Some Christians are satisfied with only a “surface relationship” with Christ. Others attempt to pull Christ to their side, preference, opinion and assumptions and use His power for their purposes. Others desire to continue to seek Him further throughout life’s...
Exchange is at the heart of God’s nature. Martin Luther referred to the gospel as “The Great Exchange.” God takes our sin and gives us His righteousness. God absorbs our rebellion and exchanges it with His love. We can go further with this idea. ...
In times like the Holy Week where we are imagining every step of Jesus, it is tempting to conclude: “If only I could have walked with Jesus, as the twelve disciples did!” Remember that what is important is not what we know about Jesus, but that we know Him in each moment and each...
In our vast world it’s easy to feel that we are nothing more than an insignificant speck in the midst of a multitude. Our world tends to depersonalize us, seeking to make us like everyone else, but God loves us in specific ways that are particular to us. To our world, we are a...
There is a subtle temptation we all face that encourages Christians to be “practical” and to “get results,” believing “the end justifies the means.” Scripture reveals that the means are sometimes even more important than the results. Our culture tries to...
A foolish person makes unwise choices then spins the past to their liking. With every new opportunity that comes along, they chases off in a different direction, not questioning whether that is the best choice. The loudest voice gains their attention. It may be the quiet voice that they...
Our society is full of “experts.” There are people everywhere who want to convince you of the wisdom of their opinion. Yet God says that it is not the one who declares his viewpoint the most loudly or vociferously who is the wisest, but the one who is vindicated over time. Wisdom is...
Ephesians gives great insight to the lifestyle that ought to characterize Christians as they relate to one another. Our actions ought to be permeated with kindness. Kindness is love expressed in practical ways; philosophically it is putting the needs of others before our own. It is...
When Moses encountered God in the burning bush, he had much to learn about the Lord. Moses was impressed with the miracle before him (Exod. 3:3). However, it would take much more than a burning bush to lead Israel out of slavery from the most powerful nation of the day. Did this God understand...
Christ sees people far differently than we do. His love for all people should be a overwhelming thought. Throughout the Gospels we see a pattern in the way Jesus taught His disciples. Whenever He saw the crowds, Jesus would reveal to the disciples what was on His heart for the people...