Peter also calls believers a royal priesthood. He does not separate us by clerical or laic titles, or by gender, race, ethnicity, or class. This is the highest calling we could receive from Almighty God. In the Old Testament, royalty and priestly represented different areas of authority. They are now joined in regal spiritual pursuits.... Continue Reading

We live in a hostile age. A great many people are angry at those who disagree with them, and they feel free to express that anger frankly and publicly on social media. In a sense that’s not new; people have always been angry at those who disagree with them, but it hasn’t always been possible... Continue Reading

Sometimes the godly are too secretive and the world grows suspicious, wondering what they’re up to. Wisdom calls for a balance and a consistency between what we do in secret and what we do in public. We shouldn’t perform publicly for show, and neither should we hide genuine godliness. We represent Him, and we should... Continue Reading

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.”   I am the subject of depressions of spirit so fearful that I hope none of you ever get to such extremes of wretchedness as I go... Continue Reading

In our day the primary enemies that seeks to once again eclipse the gospel are seemingly diverse so-called churches and church movements such as the Purpose Driven paradigm or seeker-sensitivity and gospel contextualization, which remove essential parts of the gospel in order to not offend the “unchurched.” Then there is the Emergent church, which has... Continue Reading

He climbs a tree. — He doesn’t believe; he just wants to take a look. But don’t miss the backstory here; he had to have heard something about Jesus. That something made him curious enough to climb a tree. Remember this when you encounter someone who doesn’t know Jesus. You don’t need to convert them.... Continue Reading

Once, when my son was little, he made an inference in line with biblical teaching. He said, “In Heaven, sharks don’t bite; they lick.” His comment is consistent with Isaiah’s prophecy, “The wolf and the lamb will graze together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox” (Isaiah 65:25; NASB). While scholars debate whether... Continue Reading

Consciously recognizing God and thanking Him as the Giver, we enjoy God in His provision of life’s little things. We might also say that we enjoy the little things in God. Saying it either way might prove to be the same thing. Here’s the danger, however: “Enjoy God in the little things” might be the... Continue Reading

A goal, any goal, without action steps or activities, is probably not going to happen. It’s more a wish than a goal.   A friend recently shared a booklet of an elderly man’s plan for his next 25 years. He didn’t want to go out grumpy, self-absorbed and without purpose. A most noble desire. But... Continue Reading

When you seek my approval for your sinful behavior, you’re asking me to side with you against God (who has already said it is sinful) and to declare that it’s really not evil but is, in fact, good. “Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; who put darkness for light, and light... Continue Reading