What king ever took the place of his slave or gave his life in place of those under him? Such a king would be most beloved by his people. Jesus told His disciples on the night of His betrayal: John 15.12 “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 13 Greater…
No Shame in the Struggle
I once listened to a sermon in which the preacher stated: “There is no shame in the struggle.” Do you struggle with a certain temptation? Do you wrestle a sin that seems to hook deeply into your flesh? Satan wants you to believe you are alone, that you struggle with something so shameful no one…
You Shall Not Be Partial to a Poor Man
No one seems to know what justice means anymore. “No justice; no peace!” protesters shout, as they hold signs calling for the end of the police departments. We hear a lot about “Social Justice” and “Racial Justice” these days, but what do people mean by those terms? In many cases, covetous and greedy men hijack…
Stick with the Simple Gospel
Sweet, sweet word of God. Are people now so brilliant that we must convince them of God’s existence before we ever show them His word? Where in the Bible does a preacher try to convince a person of God’s existence using philosophical arguments? Yet, today, many Christians first delve into human philosophy to try to…
Are You a True Disciple?
When a person wonders if he is a true child of God, I often point him to John’s first letter because it lists many ways you can KNOW that you love God, that you know God, and that God knows you! I have been recently impressed with what John’s gospel has to say about the…
Thank God for Suffering
We speak of the “comforts” of life, but what is comfortable? Perhaps we can know joy only after misery. Perhaps we can know peace only after the storm. Perhaps we can know comfort only on the other side of suffering. Walking into a delicious fall breeze tingles your senses and fills you with a sense…
What Shall I Do To Inherit Eternal Life? (Luke 10.25)
This lawyer wanted to know how to obtain (inherit) eternal life. Let us be reminded that Jesus offers this awesome gift of eternal life! The gospel of John especially focuses on this promise from the Father. John 3.16, says, “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believes in…
What Shall We Do? (Luke 3)
10 And the crowds asked him, “What then shall we do?” 11 And he answered them, “Whoever has two tunics is to share with him who has none, and whoever has food is to do likewise.” 12 Tax collectors also came to be baptized and said to him, “Teacher, what shall we do?” 13 And he said to them,…
What God Has Done for Us in Christ
Paul overflows with praise in Ephesians 1.3-14, listing an abundance of blessings God has poured out upon His children in Christ. God… Has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places Chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world Predestined us for adoption to Himself as sons through Jesus…
Desert Shrub or River Tree
If you could be a parched shrub or a luscious tree, which would you choose? In Jeremiah 17.5-8 God gives two images. First, He gives the parched shrub: Thus says the LORD:“Cursed is the man who trusts in manand makes flesh his strength,whose heart turns away from the LORD. He is like a shrub in the desert,and…