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

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

It is estimated that the book of Acts covers the first thirty years of the Church’s history. During these thirty years, we focus on several lives and ministries. In Acts 1-5, the emphasis is on the duo of Peter and John. In Acts 6-9, the attention shifts to the evangelists Stephen, Philip, and Ananias. In Acts 10-12, the focus is on Peter and the Gentiles. In Acts 13-28, the spotlight is on Paul and his various companions. From start to finish, it tells the story of the Churc

If the All-Knowing God commented on your faith, what would He reveal? There are a few times when Jesus comments on the faith of others. Interestingly, those He found most favorable were those of a Gentile background. As for those who were the esteemed teachers of the Law, their faith was lacking (Matt 5:20). As for those who followed Him closely as friends and students, their faith was lacking. In a previous article, we commented on Jesus’s remark to Peter falling into the wa

Last Sunday, our article considered Peter and an occasion where he "hit the nail on the head." In John 6, Peter's fervor was completely right—where else shall we go? Who else has the words of eternal life? By what other man can we come into fellowship with God Almighty? There is no other man (Acts 4:12), no other way (John 14:6), and no other words (Romans 1:16). There is, however, another lesson to be learned from Peter's fervency. We referred to this, a time in which Peter

You have heard the expression, “You hit the nail on the head.” This means that you got it entirely correct. Your understanding is not off even a shade. You are right. In Peter’s life, we can see several instances where he couldn’t be any more wrong. Matthew 16 is an excellent example of such; Peter stands and proclaims he would not allow the Christ to die (Matt 16:22). As we might recall, Jesus returns Peter’s proclamation with the searing words, “Get behind me, Satan!” (Matt

If Peter wrote a memoir, I could imagine reading something like this: "One night on the seas, as winds blew and the waves beat about in the darkness, a dear friend approached me. He was the most powerful man I have ever met, for he was no mere man. He was the Son of God. I witnessed many of his powerful deeds, saw the lame restored, saw thousands fed from measly portions, and even saw the dead raised. When he came to our side, standing on the turbulent sea, I asked that he pe

“Faithless is he that says farewell when the road darkens.” - J.R.R. Tolkien How true it is that when the road becomes darkened, faithfulness, loyalty dissipates like the morning dew. Such is the recurring narrative of life. Not merely in our time, but for all of human history. The first humans to experience the threat of consequence turned on each other (Gen 3:12). The chosen people of God would turn against Him at the first signs of inconvenience (Ex 17:3). Even as pressure

"You're braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think." These are the words of our beloved, round, honey-feeding friend, Winnie The Pooh. These words have motivated generations to believe in their capabilities. From time to time, like the ebb and flow of the ocean, there are feelings of inadequacy and incapability. Such was the case for an eighty-year-old Moses. Moses experienced a surge of confidence when he decided to identify with his people a

John Ruskin is quoted as saying, “The highest reward for a person’s toil is not what they get for it, but what they become by it.” Such a fitting quote this is when we consider the labor of Moses. Moses was called from the simplicity of shepherding s heep to the strenuous work of shepherding a people. His work of leading the people of Israel undoubtedly had its moments of pleasure, but certainly had its trying moments. Moses stood for the benefit of the people of Israel. When

"Don't forget where you came from." Sometimes, this phrase is a snide remark, other times, it is a sage piece of advice. The point is that it is meant to help one stay on the foundation that has been laid for them. It can b e a true challenge to remember where you came from. The world is riddled with distractions. Some can become tied up in their profession, education, and status, to name a few. Could you imagine how immense this tug must have been to be raised by the most po

Marcus Aurelius suggested, “How much more grievous are the consequences of anger than the causes of it.” It seems as though if there were a man who could comment on the validity of this point, it would be Moses. Think about your short list of facts about Moses. We know Moses led the Israelites from captivity. We know Moses interceded for the people in the reception of the Law (Ex 19) and in the repentance of their sins (Ex 32). We know Moses to be the most humble man in all t

"He laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around his waist." (John 13:4). These statements serve as a transition, namely a transition from the first roughly 33 years of His life to the last hours of His life. When we begin reading John 13:1, we start with the reading of a day that will then span to John 18, where Jesus is found and arrested in the garden of Gethsemane. Jesus, on this last day, undoubtedly recognized a significant time for instruction - Hi

What type of lives would we live if we knew when they would end? Some might go mountain climbing and bull riding. Others might make it their mission to give all the love and forgiveness they have been denying. However, at the very least, most would be tempted to live lives of absolute wickedness. If we had a guaranteed time of judgment, many would seek to squeeze in all the sins they possibly could and then try to ask for forgiveness afterward. How do I know? People try to do