Esther’s story functions to show God’s lovingkindness for his entire people, those in Persia, and those who returned to Israel. He uses Esther’s position as queen to save the Jews scattered throughout the Persian empire. In so doing, He enables his plan to continue so that He might, “in the fullness of time” (Galatians 4:4),... Continue Reading

Whether we’re sinfully angry or sinfully sedated against things that should make us angry, we must seek God’s grace for our sins and the power of His Spirit to turn away from them. May God thereby discipline our anger and use it for His glory.   As the West spirals further into chaos and depravity, righteous men... Continue Reading

American visitors to Japan primarily visit Tokyo, and perhaps Kyoto. They see a thriving metropolis and assume all is well. They never see the reality of the hinterland. Similarly, when a newcomer arrives in a community and asks for church references, they are likely to be steered to the town’s thriving churches. I see this... Continue Reading

Through His Spirit, Christ has given His regenerate people His own mind to discern and comprehend what the natural man cannot. This is why you see the world so differently from your unbelieving friends and family. Christians think through every issue in life with spiritual (albeit imperfect) minds—that is, minds that have been enlightened by... Continue Reading

Since justification entails a right standing with God, it is necessary that sin be forgiven and that one be made righteous. Just as Christ bore our sin at the Cross (whereby we have pardon), so also when we believe in Christ, His righteousness is credited to us. We did not accomplish or earn the righteousness... Continue Reading

It makes more sense to think Jesus is comparing service to fellow believers with service to him, rather than to hear him saying, “You should see my image in the faces of the poor.” Granted, Jesus was a “man of sorrows,” so other sufferers may be able to identify with Jesus in a special way.... Continue Reading

Friend, you are not Moses. You are not the last guy. God never meant you to be. Honor your predecessor not by being a better version of him but by building on whatever good foundation he left behind.   We are all interim. I have often reminded myself of this fact in recent years. When... Continue Reading

It is in being received as a child of God that we find the love for which we long. We are born longing to become beloved. To feel beloved. Due to our homeless hearts, we have a strong bent toward misplacing this desire in things and people that can never deliver on it.   Editor’s... Continue Reading

To Pilate, Jesus was interesting and innocent (Mark 15:5, 14). But at the end of the day, Jesus was inconvenient. Pilate valued his reputation for keeping the peace and his career as a Roman governor over and above giving justice to this innocent man. He didn’t want to kill Jesus, but he did want to... Continue Reading

The hope we have is not to get through the flaming sword of those cherubim or to go back into those places where those two special trees were. God will accomplish the goal of the garden. It will be through Christ’s work—the glory of what the church’s future is in Christ—but also a new creation... Continue Reading