A nation built on turning the other cheek would be overrun. An economy of enough might not survive its own mercy. A justice system shaped by mercy would be mocked. A calendar built around rest would fall behind. Voters wouldn’t buy it. Investors would pull out. Poll numbers would crater. But maybe that’s the point.... Continue Reading

Amidst the painful reality of marriage in a fallen world the archetype of Jesus’ marriage to his church serves not to damn us, nor to dishearten us with an impossible ideal, but to encourage and even empower us. Time and again the Old Testament likens the LORD to a faithful husband who loves Israel his... Continue Reading

We rightly call upon people to read their Bibles, but it seems many spend much more time reading into the Bible than reading out of it. So nearly everything they read becomes a mere echo of what they already think or what most people around them are already saying. God gave us His Word to... Continue Reading

What if you think you’ve trekked to the mountain’s peak, but you’ve just begun? What if you know of God’s love, power, grace, comfort, and wisdom could come alive to you in new ways? You’ve received, but there’s always more. You can be “filled with the fullness of God” (3:19).   The first time I... Continue Reading

If you were there, what power would you be thinking you would receive from the Holy Spirit? What power would help you follow this great commission? Remember, Jesus had given seventy of them spectacular powers when He sent them out on a mission.   Acts 1:6–11 (NKJV) Therefore, when they had come together, they asked... Continue Reading

As Christians, we pray to our Father (Matthew 6:9f). Elsewhere in the Bible we learn that we come to our Father through Jesus Christ, because He makes us acceptable before God and we are heard.   Once I attended a public event at which someone thought it would be good to have a prayer. Instead... Continue Reading

The glories of these doctrines, for regenerate Christians, is that God always gives us His very best–whether this is Christ in His incarnation and atonement; or the Holy Spirit, as the purchased possession secured through the finished work of the Mediator.  And, in and through this Third Person of the Holy Trinity, the Holy Spirit... Continue Reading

The Bible does its deepest work not through hurried skimming but through slow, prayerful meditation. The “blessed man” of Psalm 1 delights in God’s law and meditates on it “day and night.”   The Bible is not merely a collection of ancient writings; it is the living Word of the living God (Heb. 4:12). Every... Continue Reading

The theology of perseverance, when properly understood, translates into concrete actions in the believer’s daily life. First, consistent devotional practice is irreplaceable. If perseverance comes from promises treasured in the heart, regular intake of God’s Word through reading, study, and meditation is vital.   Perseverance is not an option but a calling for every Christian.... Continue Reading

When people truly serve a unique God, they become unique people themselves. David moves from declaring God’s uniqueness to asking “what one nation in the earth is like thy people?” A workforce example illustrates this principle: when a boss needs something accomplished, he points out the employee who stands apart because of reliability, hard work,... Continue Reading