James 1:2 — “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds.” (ESV) James is wonderfully straightforward, isn’t he? He doesn’t say if trials come, but when. And right there, before we can even take a breath, he tells us something that cuts across the grain of our instincts: “Count it…
Category: Passage Reflection
The Man Who Went Home Justified: A Parable of Pride, Mercy, and the God Who Justifies Sinners
Text: Luke 18:9–14 (ESV) There are some stories Jesus told that leave little room for explanation. They shine with such clarity, such simplicity, that the only thing left to do is to listen, repent, and believe. The parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector is one of those stories. It is a short story,…
Faith, Hope, and a Life Worthy of the Lord
We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love that you have for all the saints, because of the hope laid up for you in heaven. Of this you have heard before in the…
“Understand This”
But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,…
What Shall I Do?
Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing…
Slavery And Sin
“I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. You shall have no other gods before me.” Exodus 20:2–3 (ESV) I re-read the 20th chapter of Exodus and these 2 verses started to come together in a new way, a new focus. God’s…
Recognizing Who’s In Charge
Do you not know? Do you not hear? Has it not been told you from the beginning? Have you not understood from the foundations of the earth? It is he who sits above the circle of the earth, and its inhabitants are like grasshoppers; who stretches out the heavens like a curtain, and spreads them…
Thinking About Living And Dying
Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 We enjoyed visiting with friends this evening. Eating brisket that was on…
Welcome
We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to build him up. For Christ did not please himself, but as it is written, “The reproaches of those who reproached you fell on me.”…
Do Nothing
Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Philippians 2:3 (ESV) I cherish this verse because it is so plain and clear. The message is straightforward and easy to understand. Don’t be selfish Don’t be conceited Have an attitude of humility Value others more than myself Now…