When ‘Stay in your lane!’ is a life-giving warning, not a reprimand
The young king did well for years . . . and then he tried to assume for himself a job that God had given someone else. In his tragedy is a warning for all of us.
Jesus told a story about a debt too huge to repay—just like ours
How often are we to forgive an infraction? How much have we been forgiven? The numbers will never match.
The kiss you may have ignored, the kiss to put on the top of your list
“There is a meeting, but this is not a speed date or simple meet and greet. There is nothing casual in this encounter. This is intimacy. And it is followed by a kiss. Not a peck on the cheek. It is an embrace. And with this intimate embrace, there is the an“
Have you learned what Bono knows? ‘Two are better than one.’
Bono gives us one of the most impressive examples of teamwork. The question is why I too often try to go it alone.
Might you be looking for greatness in all the wrong places?
Jesus chose children, with no status and no power, as the standard for greatness in his Kingdom. It’s a concept foreign to our culture today, just as it was then.
When someone says, “God told me,” how do we know that’s true?
Sometimes we need to more carefully discern between God’s will and personal preference. God’s people have been failing at this for centuries.
Why “Not if I have anything to do with it!” may be a sad response
While God invites us into participating in his Kingdom mission, our actions will not stop God’s plans or success. Our response, even if we arrogantly refuse or think we have a better plan, will never stop the advancement of God’s Kingdom.
A psalm to read before you head out, no matter the destination
Two journeys. Two remarkably different settings. But the simplest of the two was where I felt closest to God.
What I say reveals what’s inside my heart. That’s the place to begin
Heart issues have to do with the value of life, fidelity in marriage, murder, lying, and slander. Forgetting to wash your hands properly or keeping appearances are not the top priority. This may offend Pharisees, but Jesus isn’t worried about these things.
Sometimes only one choice is best when you feel you must act now
Sometimes I feel so overwhelmed with meetings and decisions, I realize I must do one thing to escape the trap of the urgent.
Choosing my focus will lighten my load and allow my life to flourish
Jesus shows the perfect balance between the Law and compassion. Sometimes the most religious fail to follow his example.
The task Jesus gives us will always be exactly the perfect size
Jesus has in mind a burden for us to put on our shoulders. But this is not a problem, because it’s exactly the right fit.
Of all the words coming at you today, how to choose what’s best
The Scrabble fanatic and British actor Gyles Brandreth has estimated that we speak 860,351,500 words in a lifetime. I have no idea how Mr. Brandreth got to his conclusion or if he’s right, but it got me thinking about all the words and ideas we hear just in a day. We forget most of them, so how do we choose what we’ll try remember?
How should we feel when it seems clear, “There isn’t enough”?
Elisha’s servants had the same question as Jesus’ disciples. God’s provision in their predicament can encourage us when their question is ours, too.
Three ways Jehoshaphat’s example can help you in the next pandemic
Of all the Bible heroes, Jehoshaphat helped me most during the pandemic with a plan I tried to follow and demonstrate.
Why seeking recognition is almost always a losing proposition
It happens almost every day. Someone deserves the recognition that I deserved, too. But the teaching of Scripture shows what we should seek before honor.
‘How long will this limping continue?’ Elijah’s question for today
With unsure footing, they were—and sometimes we are—caught in the space of both/and.
Jesus repeated John’s revolutionary message then—and for us
It’s a simple message, really, but if “revolution” means “change,” it’s truly the most revolutionary message of all.
Doing it yourself has some advantages, but it comes with consequences
If you’ve had some success, you. may start believing you did it yourself. You may start forgetting how much you need God daily.
Maybe we’re supposed to extend the Kingdom more than defend the cause
After thinking about the psalmist’s outcry to God, I decided I, like him, have a troubling tendency to tell God how to do his work.