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

One of the most esteemed and exclusive rights one could hold in the first century was Roman citizenship. With Roman citizenship came several exclusive rights, privileges not afforded to all of the Roman Empire, but only to a select number. Some of these rights included the right not to be tortured, the right to a defense in a court, and also the right to plead your case directly to Caesar. Paul was a Roman citizen, as evidenced in Acts 22:25, which explains the events that fo

I know this may seem like an obvious statement, but Paul wrote essential teachings for the church. I say it is obvious, because it is the inspired Word of God (2 Tim 3:16-17), the Word which makes you wise unto salvation (2 Tim 3:15). Within the Word is the power of salvation (Rom 1:16). It transmits doctrine, what is right, and what is not right. It transmits correction on how to get right and how to stay right. It transmits all things pertaining to life and godliness (2 Pet

When we think of Biblical excellence, one who excels in upholding the Christian life, our minds turn to the Apostle Paul - this is for good reason. Paul embodies many of the principles expected of a Christian. Paul was staunch in his defense of the gospel - whether bound (2 Tim 2:9), beaten (2 Cor 11:23-25), or beheaded (tradition) - one thing seemingly always remained, an unwavering allegiance to the gospel. He encouraged others to share in suffering for Christ (Phil 1:27-29

One of my favorite game-type activities is Bible trivia. I love to test my knowledge of Bible facts - from the obvious questions like, “Who built the ark?” (A: Noah) to the more obscure questions like, “Who is the left-handed assassin of King Eglon?” (A: Ehud). One of those bible facts that comes up is that Paul was, by secular trade, a tentmaker (Acts 18:3). Paul was a tentmaker, but we know beyond that he was an evangelist of the Lord. He often used his life circumstances a

Aside from His mother, perhaps the best-known woman to have played a role in the life of Jesus was Mary Magdalene. Mary Magdalene, meaning "Mary from Magdala", has been fablized into a woman with a troubled past. Some suggest that she was a prostitute, an adulteress, or the sinful woman of Luke 7 - these are traditional misrepresentations that transpired from a 6th-century sermon by Pope Gregory I. These false characteristics become the overshadowing narrative about Mary - Go

Often, when we think of the dynamic between Mary and Martha, our attention focuses on the lapse of judgment by Martha in Luke 10. We can hear it ringing in our ears, "Martha! Martha!" While she certainly did fall to meet the occasion of identifying the greatest opportunity - an audience with Christ - she did on another occasion display great understanding of Christ. In fact, you see a reversal of roles between Mary and Martha. In John 11, the brother of Mary and Martha, Lazar

As Jesus went about His ministry, He developed a following. Many came to where He was because of the incredible things He was doing - healing diseases and casting out demons (Mark 1:34). Between His works and His words (Matt 7:28-29), there was a great curiosity surrounding Jesus of Nazareth. Naturally, once curiosity arose, division followed. It soon became apparent that while many marveled at Jesus, they were not keen on following Him. Those who did seek to follow Him were

“Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word…” (Luke 1:38). Such is the humble reply of a young virgin woman from the insignificant town of Nazareth. A woman who had just been met by an angel, Gabriel, and had been told of her inclusion in the plan of God. It was a plan that followed many of the promises of God: the eternal heir of David (1 Chron 17), the everlasting ruler of Judah (Gen 49:10), the Messiah to be born of a virgin (Is 7:14). It

Throughout the Bible, there is an undergirding presence of women who possessed great faith. Reaching far back to the Old Testament, we find examples such as Sarah, Ruth, Esther, Rahab, and several others. Arriving at the New Testament, we see five women who shared a place within the lineage of Christ: Tamar, Rahab, Bathsheba (the wife of Uriah), and Mary, the mother of Jesus. Through the life and ministry of Jesus, we find several women of significance who have an association

Even the best of us are susceptible to failure. There are men and women of astonishing moral rapport, immense faith, and irreplaceable benefit who, at times, go against their morals, break faith, and damage the brethren. Frankly, it is a reality for all, no matter how sincere, who have followed Christ. Sin is escapable (1 Cor 10:13), but it is not incapable of taking hold of us (1 Jn 2:1). We have the right of choice. With such a right, we are then vulnerable to making the wr

Have you ever found yourself torn between the decision to keep trying or give up? Perhaps it was with a specific person. You find yourself weighing whether or not to involve someone in your work. At a time of difficulty, the person in question left when things heated up. Do you include them once again or move forward? Such was the crossroads that Paul and Barnabas found themselves in, as recorded in Acts 15:36-41. In Acts 15, Paul proposes returning to the cities where they h

What does it take for me to be a contributor in the Kingdom of God, the church? It is daunting to consider the task set before each of us to work for the kingdom of God. We understand from parables such as The Vineyard Workers (Matt 20:1-16) and The Talents (Matt 25:14-30) both the privilege and the expected product of service. We might be concerned about doing enough. What tools do I need? Do I need powerful speech like Peter? Do I need to develop studious habits like Paul’s

It takes an extraordinary heart to act upon what is seen. That might be a bit of an overstatement, but is it? Have you ever felt like people could see exactly what you needed and yet wondered why they wouldn’t act? More painful, have you ever seen someone, knew exactly what they needed, and refused to help? I think we all know how both of those situations feel — to be neglected and to neglect. Such is why I believe in this statement: it takes an extraordinary heart to act upo

The Bible is filled with men and women who lived in such a way that it is worthy of imitation. These people are like us, touched with frailty, failing as we do. They are also how we can be - strong and committed. One man that is on my mind is Barnabas. There is so much that we can say about Barnabas, even if we only see him so little in the New Testament. One thing that stands out to me is Barnabas's commitment. Paul mentions Barnabas as a like figure when making a defense of

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