Seeking the Life in Christ

Monday, June 29, 2026

I Work at It

Meditations on

Staying in the Grace for Today

June 29, 2026

I Work at It

“Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged.”

1 Corinthians 13:4-5

A man stopped on the way home from work for a few drinks with his buddies. As usual, a few turned into several. When he got home his young daughter, who was wearing all over her face whatever had been prepared for her supper, and had a rather large and odoriferous deposit in her diaper, rushed to jump into his arms. As he stepped backwards, fighting off a sudden wave of nausea, he muttered to his wife, “How do you love something that smells like this?” She calmly replied, “The same way I love a husband who comes home stinkin’ drunk and affectionate; I work at it.”

Someone said they heard this man share this incident at an AA meeting. I hope so. The story reminds me of the man who explained to his minister why he was filing for divorce, “I just lost my love for her.” The minister replied, “You may lose your screwdriver, but you don’t lose your love for someone. Love is a choice, a decision you make. Love is a verb; it is action, not emotion.” When you spend time pondering the full catalog of love’s virtues in 1 Corinthians 13, you realize this is the point St. Paul was making. Life gives us ample opportunity to be jealous, boastful, proud, rude and irritable. Love chooses to be patient and kind instead.

Love is not easy. Making the decision to love is just the first step; actually, loving someone in difficult circumstances is hard work. It has been my experience that taking the first step, making the decision to love, requires reaffirmation, sometimes daily.

My Takeaway: When I struggle to express love in difficult situations, I recall that 1 Corinthians 13, the Love Chapter, is a vivid description of how God loves us. Not only is God’s love for us patient and kind, but God also “never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance” (1 Corinthians 13:7). Then I claim the promise: “For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength” (Philippians 4:13).

Sē’lah

My book on prayer,

First Think, Then Pray

is now available on Amazon Kindle.

(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

These meditations are written by Alex M. Knight as he seeks the life in Christ as his way of life. The meditations are published on the BLOG, http://seekingthelifeinchrist.blogspot.com/ and they are also distributed on the Constant Contact email server. You may subscribe to this email service by sending an email to: amkrom812@gmail.com.

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Friday, June 26, 2026

Run to Jesus

Meditations on

Staying in the Grace for Today

June 26, 2026

Run to Jesus

“He will carry the lambs in his arms, holding them close to his heart.”

Isaiah 40:11b

The Church of St. Peter in Gallicantu is on the eastern slope of Mount Zion in Jerusalem. The church takes its name from the Latin word "Gallicantu", meaning cock's-crow. In the courtyard of the church, overlooking the Kidron Valley, the Mount of Olives, and the Garden of Gethsemane, is a cluster of statues depicting Peter standing in front of a charcoal fire denying to a servant girl that he knew Jesus. The church is believed to have been built on the site of the home of the High Priest where Jesus was taken the night he was arrested, and where Peter three times denied Jesus. It makes sense that the cluster of statues would be there, but if I could build a statue commemorating Saint Peter, I would choose another scene.

I would want a statue depicting Peter jumping off his boat, half-naked, as he swam one hundred yards to Jesus on the beach. Or perhaps I could make a statue of Peter and John in a foot race to the empty tomb. I would also want to capture the scene where Mary Magdalene clung to Jesus after he called her name in front of the empty tomb, or of grief-stricken Mary and Martha rushing out of their home in Bethany to meet Jesus.

I believe the Apostle John is right, “perfect love expels all fear” (1 John 4:18). Mary and Martha experienced this. Not only were they grief-stricken, but they were also perplexed by Jesus’ delay in returning to Bethany on the news of their brother’s illness. Nevertheless, they ran to Jesus. So also, Peter. He was acutely aware of failing Jesus in the Garden, and later by denying Jesus. Even so, once aware Jesus was on the shore, he swam to Jesus as fast as he could.

My Takeaway: If there is any hesitancy holding you from running to Jesus, embrace Isaiah’s image of Jesus, and remember who is waiting for you: “He will carry the lambs in his arms, holding them close to his heart.”

Sē’lah

My book on prayer,

First Think, Then Pray

is now available on Amazon Kindle.

(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

Thursday, June 25, 2026

Yes, and Amen

Meditations on

Staying in the Grace for Today

June 25, 2026

Yes, and Amen

“For all of God’s promises have been fulfilled in Christ with a resounding “Yes!” And through Christ, our “Amen” (which means “Yes”) ascends to God for his glory.”

2 Corinthians 1:20

My personal library is filled with commentaries on the Bible, daily devotional readings and scores of books on various and sundry Biblical themes. Although it is greatly reduced in the number of books since my retirement from the pastoral ministry, it still numbers in the hundreds. In addition, I have several dozen more religious books in my Amazon Kindle collection. The vast majority of first century pastors had few, if any, resources. Their congregations had no Bibles or sacred writing they could study. That being the case, how did they master the art of discipleship? They simply learned to say ‘Yes” (Amen) to their Abba.

Can it be that simple? I think so. I recall many years ago listening to an interview with Pastor Paul Yonggi Cho of South Korea. God was using him in a mighty way to build the Christian church in South Korea, and he was asked the secret of his success. He simply replied, “Pray and obey.” In my first visit to Cuba, we had been away from our base in Camaguey all day visiting out-lying mission churches. We returned after midnight on a Saturday night and noticed lights on in the church. We looked in the sanctuary and observed more than a dozen faithful, on their faces, praying for the Sunday worship service. In my second visit, we stayed with the pastor’s family in their home. His church sanctuary was in his living room. While we were in the kitchen having a meal several hours before a worship service, several in his congregation were in the next room praying for the service. Pray and obey.

My Takeaway: The Apostle Paul said that all the promises of God have been fulfilled in Christ Jesus. Our part, our discipleship, is simply a matter of learning to say ‘Amen” to God’s “Yes.”

Sē’lah

My book on prayer,

First Think, Then Pray

is now available on Amazon Kindle.

(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

Wednesday, June 24, 2026

Come and See

Meditations on

Staying in the Grace for Today

June 24, 2026

Come and See

“Jesus looked around and saw them following. “What do you want?” he asked them. They replied, “Rabbi” (which means “Teacher”), “where are you staying?”

“Come and see,” he said.”

John 1:38-39a

Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of the men who spent the afternoon with Jesus. Andrew then went to his brother, Simon, and told him, “We have found the Messiah” (John 1:40). John the Baptist had already pointed out Jesus to Andrew, as the Lamb of God, but something happened to Andrew that afternoon with Jesus that forever changed him. I have long been intrigued by the simple dialog in this passage: “Where are you staying? “Come and see.”

I can become so comfortable in my routines of life that I can become oblivious to what is happening around me. I think that is typical of our human experience of life, but it was not typical for Jesus’ earthly experience. Every day his senses were fully aware of his surroundings and of those around him. Every day he was fully aware of his Father’s love for him. Every day he was fully engaged in his Messianic mission. God wants us to have life in Christ. The Holy Spirit is fully engaged in His ministry of forming Christ within us, to the end that every day our senses will be fully aware of our surroundings. Every day we will be fully aware of Abba’s love for us, and every day we will be fully engaged in the ministry God has assigned to us. How?

By having our own simple dialog with Jesus: “Where are you staying? “Come and see.” The key is staying. I am finding a directly proportional relationship between the quantity and quality of time I spend with Jesus and the acuteness of my awareness of my environment.

My Takeaway: One thing I greatly regret about my pastoral ministry was the absence of periodic sabbaticals of extended time alone to be with Jesus. Even so, my hearts longs for more of Jesus, and I trust the Holy Spirit will help me to press on so “that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:12b NASB).

Sē’lah

My book on prayer,

First Think, Then Pray

is now available on Amazon Kindle.

(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

Tuesday, June 23, 2026

Spiritual Beggars

Meditations on

Staying in the Grace for Today

June 23, 2026

Spiritual Beggars

“God blesses those who are poor and realize their need for him,

for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.”

Matthew 5:3

The story of the Gentile woman and Jesus illustrates the power, and truth of this first Beatitude. The Gentile woman came pleading to Jesus, “Have mercy on me.” Her daughter was demon-possessed, and she knew the only hope for the child was Jesus. After a rather terse dialog with the woman, Jesus said to her, “your faith is great. Your request is granted,” and her daughter was instantly healed. (Matthew 15: 22-27) The woman was one Tom Long calls ‘spiritual beggars.’ (Matthew, Thomas G. Long, (Westminster John Knox Press, Louisville 1997) page 48).

When we are spiritual beggars, we recognize we need help; we recognize we can’t save ourselves, no matter what we do. All we can do is plead for mercy. Jesus says this is the key to our right-standing relationship with God.

Speaking to spiritual beggars in his Sermon on the Mount, Jesus says the Kingdom of God is theirs-- now, that instant. Still today, spiritual beggars are given the same right-standing with God as Jesus-- now, this instant.

John Wesley taught his congregations about Holiness of Heart and Holiness of Life. When we receive Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we become a new creation: the old has gone, the new has come! (2 Corinthians 5:17) This is holiness of heart. This is our right-standing relationship with God-- now, this instant. Next, the Holy Spirit begins to work within us, teaching us how to live as the beloved children of God. This is holiness of life.

My Takeaway: One thing never changes. We were spiritual beggars when we first experienced the transforming grace of Jesus, and it is as spiritual beggars that the Holy Spirit works in our lives to bring us into God’s New Creation with holiness of life. We never, ever, lose our complete dependence of the grace of God in Christ Jesus, our Lord and Savior.

Sē’lah

My book on prayer,

First Think, Then Pray

is now available on Amazon Kindle.

(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

Monday, June 22, 2026

The Eternal Law of Love

Meditations on

Staying in the Grace for Today

June 22, 2026

The Eternal Law of Love

“But I say, do not resist an evil person! If someone slaps you on the right cheek, offer the other cheek also.”

Matthew 5:39

What do you suppose is the greatest obstacle to mastering the life in Christ as your way of life? I think the answer has to do with cultural opposition to the ways of Jesus, so the answer will vary depending on where you were raised and where you are living. In the USA, I believe the answer is a tie between our rebellious nature and our competitive spirit.

Our rebellious spirit makes it exceedingly difficult for us to completely surrender control of our lives, and everything and every person within our span of influence, to the ways of Jesus. Our competitive spirit makes us devalue anything that we can’t win or at least measure a positive rate of return on our investment of time, energy and resources. Both spirits within us make it very difficult for us to own the words of Jesus in his Sermon on the Mount. Consider the verse quoted above. How much time and energy do we burn when we feel slighted, or that someone has taken advantage of us, or mistreated us in some way? We may not proactively, aggressively retaliate in some way, but we may stew over the incident for a long while. All the time and energy we devote to pondering and replaying the incident, is time we are not spending responding to God who “is working in (us), giving (us) the desire and the power to do what pleases him” (Philippians 2:13).

There is no simple solution to this conundrum, which is why the Apostle Paul used such drastic language to express how he found his way to the life in Christ: “My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me’ (Galatians 2:20a) Stay with the metaphor long enough to recall that crucifixion was a very long and painful death, and you will understand why Paul warned his friends to “work out your own salvation with fear and trembling” (Philippians 2:12b NRSV).

My Takeaway: Inevitably, we are going to be hurt and angered by the words and actions of others, whether intentional or not. How we respond is of supreme importance to Jesus, and to the work of the Holy Spirit to form Christ within us. Gandhi wrote that “Jesus lived and died in vain if he did not teach us to regulate the whole life by the eternal law of love.” Gandhi was correct in his thinking.

Sē’lah

My book on prayer,

First Think, Then Pray

is now available on Amazon Kindle.

(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

Friday, June 19, 2026

Liberated From the Tyranny of Public Opinion

Meditations on

Staying in the Grace for Today

June 19, 2026

Liberated From the Tyranny of Public Opinion

“Instead, put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.”

Romans 13:14 (NRSV)

I believe the one thing that distinguished Jesus in his humanity was his absolute certainty that he was God’s child. His sense of his identity, coupled with his commitment to his messianic mission, liberated him from the tyranny of public opinion. Contrast this with life in our fallen humanity as we try to gratify our desire for love, acceptance and self-worth through the performance-based-acceptance ways of our culture. The more we struggle with the meaning of our existence, using the tools of our culture, the more we miss life from God (David C. Needham, BIRTHRIGHT- Christian Do You Know Who You Are?)

The Apostle Paul’s injunction to put on Christ was repeating his call not to “copy the behavior and customs of this world” (Romans 12:2a) Paul’s antidote to the behaviors and customs of the world is to embrace the same liberating identity as did Jesus. When Jesus first sensed God calling him to begin his public ministry, he went to the River Jordan to be baptized by his cousin, John. “As Jesus came up out of the water, the heavens were opened and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and settling on him. And a voice from heaven said, “This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy” (Matthew 3:16-17). From that moment on, Jesus embraced his identity as God’s Messiah.

For the followers of Jesus, “That’s what baptism into the life of Jesus means. Each of us is raised into a light-filled world by our Father so that we can see where we’re going in our new grace-sovereign country. Could it be any clearer? Our old way of life was nailed to the cross with Christ, a decisive end to that sin-miserable life. When Jesus died, he took sin down with him, but alive he brings God down to us. Sin speaks a dead language that means nothing to you; God speaks your mother tongue, and you hang on every word. You are dead to sin and alive to God. That’s what Jesus did“(Romans 6:3-13 The Message, selected verses).

My Takeaway: Embrace what Jesus did for you and accept your authentic identity as a child of God with whom Abba is delighted, and upon whom Abba’s favor rests. When you do, you will be liberated from the tyranny of worrying about what other people think of you, and you will be free to know and do God’s will for you.

Sē’lah

My book on prayer,

First Think, Then Pray

is now available on Amazon Kindle.

(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

Monday, June 29, 2026

I Work at It

Friday, June 26, 2026

Run to Jesus

Thursday, June 25, 2026

Yes, and Amen

Wednesday, June 24, 2026

Come and See

Tuesday, June 23, 2026

Spiritual Beggars

Monday, June 22, 2026

The Eternal Law of Love

Friday, June 19, 2026

Liberated From the Tyranny of Public Opinion

Seeking the Life in Christ

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