Sunday review: April 4-9
No one said living the Christian life would be easy. But life isn’t truly easy for anyone. Those who worship God know he will help and guide and strengthen, especially through the truth in his Word hundreds are discovering in weekly posts like these.
If Jesus appeared on a donkey today, what would you want him to do?
He rode into Jerusalem on a donkey. A donkey! What message does that send to us today? Do we understand his message any better than those who saw him that day?
In a complicated world, Jesus offers a message actually quite simple
It’s easy to miss how simple is the message of Jesus, even for a complicated day like our own. Paul calls us to clarity with what we consider in this devotion.
Do you fit one, two, or three of the ‘strikes’ in 1 Corinthians 1?
You might think these three strikes would disqualify a person from being called by God. But not for the apostle Paul. And not for me.
The song you write might not be good for dancing. Write it anyway
I started writing these devotionals to leave something behind so my grandchildren would know the convictions central in my life, convictions I wished for them, too.
The gospel demands demolishing walls to build a unified church
The work of Christ can and must heal our divisions. John Stott points out that a “homogeneous church is a defective church.” He concludes that we must work “penitently and perseveringly towards heterogeneity.”
Why the strong have an obligation to be patient with the weak
Paul’s admonition in Romans 15: “We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak, and not please ourselves.”
Sunday review: March 28—April 2
Do you have a favorite from this week’s posts? Click on the link below and read it again? Did you miss reading once this week? The devotion is here to help you today!
Family resemblance—it should be natural with Christians and God
In what ways do you look like your sisters and brothers in Christ, and how do you emulate your Heavenly Father? The Bible tells us that God is love. Because he loved us, we should also love one another.
Want to see that God is good for whatever you’re facing? Read Psalms
Even when we’re struggling in deep waters, God is there. The book of Psalms reminds and reassures us that this is true.
How to cope when the game gets tough: remember the fundamentals
In the moment of glory we tend to forget the suffering. When the outcomes are unknown and the stress is high, we may be in a situation that requires getting back to the fundamentals of our faith.
When loving my neighbor meant returning his horse from my front lawn
It was the middle of the night, and my oldest daughter, a teenager at the time, woke me up distressed and confused. “Dad, I think there is a horse outside my window,” she said.
Why our calling includes much more than simply avoiding the ‘big’ sins
Paul lists several “big sins,” and most of us do pretty well avoiding them. But we may miss the positive command he adds to his instruction.
The rising and the setting sun testify that God is still with us
“Silence is praise to you, Zion-dwelling God,” the psalmist prays. And nothing inspires silence like the dependable awe of a sunset or sunrise.
Sunday review: March 21-26
It’s possible we’ve never in our lifetimes been more aware of our need for God. Nations rage, local churches struggle, and believers question their faith. The source for calm in challenging times is God’s Word that has guided his followers through the ages. Each post this week is based on potent passages from that Word. Remind yourself of the strength they offer as you choose some of these devotions to read again.
Why we need not despair when we’re faced with suffering. God is there
Everyone suffers, but the Christian has unique resources for dealing with suffering. In fact, the Bible even says we can rejoice in suffering.
Public shaming, unyielding punishment, or grace for accidental error?
God told Moses to provide for those who killed someone accidentally. Does this speak to our own tendency to rush to judgment whenever someone is accused of wrong?
The tattoo artist on the airplane opened my eyes to how God works
The guy crammed in the middle seat beside me was fully tattooed, looked like he could have picked me up and thrown me down the aisle, and wanted to talk.
How women set the example in this last chapter of Jesus’ life
Among men we wouldn’t want to imitate, possibly two women stand out in Matthew’s account of this Passover celebration.
In the silence we wait for the only solution with sure promise
In all the noise surrounding us, we hear many offering solutions to the problems of our hearts and situations. But there is only one source. And there is one sure way to find it.