As Christians have become more worldly, we have forgotten that one of our main callings is to be light. And light, as Paul notes, has no fellowship with darkness. It exists to expose and embarrass darkness. When light joins in with dark, it ceases to be light and eventually becomes dark itself.   Passing The... Continue Reading

James gives both a command and a promise: “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you” (James 4:7). Resistance begins with submission to God, refusing Satan’s lies and holding fast to Christ.   Perhaps you know the feeling, especially after watching a scary movie. The house is quiet, an... Continue Reading

“Give us today our daily bread…” (Matthew 6:11). This single sentence of prayer acknowledges the wisdom, power, and specific provision of God, for we not only believe that God will give us whatever we need for this day, but that He knows the unique composition of what that provision will look like…for this day.  ... Continue Reading

Let Scripture determine when you should speak and when you should be silent—not the will of the crowds. A people craving news cycles like entertainment need to be awoken with the clear message of a bloody cross, not by tryhard pundits with theological degrees.   Much has now been written about the ways that avoiding... Continue Reading

In the midst of all the sufferings, sorrows, pains, problems, weaknesses, and weariness of this world and in this body, let God’s people look forward with eagerness to the day when—though we currently bear the image of the man of dust—we shall bear the image of the heavenly Man.   And as we have borne... Continue Reading

Spirit-fruit is not manufactured in the pristine laboratory of our private prayer closet. The fruit of the Spirit is cultivated in the soil of messy relationships.   When you become a Christian, God the Holy Spirit takes up residence in your heart immediately, permanently, and completely. If you do not have the Spirit of Christ,... Continue Reading

By the Lord’s discipline, we persevere. By his strength we lift our drooping hands. Through his Fatherly chastisement, our souls are preserved, and our feet persevere in walking along paths of wisdom and righteousness. He is no earthly taskmaster, yelling at us, dangling the carrot of his promises just out of reach, then striking us... Continue Reading

Even if the worst happens in this life, you can persevere with strength, comfort, peace, and joy, because you have a true, righteous, human, and divine mediator and deliverer. Jesus is your human and divine mediator and deliverer in the midst of your fears and anxiety, and that is comfort for your soul.     ... Continue Reading

Taken together, these considerations point to the conclusion that the “all Israel” that shall be saved is the whole covenant people of God, the completed olive tree, comprising the full number of elect Jews and Gentiles. Thus, Paul’s declaration should be understood neither as a prophecy of a future conversion of the great body of... Continue Reading

Our self-sufficiency is a myth that will be dispelled by coming seasons of trials and dependence on Jesus Christ’s sure victory. Hallelujah.   I walk in the wilderness near home in Northern California. The autumn breeze cools my face as I watch our dog roam ahead. Falling pine needles and leaves totter and spin about,... Continue Reading

Garden friendships require a more intentional investment of time and attention that only a few people can provide. Jesus asked nine disciples to sit close by, but only three were asked to remain closer to Him in His desperate hour.   “Jesus could have done it alone, but he didn’t.” Our conference speaker, Dave Busby,... Continue Reading

Scoffers abound. Sources of wisdom are rare. Let us seek out God’s voice through his Word, through prayer, and through godly people around us so that our roots might go deep in his streams of wisdom.   How loud are the voices of scoffers in your life? The mockers, the angry, the rude, the crass.... Continue Reading

Always remember that your work ethic flows from your identity in Christ. Let who you are in Him shape how you speak, pray, prepare, and respond in work environments that are toxic and challenging.   As a minister I don’t always experience the feelings you do before another day at work, but I counsel many... Continue Reading

Do you let Scripture dissect your feelings and examine them, or do you accept them as “valid” for interpreting your situation and pushing you to act? The latter can be very dangerous when it comes to our spiritual navigation.   Ripples and Response Ripples on the surface of water: it’s a fitting image for human... Continue Reading

In a culture that conditions personal identity on the 70-hour work-week, Calvin’s insistence here acts as a vital reframing of the way we view our lives. This theological guardrail against excessive devotion to one’s career was further reinforced by Calvin’s distinction between sloth and leisure. The former is a sinful neglecting of our callings. The... Continue Reading

What would it look like to see with the spiritual eyes God intends us to have? In what might seem like an ordinary section of his letter, the author of Hebrews gives us an answer. “Let brotherly love continue. Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers” (Heb. 13:1-2), he admonishes. If I were writing... Continue Reading

While building successful and dynamic churches or ministries can be a good thing, it is also possible that such building can be done as another opportunity to build a name for ourselves. Anyone paying attention over the last decade can see how many churches and ministries have been shipwrecked by the desire for self-glorification. Now,... Continue Reading

Dads, you might not realize or be interested or even think it’s fair that such a weight of responsibility falls on you as the primary spiritual influence in the lives of your children. Sorry – you are, whether you like it or even know it or not. In these matters, there’s really not a choice.... Continue Reading

All Christians are called to garden work, and pastors are called to model it—to labor diligently like farmers as we cultivate the health of the saints under our care. (2 Tim. 2:6). Our churches are “God’s field” (1 Cor. 3:9). This simple truth should reorient the way all Christians view the church. Are you cultivating... Continue Reading

It takes a certain level of wisdom to see the pain as a means for joy. We must see the trials we endure as the means by which God shows us we are truly dependent on Christ. When all else is stripped away, all we have is Christ. What is our only comfort, or joy,... Continue Reading