“Don’t pray that we won’t be persecuted. Jesus told us we would be persecuted. Pray that we will be faithful when the persecution comes.” We could add to that prayer request the prayer that God raises up some godly men to lead as elders in this church.   A few years ago, two Brazilian women... Continue Reading

He sees your hidden labors to love a difficult spouse. He sees your sleepless nights serving sick children. He sees what never escapes the anonymity of your four walls. He sees your work that will never be Instagram-worthy or garner offers from corporate sponsors. He sees diary entries never published and remembers prayers never heard... Continue Reading

The great prophet was merely human, and could be frail, fragile, and fail — yet he was also a righteous man whose fervent prayer was answered by the Lord. Elijah’s heart was in tune with God’s, and he was much used of the Lord.   ‘Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show... Continue Reading

Many people want the thief to mean that faith is merely a sentence spoken at the end. The cross teaches something stronger. True faith turns. It turns toward God. It turns away from self-defense. It turns toward Christ with a seriousness that can be heard. The thief did not polish his words. He did not... Continue Reading

Sacrificial love is an essential aspect of both earthly marriage and our relationship with Christ. In other words, the love that a man and a woman have for each other gives us an important picture of what our relationship with God is like. As we submit to our Lord, so wives are to recognize the... Continue Reading

Proverbs 6 condemns “a heart that devises wicked plans.” This echoes God’s grief in Genesis 6:5, where humanity’s thoughts were “only evil continually,” prompting judgment. Sin incubated in the heart is not neutral. Jesus later confirms this when He locates murder, adultery, and slander in the heart before they ever reach the hands (Matt. 15:19).... Continue Reading

In my darkest moments… when I can’t see clearly… I remember that King David had been there, too. He knew the wilderness. He knew the silence. He knew what it felt like to cry out to a God who felt far away.   In Psalm 22, David pours out words so raw that Jesus Himself... Continue Reading

In 1 Corinthians 9: 7-10 the Apostle Paul teaches on the principle that God gave in His law that those who do work deserve to be paid. We work hard and wisely and we earn what we earn. The detractors of our income must be ignored.   If you earn a generous salary, don’t let... Continue Reading

Judah and its city and temple were in the state they were in because of their own sin. This was a reality they had to face up to, but when they did—as hard as that reality was—there was hope for them.   I don’t think it would be an exaggeration to say that as a... Continue Reading

Perhaps the Church would be better served if there were fewer books written trying to identify the Antichrist and speculating about geopolitical intrigue, and if instead there were more exegetical works treating what Scripture actually says about these men of evil.   Perhaps no subject broached by contemporary Bible prophecy teachers engenders more speculation and... Continue Reading