2-10-2024 7:38pm

Strong spirits: you think what?

On what do you base your decisions? What forms the foundations of the beliefs you have? What shapes the lifestyle you live? For followers of Jesus, the simple answer would be, the Bible. I would answer, it should, but does it?

The reason I ask is that increasingly, I find among people who say they believe in Jesus, they generally, for the most part, never or seldom read the Bible. Or, if they read it, they don't put into practice what they learn.

Jesus asked this question: "Why do you call me 'Lord, Lord' and yet don't do what I tell you?" (Luke 6:46)

So here's my challenge: find a Bible and start to read it. I would recommend a good place to start might be the book of Matthew, chapters 5, 6, and 7. This is where Jesus lays out many of his foundational teachings. Need a Bible? I'll get you one. Let Jesus teach you how to live life as it was meant to be lived.

Gary Schwerin serves as pastor at Caledonia Congregational Church. He is also the Spiritual Development Minister for the YMCA of the Rock River Valley and Executive Director of Bridge Ministries of Rockford. Prior to launching Bridge Ministries, Gary spent many years in leadership with Young Life. His columns appear here every Sunday - subscribe to our daily email to see all our stories and events.