Take Sin Seriously
Will you see your need for Christ if you have not seen your sin?
Why is the Son of God taken for granted in the visible church today? Only because sin is taken lightly. The rediscovery of the glory of Christ’s salvation is our most pressing need. The most mature man of God needs a fresh vision of Jesus Christ so that he cries out, “Hallelujah! What a Savior!”... Continue Reading
Humility in Ministry
Dear brothers, put off pride and posturing. Humble yourselves before God.
The Bible promises while God opposes those who are proud, He “gives grace to the humble” (James 4:6; cf. Ps. 138:6; Prov. 3:34; 1 Peter 5:5). Humility, then, is an emptying of self; it is a dying to self (see Luke 9:23; Gal. 2:20). Paul exhorted the Philippian church to manifest humility in their dealings... Continue Reading
How to Summarize the Gospel in 2 Words
Grace and peace.
Nothing in us is motivational, and nothing we can do can pay Him back. The only part we have in grace is the receiving of it: “For by grace you are saved through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift—not from works, so that no one can boast” (Ephesians 2:8-10). And what... Continue Reading
My Joy Rose as Sorrows Fell
In sorrow I have learned the joy of God’s presence.
Before I can rejoice, I need to lament. This step is critical because it is only through acknowledging and grieving my pain that I’ve experienced God’s presence and comfort. Without this step, my words may sound spiritual and even eloquent, but they are disconnected from my life — I’m left feeling empty and alone. I... Continue Reading
What Does Paul Teach Us About Resolving Conflict?
How we resolve conflict will testify to the reconciling work of God in Christ by his Spirit in our lives.
It has been said that humility is standing at our full height next to God at his full height—and that means standing next to others at their full height too. When you are in a situation of conflict, are you ready to give due credit to your (actual or potential) opponents? Paul is clear that... Continue Reading
Dwelling on Death
The promise of Christ about death is the resurrection.
Run hard in this life. As it did for Paul, life now means the continuing opportunities of fruitful labor for the joy and progress in the faith of others to the glory of God (Phil. 1:22, 25-26). The worldly view would have you toiling now to enjoy only this life because if this is all... Continue Reading
Dying Is Gain
In death, we’re home, so it’s gain.
Our hope as we anticipate old age or sickness is not mainly a hope for healing (though God can and does decide to physically heal), but it’s a superior hope: a hope that this is the very verb, the very action, the very sovereign doing of God, which leads us home. “To depart and be with... Continue Reading
Gratefulness and God’s Sovereign Goodness
Ingratitude is not just a failure in manners. It is a sin against the God who did not spare even His own Son but delivered Him up for us all.
As we grow in Christian experience and in our knowledge of Scripture, we discover that God’s nature and daily practice are to lavish His goodness on His people, covering every area of life. His grace and power are more than sufficient to supply what is good for us, both spiritually and materially. No wonder we... Continue Reading
How Jesus’ Parables Expose Our Self-Centeredness
If we look back at Luke 15, the greater focus is not necessarily on the objects, but on the one seeking those objects.
Here was a young man who disrespected and dishonored his father only to have his father joyously welcome him back into the family when he came home. It is a good point. These objects – be they a sheep, a coin, or even a son – are valuable because of the value placed on them... Continue Reading
The Importance of Doctrine
the Bible is the tangible result of the "Meaning Giver" explaining foundational truths to the "meaning makers" he created.
Every person who has ever lived exists in desperate need of the unfolded mysteries that make up the content of Scripture. Without it, we wouldn’t know how to think about life. We wouldn’t know for sure if what we knew was true, and we wouldn’t know if what we thought we knew was good and... Continue Reading