Before the cross was planted in Golgatha, it was pictured by Isaiah. Isaiah shared with us the image of a savior who came into the world and would suffer immensely — not by accident, nor by rage, though plenty was demonstrated, but on purpose. This savior would be despised, rejected, pierced for transgressions which were not his own, and crushed for iniquities which he, himself, did not inquire (Is 53:3-6). Every stroke of the image cast of this suffering savior became identi

Every year, as the new year gets closer, we see the world softening. Homes are decorated with lights, generosity awakens, thankfulness abounds, and even the media becomes more pleasant. People find a warmth in their hearts that leaves them; they find a purpose that they’ve paused; they, for a season, turn their attention to God and His Son. You will see it, I am sure you already have, the famous slogan: “Jesus is the reason for the season.”  While the root of such a celebrati

Every army has a leader, one who stands at the forefront of the battlefield. One who champions the people. Every mission requires a voice. One who calls to action, directs, and supplies stability. Every nation of people has fallen or risen because of the voice that led them. For the Christian, our leader, our voice, is none other than Jesus of Nazareth, the Son of God. He is not the figurehead that so many in the religious world make Him out to be. He is the commander-in-chie

Life can be a merciless opponent, thrusting swing upon swing. However, there is a peace that the people of God can hold to, rooted in God Himself. David would remind us of the peace of God while in the throes of his own conflict, “But you, O LORD, are a shield about me, my glory, and the lifter of my head.” (Ps 3:3) It was several centuries later that Paul reminds us that we can do all things through Christ’s strengthening (Phil 4:13), and that Christ is our life (Col 3:4). C

Maybe you are like me, you hear some of the teachings of many in the religious world, and then you wag your head and think, "If they would just read their Bibles." I admit, I think that every time I hear or see a televangelist. I become a bit irritated when I listen too long — the pompous claims of near-perfection; the lies of prosperity; the false sense of peace; especially, the misrepresentation of walking with God. The misrepresentation of walking with God, this portrayal

There are a few sensations we might feel in relation to time. One of the more notable sensations is deja vu, where we feel like we have been in the same circumstance in which we presently stand, but at a prior time. Another sensation we have all felt is that we were in the right place, at the right time, for the right thing. It could be to provide a service to another. It was to have a conversation with another. There is such a thing as circumstance, where everything seems to

Perhaps someone develops feelings of jealousy toward you and determines to bring you down and make you fail. How would they do it? For the vast majority of the world, a proven plan would be to tempt with evil. I think of the example of Judah and Tamar (Gen 38). Tamar knew she could overcome her former father-in-law, Judah, by dressing as a prostitute and soliciting her services. Balaam knew that Israel would cave in at the opportunity to fornicate with foreign women. The chie

Every life, except for one, has been guilty of sin. We know sin to be the universal problem of man (Rom 3:23). Yet, every life has the opportunity of being weighed as godly. Righteousness, godliness, is a characteristic that can be true of every life lived, but it requires decisiveness. Daniel, throughout all his years, endeavored to live a life of godliness. Daniel’s pursuit of a life pleasing to God is apparent from start to finish. As a young man, he maintained his integri

I recall several instances where I had a disappointing message to share with someone, and I thought carefully about how to convey that information to them. Sometimes, it was a much easier task, given the nature of the person. At other times, it was a much more daunting task because that person might have been somewhat temperamental. Luckily, I have not had to share a disappointing message with anyone who held the power of life or death over me, although, like you, I remember

When life becomes difficult, how do you maintain your relationship with God? For some, when life goes from sweet to sour, we may be tempted to throw away our allegiance to God. It becomes easy to validate our sins because we have deemed God to be unfair and/or unloving. It is a rare thing, a truly commendable thing, when the follower of God stands by God and His moral, religious, and personal expectations. It is far too tempting to rip away our cord from Him when it seems tha

We stand upon the shoulders of those who have come before us. While it ought to be true that the faith that abides in us is our own, it is also true that we would not be who we are if it were not for the ones who came before. God designed it that way. He charged faithful followers to go and make more faithful followers (Matt 28:19-20). That is how the church was able to gain wind beneath her wings; faithful Christians were educated and trained by their predecessors. Even thos

It takes courage to stand against the world's errors and to defend the truth. It requires even more courage to do that alone. Many have buckled beneath the pressures of compromise. The message of truth was "too controversial," or perhaps the requirement to defend alone was "too daunting." The Bible would tell us, "The righteous are bold as a lion" (Prov 28:1). When we direct our attention to the conflict on Mount Carmel, we find Elijah donning the mane of a lion, standing maj

Is it possible for our wishes to impact the Lord’s decisions? Perhaps it is a loved one suffering from an illness, and everything appears to be written in stone. Maybe a loved one has veered into worldly living, and the black sheep is so far from the fold that they might never come back. I guess the question boils down to this: Does prayer work? Can we influence the Lord? Are we wasting our time sharing our wishes? Is prayer merely for meditation and not mediation? I have hea

I am not in the business of songwriting. Many of the songs we sing, if we pay close attention to the words, not only serve as encouragements but also as challenges. One song that comes to mind is “Can He Depend on You?” The chorus rings forth, “Can He depend on you, His blessed will to do? Will you be crowned with the faithful and true, can He depend on you?” I say I am no songwriter, but if I were, I would suggest a fourth stanza - one that addresses not only sharing the tru

Ancient times were marked by antiquated issues - one of which was the preferential treatment of men over women. A Biblical example of this is John 8:1-11, where a woman caught in adultery is brought before Jesus as a test from the Pharisees. Have you ever wondered, "Where is the man?" Adultery isn’t an act that brings guilt to just one party; it takes two to tango. I look back at a far more shattered system to ask this: Could anything make your life harder in Israel during th

What is the best single piece of advice you have received? People are asked this question often; some will vary in their answer, and they might quote Gandhi, Will Rogers, or Mom and Dad. While there is plenty of advice worth hearing, the best advice ever given was from a mother, Mary, the mother of Jesus. Remember, Mary comes to Jesus with a request. They are at a wedding feast in Cana; the supply of wine has diminished, and Mary requests that Jesus fix the problem. Mary woul

Some blessings in life are only appreciated when received with tears. Nothing is quite as refreshing as having your heart's longing satisfied. If the sentiment can be appreciated, it would be most appreciated by those who had their longing for motherhood granted. I do not arrive at this conclusion because of naivety or because I understand the mind and body of women. I arrive at this conclusion because some of the most beautiful Scripture comes from formerly barren women, now

One of the greatest privileges of life is parenthood. Globally, it is estimated that 80-90% of all people living will enjoy this blessing. With the blessing comes a great responsibility. Children should learn of and remember their Creator from their youth (Eccl 12:1). This is greatly advantaged when parents fulfill their obligation to discipline and instruct their children in the Lord (Eph 6:4). The Bible informs us of parents who both honored and neglected this responsibilit

One of the greatest compliments one can receive is being described as a man after God’s own heart. Such was the compliment paid to David as God inspired Paul (Acts 13:22). There are various reasons why David received this compliment: he was merciful (2 Sam 9), he took his commitment to the Word seriously (Ps 1:1-2), and he was dependent upon God (Ps 20:7). Among these qualities, one evident in David’s life is his desire for God. David desired to be with his God. He looked to

This past Wednesday, we were reminded of the frailty of our heroes. A thought-provoking devotional was presented, in which David's three exchanges with Shimei were observed. A short reminder: David leaves it in God's hands (2 Sam 16), David forgives (2 Sam 19), and David commissions vengeance through his son's hands (1 Kgs 2). An exchange I've read over and over got me thinking about some things. First, how remarkable the grace of God must be. I'll be the first to admit that