I call to God Most High, to God who fulfills [His purpose] for me. He reaches down from heaven and saves me, challenging the one who tramples me. God sends His faithful love and truth … God, he exalted above the heavens; let Your glory be above the whole earth (vv. 2–3, 5). Again IContinue reading “My Song of Triumph”
Category Archives: Exposition
The Inescapable Tension
1 Corinthians 13:11 When I was a child, I spoke and thought and reasoned as a child. But when I grew up, I put away childish things. (1 Corinthians 13:11) Because of grace we have been freed from sin, from its slavery, its bondage in our attitude, in our urges, and in our actions. ButContinue reading “The Inescapable Tension”
I Will Make It Heavier
Whenever a new boss takes charge, they make changes. Some of those decisions are welcomed by their employees, others are met with disapproval. After King Solomon died, two men stepped into leader- ship. Solomon’s son and successor, Rehoboam, and his rival, Jeroboam. For Rehoboam, this was a chance to rise to the occasion of leadershipContinue reading “I Will Make It Heavier”
Relief from Guilt
I had just started a new job at my church. I was partly responsible for college ministry and my boss was out of town, so he asked me to use his truck to pick up students from campus and bring them to church. Sunday came. I picked up and dropped off the students, then headedContinue reading “Relief from Guilt”
Did God Authorize a Murder?
The Bible’s weird. If you’ve read it, you know it’s true. Witches from Endor, Nephilim, Babylonian kings losing their minds and living as wild beasts. The Bible is weird. One strange story that’s always troubled me is found in Judges 11. It’s the story of Jephthah. Let me remind you of what the text says.Continue reading “Did God Authorize a Murder?”
No Alternatives to Grace
Isaiah 44:22 “I have swept away your sins like a cloud.I have scattered your offenses like the morning mist.Oh, return to me,for I have paid the price to set you free.” (Isaiah 44:22) If I choose not to risk, if I go the “safe” route and determine not to promote either salvation by grace orContinue reading “No Alternatives to Grace”
No Shortcuts Home
Sometimes what seems like a small compromise can lead to devastating results. Maybe you’ve taken a short cut to home repair only to discover the resulting damage was far worse than if you’d fixed it the right way at the beginning. The same was true of Solomon. Considering the wisdom and wealth Solomon received fromContinue reading “No Shortcuts Home”
I Do Not Like the Word ‘Faith’
I don’t like the word “faith.” It’s not that faith isn’t valuable. True biblical faith is essential for salvation. But faith is often deeply misunderstood in a way that hurts Christianity and harms Christians. Some think that having a level of certainty about the truth of Christianity makes “belief” unnecessary or irrelevant. That kind ofContinue reading “I Do Not Like the Word ‘Faith’”
Have You Seen Him Lately
The Bible tells us that no one can see God. He “dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see” (1 Tim. 6:16). People could see Jesus, God the Son, because he was also a man. We’ll see Jesus in heaven. But is 1 Timothy 6:16 saying that even in heavenContinue reading “Have You Seen Him Lately”
How Many Women at the Tomb?
How many women were at the tomb of Jesus? The four different gospels mention different numbers. John 20:1 says one. Matt. 28:1 says two. Mark 16:1 says three. Luke also says three, but is a different three than Mark 16:1. So, which is it, one, two, three, four, or more? Does it mean there isContinue reading “How Many Women at the Tomb?”
Intentional Faith 