Our Father is not preparing us for a future battle. We’re in the thick of it right now. And our faithfulness and love for one another in the fray are, you know, kind of the point. But this raises a fearful possibility—one that C. S. Lewis explored in his essay, “On the Efficacy of Prayer”:... Continue Reading

If God able to take the murder of his own Son and use it for good, there is no situation in your life or mine too bleak for him to turn to good. In any and every situation we can always say, by faith if not by sight, ‘God is using even this for good.’ It doesn’t... Continue Reading

The ability of Joseph to maintain godly character throughout all this is certainly quite amazing. Most of us under similar circumstances would have become so angry, so embittered and so unforgiving to all those who did so much evil to us. And we would be angry with God as well. Why bother to serve him... Continue Reading

Often parents try to shield their children from every problem. As parents, we run ahead and remove every obstacle from their path—a difficult teacher, a challenging science project, a neighborhood bully—to provide an easy life for our children. This is a noble desire, but it paints an unrealistic picture of what life is really like.... Continue Reading

And while the Bible is gospel-centered, the gospel is Christ-centered. Even Mark does not call his book, as we do, “the gospel of Mark” but “the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.” There is no good news outside of Jesus Christ. There may be philanthropy or religiosity, but there is no true gospel.... Continue Reading

As the world around me shifts unpredictably (and my heart falls and rises along with it), there is still something firm and steadfast, something unchanging and reliable, to turn my eyes to. The shifting challenges around me are not the whole story of reality. In the Psalms, King David followed the same advice for himself... Continue Reading

But the presence of unbelief in us is often subtle. We don’t always see it clearly. It has roots in our unique experiences and in our unique temperaments, which make us uniquely vulnerable to its deceitfulness. Our doubts can seem to us understandable, even justifiable. But like all sin and fallenness, unbelief is spiritually dangerous.... Continue Reading

The world is changing, and it is time we solidify in our minds who we are in Christ, commit ourselves to corporate worship, sound philosophies, and Christian worldviews. Persecution is coming; this seems inevitable. Yet, we are not without hope. On the contrary, we have enough hope to fill a new generation of believers.  ... Continue Reading

Like Philip, we often forget how great Jesus is. We forget how powerful He is, how loving He is, and truths about Him in Scripture. May we often remind ourselves about His power, love, and person and know Him as the Bible reveals Him to be.   Philip illustrates two lessons for us today from... Continue Reading

In the Hebrew language, rest means to be calm, wait patiently, lay down, and put aside. There is a clear ceasing of effort and a renewed focus on God that restores energy and enthusiasm. Schmidt made a great point here too: “A fatigued leader is discouraged, weary, and perhaps even angry or irritable. Rest restores... Continue Reading