http://www.seriousfaith.com en-us http://www.seriousfaith.com/dvo/devotion.asp?teachingnumber=653 Whenever I wonder what I can do to please the Lord, I think of one verse that is a sure fire bet: James 1:27 Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world. ... G Brent Riggs 5/15/2009 http://www.seriousfaith.com/dvo/devotion.asp?teachingnumber=652 Matthew 23:12 - For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted. (NKJV) As I was reading this morning this verse really caught my attention. It is so OPPOSITE of everything about our culture today which seeks to exalt itself at every turn. Think about how things have changed in the last 60 years. Football players no longer score a touchdown, hand the ball to the ref, and maybe get a high-five or two from teammates. Now all they have to do is make ONE routine play... one tackle, one catch, one hit and th... G Brent Riggs 4/28/2009 http://www.seriousfaith.com/dvo/devotion.asp?teachingnumber=651 1 John 5:13 These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.2 Corinthians 13:5) Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you are disqualified. I wanted to finish up this little series today by giving you the full outline in a condensed version you can use for personal study or to teach others. If you have any questions, feel free to email me: ... G Brent Riggs 4/21/2009 http://www.seriousfaith.com/dvo/devotion.asp?teachingnumber=650 1 John 5:13 These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.2 Corinthians 13:5) Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you are disqualified. We are answering the question: "Can a Christian know for sure they have genuine saving faith?" The answer is YES. The Bible has many "tests" for us to apply and says much about the evidence that will be present in the life of the genuinely saved. Last ... G Brent Riggs 4/17/2009 http://www.seriousfaith.com/dvo/devotion.asp?teachingnumber=649 1 John 5:13 These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.2 Corinthians 13:5) Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you are disqualified. We are answering the question: "Can a Christian know for sure they have genuine saving faith?" The answer is YES! The same way we can prove other things: tests & evidence. Of course, we can only prove this to OURSELVES with an op... G Brent Riggs 4/16/2009 http://www.seriousfaith.com/dvo/devotion.asp?teachingnumber=648 1 John 5:13 These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.2 Corinthians 13:5) Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you are disqualified. I was asked this weekend the question, "how can you really know you are genuinely saved?" This is not a question about "once saved always saved." (eternal security). This question, more fully would go something like this: "Is there any way I can look a... G Brent Riggs 4/15/2009 http://www.seriousfaith.com/dvo/devotion.asp?teachingnumber=647 Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; Proverbs 3.5 Last time I showed you the verse above and asked you a bunch of questions to think about. I thought about them too. Here's my answers... I may not always live them perfectly, but at least having a plan gets you headed in the right direction. Considering Proverbs 3:5, I asked these qeustions about it: When do we trust in the Lord and not lean on our own understanding?... G Brent Riggs 4/3/2009 http://www.seriousfaith.com/dvo/devotion.asp?teachingnumber=646 Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; Proverbs 3.5 When? When things are bad? Really bad? Tragically bad? When we've tried everything else? When our first reactions and instincts proved ineffective? ... G Brent Riggs 3/30/2009 http://www.seriousfaith.com/dvo/devotion.asp?teachingnumber=645 Two of the traits I notice most on the rise in our culture are anger and being offended. It makes sense because both are deep seated in pride and selfishness, the two most "human" and basic emotions of the sin nature. Think about it, what does most anger (ungodly anger) stem from? We aren't getting our way. We don't like something. Someone did something we didn't like. We aren't being served, indulged, recognized or preferred like we think we deserve... G Brent Riggs 3/26/2009 http://www.seriousfaith.com/dvo/devotion.asp?teachingnumber=644 Every day I get emails and notes from people who are laboring (striving, stressed, tired) and under heavy burden. A child is about to die. A job is lost. A husband's committed suicide. A kid is doing drugs. Money has been stolen. A house about to be foreclosed on. A tumor found. A car wreck left a woman paralyzed. And that was just this last week.... G Brent Riggs 3/25/2009 http://www.seriousfaith.com/dvo/devotion.asp?teachingnumber=643 (Lam 3:25) - "... I will call to mind and therefore have hope". (NKJV) IF a certain condition is met THEN Something specified occurs ELSE The other specified thing occurs. I'm not trying to come up with some new way to interpret Scripture, it's just an easy way to remember and explain some truths about our Christian walk. Hope or No Hope IF we focus on the Lord THEN We can have hope ELSE We are hopeless. People ask us: How do we do this cancer thing with our daughter? How do we keep going? How can we be joyful, tha... G Brent Riggs 2/10/2009 http://www.seriousfaith.com/dvo/devotion.asp?teachingnumber=642 (James 1:12) - Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. (NKJV) Crowns or Death IF we endure temptation THEN We get a crown of life ELSE We get death. That's it. Logical. Absolute. If this, then that or else. It's helpful to remember this as we walk through Christianity. ... G Brent Riggs 2/5/2009 http://www.seriousfaith.com/dvo/devotion.asp?teachingnumber=641 The February issue of Serious.Life Magazine is online! I hope you'll take a minute and go check it out. The magazine is just getting better and better every month. All of the ads for ministries and Christianity charity work are FREE.... G Brent Riggs 2/2/2009 http://www.seriousfaith.com/dvo/devotion.asp?teachingnumber=640 (Romans 6:1) - 1What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? (NKJV) IF a certain condition is met THEN Something specified occurs ELSE The other specified thing occurs. I'm not trying to come up with some new way to interpret Scripture, it's just an easy way to remember and explain some truths about our Christian walk. We Are All Slaves IF we are saved THEN We are slaves to righteousness ELSE We are slaves to sin. That's it. Logical. Absolute. If this, then that or else. It's helpful to remember this... G Brent Riggs 1/29/2009 http://www.seriousfaith.com/dvo/devotion.asp?teachingnumber=639 (2 Timothy 2:15) - Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. (NKJV) As a programmer and web developer, I often see parallels from the computer world in Scripture. Odd I know, but that just goes to show the depth of application that is singularly unique with the Bible. The Word of God is part of the interface between the windows of humanity and vista of God's presence. It's like a keyboard into the human operating system. The Bible is our flat sceen monitor displayed in high definition. God is a PC and ... G Brent Riggs 1/26/2009 http://www.seriousfaith.com/dvo/devotion.asp?teachingnumber=638 (Lamentations 3:21-24) - This I recall to my mind, Therefore I have hope. Through the LORD’s mercies we are not consumed, Because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness. “ The LORD is my portion,” says my soul, “ Therefore I hope in Him!” (NKJV) Multitudes of people are praying for our daughter Abby (go here if you don't about her story: www.riggsfamilyblog.com). Tens of thousands are lifting us in prayer... maybe hundreds of thousands given the amount of email, stories and updates we get from individuals, churches an... G Brent Riggs 1/23/2009 http://www.seriousfaith.com/dvo/devotion.asp?teachingnumber=637 (James 3:14-16) - But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. (NKJV) James had been talking about true wisdom in the previous verses, describing what it was. Just to make sure we didn't miss the point, he then contrasts it by telling us what it is NOT, and what it results in. He doesn't beat around the bush eithe... G Brent Riggs 1/21/2009 http://www.seriousfaith.com/dvo/devotion.asp?teachingnumber=636 (James 3:13) - Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. (NKJV) Ask 100 people today: how do you know who is wise and full of understanding? You'll probably get these types of answers: Highly educated people with lots of letters after their names People who have books, radio shows or popular websites Those who belong to a curren... G Brent Riggs 1/16/2009 http://www.seriousfaith.com/dvo/devotion.asp?teachingnumber=635 For the past few days, we have been asking everyone to ask everyone they know to join us in praying for Abby, and for God to be glorified through this troublesome journey. We aren't trying to focus on death, or the negative aspects because we feel hopeless... we just wanted to use the four days leading up to this next phase to communicate how serious this time is, and bring people into the prayer group with us. ... G Brent Riggs 1/14/2009 http://www.seriousfaith.com/dvo/devotion.asp?teachingnumber=634 I was asked today why getting more and more people to pray for Abby does any good. Does a thousand prayers get God moving more than one, or ten? James 5:16 ...the prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. In context, this verse follows a series of questions: are you in trouble? Are you happy? Are you sick? Have you sinned? In other words, no matter what the situation: pray, praise, confess, worship. ... G Brent Riggs 1/13/2009 http://www.seriousfaith.com/dvo/devotion.asp?teachingnumber=633 “Hell”… that is the word Abby’s doctor used to describe the 60 days of treatment that starts on Wednesday. As Christians, we cringe a little to compare anything in this life to the real Biblical Hell, but we understand what the Doctor is trying to communicate. This is a life-threatening, miserable time of suffering for Abby. Her smallest chance of survival will come during this phase of chemotherapy, and if she does get through it, she may have to do it twice.... G Brent Riggs 1/12/2009 http://www.seriousfaith.com/dvo/devotion.asp?teachingnumber=632 (James 3:2) - We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to keep his whole body in check. (NKJV) We ALL stumble in many ways. Some won't admit it, either to themselves or to others. It doesn't matter. We ALL stumble, period. Some actually believe they don't, but they do. Some people stumble alot more than others. Do you want to QUIT stumbling? Notice what James says it takes to be a "perfect"... in other words, what does it take to quit stumbling? Answer: control your tongue. He then go... G Brent Riggs 1/8/2009 http://www.seriousfaith.com/dvo/devotion.asp?teachingnumber=631 I had the blessing of getting to share with our church family this morning about the many blessings God has showered on us during 2008. As I get older, as I write more, teach more, and hear from you more, I realize that very often God's greatest blessings come during our times of greatest hardship. I had a few minutes allotted to convey this to our Christian family, and since a picture is worth a thousand words, I thought a video might be worth a million. So I spent a couple of hours putting one together. ... G Brent Riggs 12/29/2008 http://www.seriousfaith.com/dvo/devotion.asp?teachingnumber=630 (For new readers, our daughter, Abby, three years old, adopted from Guatemala, was diagnosed with Leukemia in July this year). We got a call late last week that our Doctor wanted to consult with us. Never good... Here's the short version about this latest development with Abby: 8% of the population has a specific genetic variation... <SPAN style="FONT... G Brent Riggs 12/23/2008 http://www.seriousfaith.com/dvo/devotion.asp?teachingnumber=629 A reader wrote this kind note to me: You are quite amazing with the faith you demonstrate when things are out of your control. You make them seem (to some degree) as if they are in control: the control of the Almighty God. You should be in contention for a medal in life’s Olympics. ... G Brent Riggs 12/19/2008