Solus Christus

Posted on October 28, 2025 by Shirlee Abbott

 

Continuing with the five solas of the Reformation —
Solus Christus, Only Christ:

 


Acts 4:11-12 (NIV)
Jesus is
“‘the stone you builders rejected,
which has become the cornerstone.”
Salvation is found in no one else,
for there is no other name under heaven
given to mankind by which we must be saved.

I remember a question from a personality test I took years ago: My church teaches the only way to God, True/False. I struggled with the answer — True sounded prideful and exclusionary; False seemed totally wrong. I realized that while my faith community preached salvation in Christ alone, we were not the only congregation to do so.

 

Good morning, Lord. I join with millions of believers on earth and in heaven who know that salvation is found in Christ alone — one Lord, one faith, one Church (upper case C, meaning all Christians around the world and over time). They are all my brothers and sisters in the faith, my “great cloud of witnesses” (Hebrews 12:1). They are with me, You are with me, I am not alone.

 

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Sola Scriptura

Posted on October 27, 2025 by Shirlee Abbott


This week we’ll look at the Five Solae, the basic principles behind the Reformation — the 16th century shift in religious thought resulting in the separation of Protestants from Catholics.

The first principle is Sola Scriptura, Only Scripture:

2 Timothy 3:16 (NIV)
All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness.

 


Good morning, Lord. Teach me to honor Your Word, to hold it in higher esteem than anything else I hear or read. Fill my mind with Your wisdom, the assurance of Your grace and power. Plant the seeds of Your truth in my heart, let them take root, prosper and bear good fruit, in Jesus’ name.

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Teachable Moments

Posted on October 24, 2025 by Shirlee Abbott

 

“The world is not a playground; it is a schoolroom. Life is not a holiday, but an education. And the one eternal lesson for us all is how better we can love.”
Henry Drummond, 1851-1897

 

Our days are filled with teachable moments. Question is, are we paying attention?

 

 

Good morning, Lord. What eternal lessons do You have for me today? Teach me to pay attention. Above all else, teach me to love.

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Nineveh’s Teachable Moment

Posted on October 23, 2025 by Shirlee Abbott

 

Nineveh was a big city on the path to destruction, and its people were clueless.

Until …

 

Jonah 3:4 (MSG)
Jonah entered the city, went one day’s walk and preached, “In forty days Nineveh will be smashed.”

They realized their days were numbered. It was their teachable moment.

Jonah 3:5
The people of Nineveh listened, and trusted God. They proclaimed a citywide fast and dressed in burlap to show their repentance. Everyone did it—rich and poor, famous and obscure, leaders and followers.

They learned their lesson, and disaster was averted.

 

Good morning, Lord. I walk through life blindly, clueless to troubles ahead of me. But when faced with danger, I call out to You and You answer. Teach me to trust You in the day-to-day routine, to walk and talk with You all the time and not just when the storm hits. Grant me a teachable heart, let me seek You when all is well and trust You when it’s not. Thank You for being there for me — all the time.

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Jonah’s 2nd Second Chance

Posted on October 22, 2025 by Shirlee Abbott

 

God called, and Jonah disobeyed. Given a second chance, Jonah obeyed and warned the Ninevites of God’s coming judgment. But when God showed them mercy, and Jonah pouted.


Jonah 4:1-3 (MSG)
Jonah was furious. He lost his temper. He yelled at God …  “So, God, if you won’t kill them, kill me! I’m better off dead!”

Jonah did things God’s way — with an ungodly attitude. God was not pleased and suggested a change of heart. The 4th chapter of Jonah records their conversation. It doesn’t say what Jonah did with this 2nd second chance.

 

 

Good morning, Lord. Align my attitude and actions with Yours. Teach me to let go of my grudges, fill me with mercy, teach me to love. When I fall short, show me how to make it right. Thank You, Lord, for second (and more) chances to do things Your way.

 

 

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Nineveh’s Second Chance

Posted on October 21, 2025 by Shirlee Abbott

Nineveh was the capital city of Assyria. The Assyrians were the enemies of the Jews, defeating them and taking over their land. Many of the residents were sent to places all over the Assyrian Empire. And people from all over the Assyrian Empire were brought in to replace them. Jonah thought they deserved God’s judgment.


Jonah 3:4 (ESV)
 Jonah began to go into the city … And he called out, “Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!”

God gave the Ninevites a second chance. They took Jonah’s declaration to heart and repented. Instead of wrath, God poured out mercy.

 

Good morning, Lord. You are merciful, so merciful that I sometimes forget that You’re also holy. I climb into Your loving lap like a child, knowing I’m safe there. But Your throne is also a place of holy and powerful judgment. If I don’t acknowledge Your righteous anger, I can’t fully appreciate Your loving mercy. Help me comprehend both Your holiness and Your mercy.

 

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Jonah’s Second Chance

Posted on October 20, 2025 by Shirlee Abbott


Sunday’s sermon has me thinking about second chances. Jonah heard God’s call and rebelled, bringing disaster on himself. But God intervened and gave him a second chance.

 

Jonah 1:17 (ESV)
And the Lord appointed a great fish to swallow up Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.

Jonah followed through on his second chance and obeyed.

I’m impressed that Jonah heard God the first time. All too often, I fail to recognize God’s voice. I frequently need more chances to hear and understand. Obedience is its own issue — like Jonah, I need (and God grants) second chances.

 

 

Good morning, Lord. Forgive me for failing to first hear and then obey Your call. Thank You for second, third and more chances. Teach me to listen and follow through — the sooner, the better.

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Good for Me, Good for My Home

Posted on October 17, 2025 by Shirlee Abbott


Proverbs 24:2-3 (ESV)
By wisdom a house is built,
and by understanding it is established;
by knowledge the rooms are filled
with all precious and pleasant riches.


A home might contain aging furniture, worn carpets and chipped dishware. But if it’s built on a foundation of godly wisdom and understanding, the space is filled with precious treasures money cannot buy.

 


Good morning, Lord. Fill my earthly dwelling with good things: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control; that is, fill my space with the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23). Our home need not be perfectly decorated nor perfectly clean to honor You. Teach me to be content with what I have.

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Good for Me, Good for My Spouse

Posted on October 16, 2025 by Shirlee Abbott

Proverbs 31:10-12 (ESV)
An excellent wife who can find?
She is far more precious than jewels.
The heart of her husband trusts in her,
and he will have no lack of gain.
She does him good, and not harm,
all the days of her life.

A good spouse brings his or her partner good and not harm … every single day.

Toxic behavior isn’t good. Nor is putting up with toxic behavior.

No harm from me, no harm to me. Belittling, nagging, going silent, ignoring, stomping out in a huff — not good for me, not good for my spouse. 

 


Good morning, Lord. Show me how to act in ways that do no harm to my spouse, my children, my parents, my friends and neighbors, even my enemies. I want to leave a trail of blessings, not curses. Teach me to be and do good consistently and graciously. 

 

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Good for Me, Good for My Finances

Posted on October 15, 2025 by Shirlee Abbott

 


King Solomon knew what it was to be wealthy — a good reason to look to him for financial advice.

 

Proverbs 3:9-10 (ESV)
Honor the Lord with your wealth
and with the firstfruits of all your produce;
then your barns will be filled with plenty,
and your vats will be bursting with wine.

If I hoard my money, I’ll never have enough. When I share it from the get-go, the same income will be more than enough.

 

Good morning, Lord. I want to love You, not money. Give me the right attitude about worldly treasure, to see it as a resource from You — after all, You provided the skill and the opportunity for me to earn it. Show me how to be a good steward of my income, using it to meet the needs of my family. At the same time, give me a generous heart, using my wealth to help others and honor You.

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