Messiah. They were “unbelieving and perverse” because they couldn’t, or wouldn’t, see who Jesus was and, as a consequence, place their faith in him.

Then he focused in on the disciples’ immediate experience. “Then the disciples came to Jesus in private and asked, ‘Why couldn’t we drive it out?’ He replied, ‘Because you have so little faith’” (Matt. 17:19-20). An entire generation of Israel, as we’ve seen, had no faith. Unlike them, the disciples did have faith in Jesus, but Jesus called it “little faith,” or put another way, defective faith. That is, it didn’t work.

It’s not the quantity of faith, large or small, that matters, but its focus, and the disciples had their focus wrong. Faith is not a substance such that the more we have, the more we can do. It’s not a kind of magic that can manipulate the world around us. It is, quite simply, our awareness of who Jesus is, and what he can do, and the ensuing confidence that we can take him at his word and act in obedience to it, letting him do the rest. The disciples failed because they didn’t get this and so didn’t experience the power of faith.

What can we add to our list of reasons for “Why should we put our trust in Jesus?” His authority and power extends to all things, not just the physical but the spiritual as well. And, if we stay focused on Jesus, we will experience the power of life-giving faith in our own lives.

13/05/2026

WHY TRUST JESUS? - PART 2

Last time I posed the question, “Why should we put our trust in Jesus?” The answers I came up with were because Jesus is someone who does not discriminate and because he is someone who can be relied on to fulfill his promises. I want to expand on this today and say that the reason he can be relied on to fulfill his promises is because he has the power and authority to make his will a reality and because he has our best interests at heart.

Authority is the right to control, to command, or to make decisions. In human terms, it usually flows from the position that a person holds. For example, a general in the army gives orders because he holds a rank that gives him that authority to command. Jesus clearly has the authority to command and control the things of this world. People saw it with their own eyes. In Matthew 8:5-13, when he healed a paralysed man, and in Matthew 8:23-27, where he controlled a storm that threatened to sink the boat he was in with just a word.

Where does that authority come from? Not from any human position, because there isn’t one that inherently has that right. His authority can only come from his divine position as the Son of God, present in the world.

Power is the ability to implement the decisions made with authority. Our politicians don’t go out and personally enforce the legislation they enact through parliament. That is the role of the police and the judicial system. They are the power that accompanies the legitimate authority of parliament. Jesus demonstrated the power to enforce his authority and make his will a reality. Not only was it a power beyond that of any human being, seen in his healing the sick and calming a storm, but, also unlike other human systems, here power and authority were combined into a single person, Jesus. No wonder people were asking, “What kind of man is this?” (Matt. 8:27).

The second thing I would say is that Jesus uses his authority and power for the well-being of his friends. In the passage I’ve been referring to, we read, “Then he got into the boat and his disciples followed him. Suddenly a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping” (Matt. 8:23-24).

Who were the ones at risk in this story? Not Jesus. His relaxed state shows that he was not concerned in the slightest for his own well-being. He knew that nothing could happen to him that was outside of his heavenly Father’s plan, a plan that would ultimately take him to the cross. Until then, his life was safe.

No, it was his disciples who were afraid. They were men who knew the dangers of being in a small boat on these waters. A number of them were fishermen. Over the years they had probably lost friends or family to the treacherous conditions. They were rightly afraid for their own safety. They panicked. “The disciples went and woke him, saying, ‘Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!’” (Matt. 8:25). In response, Jesus acted to keep his friends safe and to calm their fears. “’You of little faith, why are you so afraid?’ Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm” (Matt. 8:26).

Jesus used his authority and power to keep his friends safe, showing that he was on his disciples’ side and had their best interests at heart.

So, “Why should we put our trust in Jesus?” First, because Jesus is someone who does not discriminate but treats us all equally. Second, he is someone who can be relied on to fulfill his promises. Third, he is reliable because he has both the power and the authority to make his will a reality in this world, an authority and a power that belong to God alone. And finally, he has our best interests at heart.

04/05/2026

WHY TRUST JESUS? - PART 1

I’d like to pose one simple question. Why should we trust Jesus? The answer comes down to a few things. What Jesus is like as a person, and whether we can rely on him to do what he says. There’s a story in the bible, in Matthew 8:5-13, that addresses both these things. It’s the story of a Roman centurion with a very sick servant who came to Jesus for help. It begins, “When Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to him, asking for help” (Matt. 8:5).

We might not think anything of these opening words, but in the context of Jesus’ day, this was a most unusual event. Centurions were the backbone of the Roman army, in command of around 100 soldiers. It was this centurion, and those like him, who enabled the defeat of Israel by Rome. It was this centurion, and those like him, who enabled Rome to oppress and control this conquered people. This was not the kind of person who would come to a Jew for help, and he was not someone to whom any Jew would have offered help. On top of that, this centurion was a Gentile and Jesus was a Jew. Jewish law said that a Jew could not enter the house of a Gentile because they were “unclean.” Ethnicity and hatred stood between them. Religion and cleanliness stood between them.

Most would have turned their backs and walked away, but not Jesus. He was aware of the barriers, but treated them as if they didn’t exist, seeing only a man and his need and how he could help. Despite every reason to the contrary, Jesus did not discriminate. The normal practice of our world is to discriminate. We always favour some and withhold favour from others. Jesus does not. He treats us all equally. That should give us confidence to put our trust in him.

That brings us to the second reason why Jesus is someone we can put our trust in. Seeing the centurion’s need and having compassion on him, Jesus immediately promised to help, saying, “Shall I come and heal him?” (Matt. 8:7). In verse 8, Jesus’ promise was accepted. “…just say the word, and my servant will be healed” (Matt. 8:8). Finally, in verse 13, the promise was fulfilled. “‘Go! Let it be done just as you believed it would.’ And his servant was healed at that moment” (Matt. 8:13).

The promise to help was made. The promise was accepted. And the promise was fulfilled. That is how Jesus works. Not only does Jesus not discriminate, but we can rely on him to be absolutely true to his word. He is someone that we can put our trust in.

31/03/2026

19/03/2026

SIMPLE FAITH DOES THE UNEXPECTED

We should never assume that we live in a country where people are basically good, where they look out for their neighbours, and that they are not self-seeking and self-centred. We live in a self-centred world. That’s nothing new. 2000 years ago, Jesus spoke to an equally selfish, strong-willed humanity with words that are just a powerful today as they were then.

He began by quoting one of the oldest laws in history, “You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth’” (Matt. 5:38). The intent of this law is justice. The principle is that a person harmed through the deliberate action of another should be fairly compensated. That’s fair. And if people were motivated purely by the desire to do right by another person, there’d be no problem, and probably no need for the law either. But most people are not motivated by the desire to do right. The danger of applying this principle on the basis of a selfish or self-centred motivation is that we open the door to revenge and retribution, not to make amends, but to hurt the other person in the same way that they’ve hurt us.

How did Jesus deal with this? He said that his followers must do the unexpected and not insist on their rights. We still deserve justice and fair compensation, and hopefully the laws of this nation will ensure that we get it. But we’ve got to give up our right to insist on it, because in doing so we are removing the possibility of using the pursuit of justice as a legitimised way of exacting revenge or retribution.

Jesus then went on to describe a range of other rights that we might have to surrender if we are committed to living a life of simple faith.

There is our right to dignity, that is, the right to be treated without insult (Matt. 5:39). Do the unexpected. Let it go. There is our right to comfort, that is, the right to cling to what pleases us (Matt. 5:40). We live in a world where it is “our right” to have every comfort we want and too bad about everyone else. Instead, do the unexpected and be moved by the needs of others and release whatever they need without selfishness. There is our right to self-determination, that is, the right to do only what we want when we choose to do it (Matt. 5:41). Do the unexpected. Don’t just do the minimum required of us with a bitter and resentful heart, but freely and generously give more. There is our right to our possessions, that is, the right to exclusive ownership (Matt. 5:42). Do you have something that someone else can use? Why not share it? I don’t know how many books I’ve lost over the years to people who borrowed them but never returned them. Part of me wants to say, “I won’t lend my books to anyone anymore. I paid for them. They’re mine.” But I come back to these words of Jesus. Do the unexpected. If we can, share. There is our right to decide who we love and who we hate (Matt. 5:43-44). Jesus said we have to let go of the right to make such distinctions.

All of this is counter cultural. The world, driven by self-interest, always insists on its rights. The world’s response to rights being infringed or ignored is to sue for damages. If we follow that pattern, we very quickly become the centre of our own universe, blind to anything but our own needs, oblivious to the desires and purposes of God.

What did Jesus say? Do the unexpected. A person living a life of simple faith lets go of their rights rather than insisting on them. A person living a life of simple faith looks beyond the wrongs that others may have done to us to what they most desperately need. A person living a life of simple faith seeks to turn these situations into opportunities to bring God’s blessing into the lives of others. A person living a life of simple faith seeks to be like Jesus.

07/03/2026

SIMPLE FAITH COMES FROM WITHIN

There is a big difference between being religious and being righteous. Jesus said…

Unless your righteousness surpasses the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 5:20).

This would have sounded impossible to Jesus’ hearers. The Pharisees were the religious elite. This was like saying, “Unless you can make more money than Elon Musk, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” It’s impossible, and yet, Jesus said that’s exactly what we have to do if we want to enter God's kingdom.

Fortunately, Jesus went on to explain how to do it. The problem is that we misunderstand the meaning of righteousness by confusing religious behaviour, that is, doing things in the name of religion or to appear religious, with the life of simple faith. The big difference between the two is that religious people focus on outward behaviour while faithful people focus on the attitudes of the heart. The Pharisees excelled in religious behaviour for its own sake when in reality righteousness is about the attitudes of the heart that subsequently express themselves in right behaviour. The attitude has to come before the action. To be truly righteous, we have to deal with matters of the heart.

What does that look like? Jesus gave an example by reminding his hearers of a religious law that everyone knew by heart.

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Do not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment’” (Matthew 5:21).

The religious people had no trouble with this. How many times have we heard someone say, “I’m not a bad person; I mean, I’ve never killed anyone”? But Jesus took it a step further by saying…

“I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment” (Matthew 5:21).

We might not be murderers, but we’ve all lost our temper at some point. If the law was simply, “Do not murder,” there’d be no problem. We can do that without even trying. We could hate someone with every fibre of our being, but as long as we didn't kill them, we'd still be righteous. But guess what? That’s being religious, not righteous. It’s not fixing the heart problem.

If we want to be faithful, and not religious, if we want to have a righteousness that surpasses that of the Pharisees, then something first has to change on the inside. And here’s what we need to do. One, accept the reality of our problem, hatred comes from inside of us (v. 22). Two, be aware that reconciliation is our responsibility (v. 23). It’s up to us to forgive others from our heart and begin treating them with the respect they deserve. No one else can do it for us. Three, realize that being reconciled is better than being right (v. 25). Admitting that we’re wrong is never easy, but regardless of how right we might think we are, it’s better to be reconciled than to be right.

Fix the heart and true righteousness naturally follows. Only then will we enter the kingdom of heaven.

01/03/2026

SIMPLE FAITH CAN CHANGE THE WORLD

300 years ago, Isaac Watts wrote a hymn containing this line, “Is this vile world a friend to grace, to help me on to God?” These words are a challenge to take off our rose-coloured glasses and see the world as it really is. Is it a friend to grace? No. Will this world help us to know God? No. Will this world help us to love him and serve him? No. Why not? Because the world has its own agenda. The bible says…

For everything in the world — the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does — comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever. (1 John 2:16-17).

What does all that say about Christians? Quite simply that we need to be different. We need to display the opposite of the desires and cravings of the world. We saw last time that this involves being poor in spirit, mourning over sin, being gentle in our dealings with others, taking God seriously, being concerned for people in need, being without pretence, making peace, and being willing to suffer for the cause of Jesus. How does that change the world around us?

2. The only strategy that works

Jesus said…

“You are the salt of the earth... You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven” (Matt. 5:13-16).

How do we have a lasting impact? By shaking salt and shining light.

Jesus talks about salt of the EARTH and light of the WORLD. This is about having an impact on the way that the whole world functions. And did you pick up the emphatic ‘you’. YOU are the salt of the earth. YOU are the light of the world. Nobody else. We are on the spot as world shakers and world changers. I’ve never thought of myself in that way. I’m nobody special. I’m not that significant. You may think the same. But Jesus says we are significant. Because we know the saviour, we are in the business of shaking salt and shining light and as we do that, we are changing the world.

3. Be salt

Salt preserves. In the years before refrigeration, the only way to make many things last was to pack them in salt. Salt can preserve our world from decay. On top of that, salt has the added property of enhancing the flavour of food. In a world that has lost its flavour, that’s valueless and self-centred, salt can bring it back. Salt has a third property. It makes people thirsty. So in the case of salty Christians, we hold back the process of decay, we add value and meaning, and at the same time make those around us thirsty for the water of life.

4. Be light

People living in a dark and decaying world don’t just need salt. They also need light. What is the purpose of light? Quite simply, it dispels darkness. The two can’t coexist. Turn on the light in a dark room and it’s not dark anymore. The darkness hasn’t gone somewhere else. Darkness is simply the absence of light. When light comes, darkness no longer exists. If we are shining Christians, the world around us is no longer dark. It can’t be. Just being present as a faithful and active Christian makes the world a different and better place.

5. The Jesus strategy

Can we give the world too much of a good thing? Yes. If you shine a torch straight into someone’s eyes on a dark night you don’t so much enlighten, as blind. And a large handful of salt on someone’s dinner doesn’t enhance the flavour. It makes the food inedible. Too much salt ruins. Too much light blinds. So shake, don’t pour. And shine, don’t blind.

The Jesus strategy is simple. Live a life of simple faith. Don’t overcomplicate things. Simply let your light shine. That will get attention. There is no need for big public announcements. Just shine.

And what will people see? They will see the presence of Jesus being lived out through you. They will hear your courtesy. They will notice when you stop to thank them. They will hear when you apologize when you are wrong. They will see you help them when they are struggling. They will notice that you are the one who stopped to give them a hand. They will see Jesus in you, and they will “praise your Father in heaven” (Matt. 5:16).

23/02/2026

SEVEN CORE QUALITIES OF A LIFE OF SIMPLE FAITH

In the “Sermon on the Mount,” Jesus identified the qualities of a life of simple faith using the term, “blessed.” “Blessed” means to be content and fulfilled, to have a deep-seated joy and peace, and to be approved of by God.

First, be “poor in spirit” (Matthew 5:3). Rather than being spiritually proud and self-sufficient, this means recognising that we are spiritually impoverished, spiritually broke and desperate, and completely dependent on God for a spiritual handout. As we live under the constant care and protection of God and we see what kingdom living is all about.

Second, “mourn” (Matthew 5:4) over sin. Sin is an offence against the God we claim to love. To keep doing it and expecting him to keep forgiving is like a slap in the face to him, taking him for granted. So take sin seriously, mourn over it, and repent of it, because that is the start of authentic godliness and the peace of forgiveness.

Third, be “gentle” (Matthew 5:5). In our world, aggression is linked with success while gentleness is equated with weakness, insecurity, and indecision. Unfortunately we’ve distorted the original meaning of the word. Jesus taught that a gentle person is one who is not preoccupied with what others think about them, or with protecting their rights, or fighting to assert their control over others. Instead, wait in faith for God to provide what he has promised, knowing that he will provide everything we need.

Fourth, “hunger and thirst for righteousness” (Matthew 5:6). Have an insatiable desire to know God intimately. Knowledge is not just about information or facts. It means aligning ourselves with God’s character - his holiness, his truth, his goodness – and weaving these into our everyday living. If we truly long for God, rather than being the victims of spiritual starvation, we are let loose on the buffet of God’s provision which never runs out.

Fifth, be “merciful” (Matthew 5:7). Mercy is a concern for people in need, a “ministry to the miserable.” It’s not just feeling sorry for someone. Instead of being too busy to help, we need to take the time to come alongside them and walk with them. What goes around comes around. If we show mercy, we will receive mercy.

Sixth, be “pure in heart” (Matthew 5:8). Be sincere, genuine, and without hidden motives. The problem with living a life of lies and pretence is that we eventually lose the ability to tell the difference between what is real and what is pretence. But the pure in heart can see the truth, which means they can see God. They see him at work in the world and their lives. They feel his presence because nothing is hidden from them.

Seventh, be “peacemakers” (Matthew 5:9). Peacemakers relieve tension, rather than intensifying it. They seek solutions, not arguments. They lower their voices, rather than raising them. Peacemakers are not appeasers. They don’t seek peace at any cost, not at the expense of God’s truth or at the expense of sound doctrine. That doesn’t simplify life, it only complicates it. This makes them “children of God” in the sense that they share his nature.

How can we apply these to our everyday lives? For the next week, practice one of these seven attitudes each day, then repeat.