sola gratia

S   Therefore, imitate God like dearly loved children.  Live your life with love, following the example of Christ, who loved us and gave himself for us.  He was a sacrificial offering that smelled sweet to God.  Nobody should deceive you with stupid ideas.  God’s anger comes down on those who are disobedient because of this kind of thing.  So you shouldn’t have anything to do with them.  You were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord, so live your life as children of light.  Light produces fruit that consists of every sort of goodness, justice, and truth.  Therefore, test everything to see what’s pleasing to the Lord, and don’t participate in the unfruitful actions of darkness.  Instead, you should reveal the truth about them.  It’s embarrassing to even talk about what certain persons do in secret.  But everything exposed to the light is revealed by the light.  Everything that is revealed by the light is light....

Several years ago, Dick Wills, former episcopal leader for the Nashville Area of The United Methodist Church, introduced to the Memphis Annual Conference a spiritual discipline called the LifeJournal.  It's a Bible study method, employing a technique known as SOAP, wherein the reader approaches the scripture, makes basic observations, considers its application, and forms a prayer for God to bring fruit from what's been learned; I've used it in my personal study ever since.  Starting with this post, I'll occasionally share my journaling here.  May you be blessed by something you find, and encouraged in your own journey through God's written Word. S   Brothers and sisters, if a person is caught doing something wrong, you who are spiritual should restore someone like this with a spirit of gentleness.  Watch out for yourselves so you won’t be tempted too.  Carry each other’s burdens and so you will fulfill the law of Christ.  If anyone thinks they ar...