It’s clear then, that human beings don’t simply dislike evil; they often hate excellence, fruitfulness, favor, and blessing in another because those things expose what is lacking or disordered in themselves. For many, the greatest crime is another person’s success.   There is a proverb, but none of Solomon’s, “Every man for himself, and God... Continue Reading

Remember the parable of the talents (Matthew 25:14-30). It is God who gives us what we have to use, as best we can; and He doesn’t measure us by what someone else has been given. Be faithful where you are. Serve the Lord there. This is what pleases Him.   At Creation, God placed Adam... Continue Reading

We ask God for the grace to respond to complainers with the kindness God has shown us.  We try not to complain by trusting God even when our circumstances test us.  We ask God for the grace to see the cross and sing of His goodness.   She looked at me in anger and said, ‘you don’t... Continue Reading

Let’s not do the devil’s work for him. He’s a loser. He is a crushed snake. “The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you (Romans 16:20). Soon. Come Lord Jesus.   That serpent, the devil, is a deceiver (Gen 3). He is... Continue Reading

Written Scripture (for example, its descriptions of God as having human body parts) does not reveal God as He is in Himself: an immaterial being without physical components. Rather, it comes to embodied human beings (who do have body parts) in an accommodated manner so they can understand by analogy what God is truly like... Continue Reading

God loved us simply because He chose to do so. In fact, He loved us in spite of our character (“even when we were dead in our trespasses”). At great cost to Himself, and from eternity past, God determined to be good to us and set His affection on us.   Reflecting on the Past... Continue Reading

All the Old Testament prophets, from Moses to Malachi, were “preachers.” Today, every Christian is called by God to be a preacher. God has called all believers to “preach” the gospel to all people. And as you do you will probably sound a bit “preachy.” And that’s OK.   The Cambridge dictionary defines “preachy” as... Continue Reading

Exodus 3 brings us before Jesus Christ, the Holy Lord. Let us remember our sin, remove our shoes, and hide our faces.   Flagror non consumor French Protestant pastors chose this motto as they gathered in 1583 for their 12th National Synod. It means “I am burning, I am not consumed.” It was grimly apt.... Continue Reading

The Bible provides a far more comprehensive worldview for understanding justice, morality, identity, and the solution not only to interpersonal problems, but to the foremost problem of all: sinful humanity’s separation from a holy God.   Racism based on skin shade has, sadly, dramatically increased in recent decades as new philosophies in support of racism... Continue Reading

As Jesus brings His pattern for prayer to a close, He includes two petitions—forgiveness from sin and preservation from temptation and evil.   For Part 1, see here: The Lord’s Prayer (Part 1)–Proclaim & Defend We come to the final two elements in Christ’s pattern of prayer for his disciples as recorded in Luke’s gospel.... Continue Reading