Father of the Inklings

Command #90: Don’t Insult Or Call Anyone A Fool

In how many ways we each break this command...often, even daily! When it comes to the "commands of personal conviction," this must certainly rank up near to the top of the list.  

From The Commands by Michael Phillips. Read by Michael Kimball. More information on this and similar writings may be found at Father of the Inklings. Visit Amazon to purchase The Commands and other books by Michael Phillips.

Command #89 - Proclaim the Kingdom of God

Most of the commands given by Jesus to his disciples when he sent them out two by two must be viewed as being too specific to be considered universally incumbent upon all his followers throughout all time.  

From The Commands by Michael Phillips. Read by Michael Kimball. More information on this and similar writings may be found at Father of the Inklings. Visit Amazon to purchase The Commands and other books by Michael Phillips.

Command #88 - Show Mercy

How far into eternity will God's mercy extend? It is one of the great historic theological conundrums.  

From The Commands by Michael Phillips. Read by Michael Kimball. More information on this and similar writings may be found at Father of the Inklings. Visit Amazon to purchase The Commands and other books by Michael Phillips.

Command #87 - Let People Injure You Without Retaliating

This is surely one of the Bible's most well known verses. Its succinct proverb is a part of everyday conversational idiom everywhere. The command might therefore have been rendered in its more familiar form as simply: Turn the other cheek.  

From The Commands by Michael Phillips. Read by Michael Kimball. More information on this and similar writings may be found at Father of the Inklings. Visit Amazon to purchase The Commands and other books by Michael Phillips.

Command #86 - Speak Graciously With Words of Peace

Curiously, Jesus did not address the mode and manner of how we are to conduct ourselves in the normal flow of daily conversation. His comments about speech are very specific.  

From The Commands by Michael Phillips. Read by Michael Kimball. More information on this and similar writings may be found at Father of the Inklings. Visit Amazon to purchase The Commands and other books by Michael Phillips.

Command #85 - Do Not Doubt

We have spoken several times about Jesus' use of hyperbole, exaggeration, and metaphor. We do not actually "eat his flesh" when participating in a communion or Eucharist service. He does not really want his followers to "cut off" their hands or "pluck out" their eyes to rid their lives of sin. These are symbols and images which Jesus used skillfully to get his points across.  

From The Commands by Michael Phillips. Read by Michael Kimball. More information on this and similar writings may be found at Father of the Inklings. Visit Amazon to purchase The Commands and other books by Michael Phillips.

Command #84 - Let Your Yes Be Yes and Your No Be No

Again we encounter Jesus making a point with overstatement. No one seriously expects us to go through life saying nothing but yes and no. Jesus himself did not do so either. Once more we gain further insight into his words from the Lord's brother James, who gave this command in its more familiar form: Let your yes be yes, and your no be no. (James 5:12)  

From The Commands by Michael Phillips. Read by Michael Kimball. More information on this and similar writings may be found at Father of the Inklings. Visit Amazon to purchase The Commands and other books by Michael Phillips.

Command #83 - Acknowledge Your Discipleship

It is easy to hear words such as, "He who is ashamed of me and my words...of him will the Son of Man be ashamed." (Mark8:38, Luke 9:26),  and read ourselves right out of the text.  

From The Commands by Michael Phillips. Read by Michael Kimball. More information on this and similar writings may be found at Father of the Inklings. Visit Amazon to purchase The Commands and other books by Michael Phillips.

Command #82 - Do Not Speak Carelessly

It continues to be astonishing, once we see it, how much of Jesus' teaching concerned the simple things of life - such "unspiritual" things. Where is all the theology and doctrine? Of course we can turn to Romans or Ephesians if we want that sort of thing. But where is it in the Gospels? It's not there. 

From The Commands by Michael Phillips. Read by Michael Kimball. More information on this and similar writings may be found at Father of the Inklings. Visit Amazon to purchase The Commands and other books by Michael Phillips.

Command #81 - Love Truth, Speak Truth, Do Truth

One of Jesus' most familiar "I am" declarations in John's gospel is, I am the truth. To love Jesus, therefore, one must love truth.  

From The Commands by Michael Phillips. Read by Michael Kimball. More information on this and similar writings may be found at Father of the Inklings. Visit Amazon to purchase The Commands and other books by Michael Phillips.