No One Shall Make Them Afraid
Micah 4
A world without war. A world without fear. A world where the broken are made whole. A world where paradise is restored once and for all. This is God’s answer to the problem of sin, suffering, and ultimately death: The world will not always be like this. A new world is coming. In... Continue Reading
The Easter of the Cosmos
The Resurrection of Jesus leads to the resurrection of everything.
Blood was shed constantly at this mountain, precisely because this is where God’s holiness was most concentrated. Yet at the same time, the psalmists sang about Zion as a city that cannot be shaken, a place of refuge where God defeats his enemies and shelters his people. Judgment and salvation have always met on that... Continue Reading
God Keeps His Promises… Even When You Don’t Know He’s Doing So
Even if you are in a season of slogging your way through life. God is still keeping His promises… but you may only how He’s doing so when you look backwards.
Then some years later, you look back on that period. And you realize, in retrospect, just how much the Lord was doing in that time when He felt so unmoved and absent. He was keeping His promises, though He was doing so slowly. Gradually. Sometimes silently. God keeps His promises. True enough, He... Continue Reading
The Crown and Christ’s Coronation
“Salvation belongs to our God… and to the Lamb” (Revelation 7:10). The awe and wonder that our souls long for will be fulfilled. Our King has returned!
After three days, Jesus stepped out of the grave in triumph, never to die again. He is the victor over death, evil, and the devil (Hebrews 2:14). He is Lord and King. And so declares: “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me” (Matthew 28:18). Then comes the true and formal... Continue Reading
His Love Endures Forever
Even when we waver, our unchanging God does not.
Instead of endlessly worrying over the unknown of the future, we rest in peace, having confidence that nothing is outside of God’s meticulous plan. We remember God’s works because they show us His heart, and knowing His heart of enduring love gives us hope for the present and future. Does anything in our... Continue Reading
The Special Blessings of Being Near
Others may laugh at your devotion, but then, they may never enjoy the value and power of intimacy with the Almighty.
Not every worshiper will be thus privileged, but those who dwell there, as Simeon and Anna dwelt in the temple. So, there are some that abide in Christ, and His words abide in them. They live near God. They receive, therefore, choicer favors than those who only come and go. He who has learned to... Continue Reading
You Don’t Need All the Answers
Trusting God, we’ll just have to figure some things out as things develop.
It’s hard, but we shouldn’t always wait until we have all the answers before we act. Sometimes, things will just have to be figured out as time goes on. I admit, this is hard for me to do. I like to control situations and not experience future surprises or complications. Do you remember... Continue Reading
The Lord Who Delivers
Pastoral reflections on Judges 4-5.
The heavens dropped rain. The earth trembled. The river Kishon flooded. The chariots became useless in the mud. The advantage of Sisera turned into his downfall. “From heaven the stars fought… the torrent Kishon swept them away” . This was not a close battle. It was divine intervention. Deborah’s words before the battle make this... Continue Reading
Ordinary Means of Grace: More Than A Philosophy Of Ministry
The ordinary means of grace should communicate an ancient commitment to rest in God’s provision in Christ for all of ministry.
We are to be saturated in God’s Word. This is to be where we have planted our feet. So when you hear the phrase, “ordinary means of grace,” remember where this phrase comes from, and remember that when you promised your commitment to the Westminster Standards, you committed yourself to live and work according to... Continue Reading
Building (Not Burning) Bridges With Unsaved Family
“Go home to your own people and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how He has had mercy on you” (Mk. 5:19).
Some Christians have slammed the door on unsaved family because of bitterness over past hurts. If we cannot model merciful forgiveness for unbelievers, who will? In Muslim parts of Africa, fierce persecution rages against Christians, even betrayal from their own relatives. But for those of us living in countries (like South Africa) that enjoy... Continue Reading
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