As To The Lord
“And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men” (Colossians 3:23 NKJV). This Pauline advice to slaves is advice that we could all profit from in our daily lives. We do not always like the tasks that we need to do. Routine can become boring. Some assignments can
Idols Of Holy Things
Moses made a serpent of brass at the command of the Lord (Numbers 21:9). People were saved from snake bites by looking to it. However, in time it became a relic to worship. In an odd way, holy things can become central to worship: A church building, prayer, fasting, the Bible, a pastor, a
Superstition And 666
The evil is not the number 666, but what it represents. The first readers of Revelation understood its meaning to their present persecution. Multiple scholars remind us that 666 is a code word in OT and NT for the oppressive empire. In the OT the weight of gold that came to Solomon in taxes
A Daily Mercy
In the hymn, “Come Thou Fount” there is a phrase which says, “Streams of mercy, never ceasing.” I am captured by the thought. The Fount produces an unending stream of mercy. Wow! We forget that we need mercy constantly flowing into our lives. We need mercy more than at the time of our conversion;
Un-controlling Love
Believing that God controls every decision and action of humankind, both good and evil, is so unlike the One God revealed in Trinity. God does not control; He loves. The Father, Son and Spirit (One God) exists in a community of unbroken love. Neither controls the Other, Each prefers the Other and testifies of
The Divine Likeness
The Son of God became fully human by incarnation. He became human to show us in flesh and blood what God is like and thus at the same time show us what we are to be like. God is like Jesus. Jesus was the ideal human. That is what Jesus came to show us.
Follow The Pattern
Whenever you are building something it always helps if you have an example to go by. It also helps if you have a helper. When we are building our life as workers together with God, the Father has sent the Son so that we will have Someone by which we can pattern our lives.
Grace And Truth
“For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ” (John 1:17). The law announced condemnation; grace announces love and mercy. The law could not change us but love and grace could. The law revealed truth as a moral code; grace revealed Truth as a Person. The law was preparatory,
Making The Unknown Known
In Acts 17:22-31 is the story of Paul’s sermon on Mar’s Hill about the Image to the Unknown God. In this sermon Paul reminded pagans that they were children of God; that their very existence was tied to the hidden Christ whom they had not yet come to confess, though “He is not far
The Lord Is Our Life
Israel was admonished to choose life over death and blessing over the curse (Deuteronomy 27-30). What we miss in this is that the Lord is our life as we obey His voice and hold fast to Him. “Choose life, that you and your offspring may live, loving the LORD your God, obeying his voice
Pure Joy!?
“Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything” (James 1:2-4 NIV). Consider facing trials as pure joy? Paradox! Counterintuitive! We want only
Atonement And The Spirit
Nothing skews our understanding of God’s reconciling atoning work like leaving the Holy Spirit out of the atonement equation. Atonement is the totality of who Christ is and what He has set in motion. It is the incarnation, Calvary, resurrection, Pentecost, ascension, intercession and more. There are many atonement theories, none of which can
Washing Feet
When Jesus washed the disciples feet He asked them, “Do you know what I have done?” —meaning— “Do you know why I have done this?” It was surely bigger than an act to be enshrined as a sacrament. It was a message to bickering disciples who wanted to be greater than each other. It
Hearing god Or Hearing God
Humankind have a way of hearing a god who is not God commanding them. They say it is god, but it is not God. This god is one constructed by personal likes, dislikes, prejudices and fears, as well as by covetousness, competition and conquest. This god can “command” some horrific things. This god, we
God Models His Own Commands
The God revealed in Jesus of Nazareth does not ask us to do anything He has not already done. There is no sacrifice you make that He has not made. He who said, “Take up your cross” already took up His. He went the second mile. He turned the other cheek. He loved His
God Is Not Insecure
The One who planted the trees in the Garden of Eden gave humankind a choice. He is not insecure about our freedom. He is kind and patient with those who may be upset with Him. He is not unsettled when we get it wrong. He is not wringing His hands. He patiently keeps coming
Our Sovereign Lord
God is so sovereign that He gives us freedom to choose. He does not always get His way with nations and men. He calls those who will work with Him. Greater than a god who controls all the choices of all people is the God who still accomplishes His purposes by willing co-workers. The
Turn The Page
The teacher was reading a story to a young child. As soon as the child would hear the opened page read, she would say, “Turn the page, teacher. Turn the page.” As we grow older, it may not always be easy to turn the page, but we must. The sad chapters of yesterday must
Disintegration Or Restoration
Our disordered passions end in disintegration. Unless we turn by repentance, that will end in death. “While we were living in the flesh, our sinful passions, aroused by the law, were at work in our members to bear fruit for death” (Romans 7:5 NRSV). The Father has given us the Son and the Spirit
Our Baggage
We all are marked by the genetics of our ancestors. We have been shaped by positive and negative forces. We have made choices that have gone into making us who we are. We may have emotional scars and bitter memories. We have our joys mixed with our sorrows. We have personality traits that may
Silent Before Him
God is a complex Being. He is in a category all by Himself; angels, humans and other heavenly creatures are millions of light years in distance from His magnificence. He is far grander than we can ever begin to grasp. God knows the intricate complexities of everything in the universe: everything in the human
Good And Evil
God creates the good; evil is nothing but the distortion of the good. Evil must hide behind the good to make itself acceptable. This is why a wolf must wear sheep’s clothing. Evil’s promises wear the mask of the promises of God, but it is another disguise. Going the route of evil to get
Overcoming Temptation
The statement made about Jesus, “He was without sin,” is about more than Jesus’ preparation as the unblemished sacrifice; it is also a pattern of victory He has laid down for us as our example. Christ demonstrated in His temptations that we do not need to comply with the enemy of our souls. Satan’s
God Speaks
Our God is a speaking God. “He made known his ways unto Moses, his acts unto the children of Israel” Psalm 103:7. He who spoke in times past by prophets has now spoken finally and authoritatively through His Son (Hebrews 1:1-4). The Bible is a grand story that culminates with the arrival of the
A Benediction For The Suffering
“And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen” (1 Peter 5:10-11 NIV). Suffering is temporary in the grand scheme