“I am persuaded that love and humility are the highest attainments in the school of Christ and the brightest evidences that He is indeed our Master” (John Newton). Peter carries forward the theme of patient suffering for Christ by exhorting his readers to practice humility. To patiently endure God-ordained suffering seems extreme for many contemporary Christians. We have extreme sports, but to be ...  Read More

“Christ is the Good Physician. There is no disease He cannot heal; no sin He cannot remove; no trouble He cannot help” (James Aughey). Amen! I’m telling you today that these words hit their mark when I read them. I know the truth of them through personal experience, and I will share one such testimony a bit later in this devotional. James writes similar words in our focal chapter today and demonst...  Read More

Human deliverance in my mind most often causes me to think of events surrounding some catastrophe. For example, it is not at all uncommon in the age of social media to view daring rescues of people from catastrophic accidents or fiery buildings. My son-in-law occasionally does this very thing as a firefighter. Eventually the cameras are turned off and the “deliverer” returns to their daily busines...  Read More

“Legalistic remorse says, ‘I broke the rules,’ while real repentance says, ‘I broke God’s heart’” (Timothy Keller). I vividly recall to this day the grief that I felt when a gentleman church member, whom I deeply loved, morally failed. When church folks discovered the truth about his wrongdoing, he came to me and assured me that he was sorry he had committed the wrong, but he never expressed any r...  Read More

Every once in a while, a whole family will come to the notice of the general public for its distinguished and extraordinary service. The Edwards are such a tribe in the Christian story. We present this group of parents and siblings as fine examples of child-rearing through troublesome circumstances. Timothy and Esther, who were Congregationalists, produced devout followers of Christ through the fi...  Read More

“What you do in your house is worth as much as if you did it up in heaven for our Lord God,” says Martin Luther. The great Reformer knew the special significance of the home and God's word at work in that place. Here is a reason why: the fifth command in the Ten Commandments emphasizes proper motives inside the home.It links honor for one’s father and mother to possession of the land that God prom...  Read More

“Come, let us reason, together, that’s what God says,” provides a melodious reminder of the familiar Christian song, but similar words in our focal passage sounded an ominous chord among Israel’s first listeners. Truthfully, the Lord was summoning all of creation to bear witness to His covenant with Israel and to hear His “accusation against His rebellious people” (HCBC). He loved them, but they h...  Read More

John MacArthur has said, “According to Scripture, virtually everything that truly qualifies a person for leadership is directly related to character. It’s not about style, status, personal charisma, clout, or worldly measurements of success. Integrity is the main issue that makes the difference between a good leader and a bad one.” Paul knew this, and he addresses some key issues related to minist...  Read More

What’s in a name? Names meant much in the Scriptures, and a person was expected to live up to the name given to him or her. Rehoboam’s name meant “one who enlarges the people,” but we will see the irony in the name from our focal passage today. He divided the people instead because of his lack of wisdom. His folly became the watershed moment in the book of Kings because the unified kingdom of Isra...  Read More

The Ancient Greeks said, “Education is the kindling of a flame, not the filling of a vessel.” Understanding the world and our purpose in it does not come by pouring information into our minds, but by kindling a fire (transforming) in the heart. Paul knew this and he prays that the God of glory would give the Ephesians the Spirit of wisdom in the knowledge and revelation of Him. Paul has the source...  Read More

“No passion so effectually robs the mind of all its powers of acting and reasoning as fear,” said Edmund Burke, the 18th century British statesman. His words are in themselves powerful, but they are also frightening when we consider the moral implications of fear. It does not take a psychologist to recognize the superabundance of fear in our culture today. Products are sold by employing a “fear of...  Read More

C. S. Lewis once remarked that he had discovered why the Lord would not utter an answer. It was because, “You are yourself the answer.” Perhaps you wonder, like me, what was it that Abraham knew of God that led him to trust Him to fulfill His promise of an heir in his old age, or that he would become the father of many nations? He possibly knew by experience what the poet Ralph Waldo Emerson would...  Read More