On Second Thought There is something deeply comforting about the image found in Exodus 28:12. Aaron, the high priest of Israel, carried two stones upon his shoulders engraved with the names of the tribes of Israel. Whenever he entered before the Lord, he symbolically bore the people upon his shoulders. The priest did not comeContinue reading “Carried Upon His Shoulders”
Category Archives: Experiencing God
What’s Really Driving Your Heart?
DID YOU KNOW Did you know that people can do the right thing for the wrong reason? In 1 Timothy 6:5–6, Paul warned Timothy about those who treated “godliness” as a way to gain influence, money, or advantage. Outwardly they appeared spiritual, but inwardly their hearts were driven by selfish ambition. Paul exposed the dangerContinue reading “What’s Really Driving Your Heart?”
The Peace That Survives the Storm
On Second Thought “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you.” — John 14:27 There is a kind of peace the world offers that is built entirely upon favorable conditions. If the bills are paid, relationships are stable, health is secure, andContinue reading “The Peace That Survives the Storm”
When Words Become Weapons
DID YOU KNOW Did you know that gossip can sound spiritual while quietly destroying trust? One of the most dangerous forms of gossip in the church rarely sounds malicious at first. It often arrives disguised as concern: “Pray for so-and-so because…” Yet Scripture repeatedly warns that careless words wound people deeply and divide communities. ProverbsContinue reading “When Words Become Weapons”
Strength Borrowed From Heaven
On Second Thought One of the greatest misconceptions in the Christian life is the belief that spiritual strength means becoming naturally strong. Many believers quietly assume maturity will eventually remove weakness, fear, exhaustion, or struggle. Yet the Scriptures repeatedly reveal a very different pattern. God does not merely strengthen human ability; He often works throughContinue reading “Strength Borrowed From Heaven”
When Helping Hurts and Healing Begins
DID YOU KNOW Did you know that God cares not only about generosity, but also about wisdom in how we help people? When we read passages like 1 Timothy 5:10–17, we sometimes struggle to understand why Paul included such detailed instructions about widows and church support. Yet hidden within those verses is an insightful lessonContinue reading “When Helping Hurts and Healing Begins”
The Battle Within the Believer
On Second Thought There are moments in the Christian life when the greatest danger does not come from the world around us but from neglect within us. Paul’s words to Timothy carry a quiet urgency: “Take heed unto thyself” (1 Timothy 4:16). Before Timothy was instructed to correct others, preach truth, or lead the church,Continue reading “The Battle Within the Believer”
The Forgotten Wisdom Around the Table
DID YOU KNOW DID YOU KNOW God views honor for the elderly as a spiritual responsibility, not merely good manners? When Paul instructed Timothy in 1 Timothy 5:1–3 to treat older men “as fathers” and older women “as mothers,” he was teaching something far deeper than social courtesy. The Greek word for “honor” is timaō,Continue reading “The Forgotten Wisdom Around the Table”
Clean Water for a Weary Soul
On Second Thought There are moments when the soul becomes painfully aware of its own uncleanness. Not merely mistakes or failures, but the inward stain left behind by pride, selfishness, compromise, and hidden sin. David understood this when he cried in Psalm 51 after his sin with Bathsheba, “Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, andContinue reading “Clean Water for a Weary Soul”
When God Calls You Higher Than Your Critics
DID YOU KNOW DID YOU KNOW that criticism can become a spiritual distraction if you focus on defending yourself more than following God? Timothy likely knew what it felt like to be underestimated. As a younger leader serving in Ephesus, he faced scrutiny because of his age and perhaps even his personality. Paul’s counsel inContinue reading “When God Calls You Higher Than Your Critics”