The only way we can hold fast to God in love is by faith. Christ came so that we can know God’s Name, call upon Him in prayer, receive His comfort in suffering, experience true satisfaction, and see His salvation.   Life is filled with twists and turns that trouble us. An evil person may... Continue Reading

It is not gracious and kind to withhold the gospel from those who, according to Jesus, are going to hell without Him. Sometimes what we imagine to be our graciousness and kindness is actually indifference or cowardice.   Years ago, when prolife speaker Gianna Jessen shared at our church, she said many memorable things. The... Continue Reading

The presence of God’s Word, coupled with our vigilance in knowing and heeding it, will keep both young and old pure in our way. Left on our own, we will drift toward sin and folly. How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word. —Psalm 119:9 What Is... Continue Reading

What Psalm 8 says about mankind and about our relation to creation will be true because it is true for Jesus. There is redemption not just in the forgiveness of sins, as great as that is, but in the restoration of what it means to be human and what it means to be human in... Continue Reading

There is only one thing that will assure the long-term thriving of a church, and that is God’s grace, which He pours out lavishly on those who love His son Jesus Christ. God’s grace sustains the meek, the humble, the downtrodden…and yet are not crushed.   Have you ever been cut off by a car... Continue Reading

We have a perfectly compassionate Lord. The Good Shepherd teaches under-shepherds how to care for wounded sheep, stubborn sheep, needy sheep, and wandering sheep. May He help us to be so compassionate.   When is your compassion tested most in ministry? Recently, after a long and somewhat discouraging Sunday, I was finally sitting on the... Continue Reading

The Lord loves an honest sinner, who now (down here in this life, in the church militant) becomes a sinner/saint. When the Prodigal Son was walking home, rehearsing his lines of repentance, the Exuberant Father was running out to welcome him.   Probably the hardest thing for us fallen sinners to do, is to be... Continue Reading

Wisdom begins when a person learns to pause and ask a better question than the crowd is asking. Instead of asking who should win the fight, the wiser question asks whether the fight should happen at all.   The entire sixth grade heard the announcement before I did. “After lunch tomorrow, James is going to... Continue Reading

If we don’t believe that prayer really matters or that God uses prayers as a means to bring about His purposes, then it’s unlikely we’ll pray. Daniel was a great prophet of God who depended upon prayer. But Jesus, the greater and final prophet, also depended upon prayer throughout His life and ministry.   When... Continue Reading

Judges teaches us what Israel truly needs, and what we need as well. Not another judge. Not stronger discipline. Not clearer instruction alone. Israel needs a Savior who can do more than rescue from enemies. She needs one who can save from sin itself. One who does not come for a season and then die,... Continue Reading