On Second Thought “He inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. They told him, ‘In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet.’” —Matthew 2:4–5, ESV A familiar road can become almost invisible to us. We travel it so often that we scarcely notice the houses, the trees, orContinue reading “When Familiar Truth Stops Moving Us”
Tag Archives: spiritual renewal
When Worship Becomes a Burden
The Bible in a Year “Ye said also, Behold, what a weariness is it! And ye have snuffed at it, saith the LORD of hosts; and ye brought that which was torn, and the lame, and the sick; thus ye brought an offering: should I accept this of your hand? saith the LORD.” —Malachi 1:13,Continue reading “When Worship Becomes a Burden”
When God Creates a Way We Never Imagined
DID YOU KNOW Innovation usually describes the human ability to produce something new, solve an old problem, or discover a better way forward. Yet long before people spoke about innovation, Scripture revealed the God who creates possibilities where human wisdom sees only barriers. Isaiah 45–47, Luke 18:9–19:10, and Job 10 show people facing political captivity,Continue reading “When God Creates a Way We Never Imagined”
When Your Face Matches Your Faith
The Bible in a Year “They shall ask the way to Zion, with their faces toward it, saying, ‘Come and let us join ourselves to the LORD in a perpetual covenant that will not be forgotten.’” — Jeremiah 50:5 Jeremiah 50 announces God’s judgment upon Babylon, the empire that conquered Judah and carried its peopleContinue reading “When Your Face Matches Your Faith”
Keep the Fire From Shrinking
As the Day Begins “Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; and walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us.” — Ephesians 5:1–2 There is something beautiful about the early days of faith. Prayer feels fresh. Scripture seems alive on every page. Worship carries a sweetness that is difficult to describe. AContinue reading “Keep the Fire From Shrinking”
When Grace Gives the Soul Room to Breathe
As the Day Begins “Where sin abounded, grace did much more abound.” — Romans 5:20 There is something unsettling about the old practice of taking caged birds deep into mines. The birds were sensitive to poisonous gases, so if the air became deadly, they would collapse before the miners did. A. W. Tozer uses thatContinue reading “When Grace Gives the Soul Room to Breathe”
CROSSING THE RIVER OF SURRENDER
As the Day Ends “Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.” Galatians 5:24 As this day ends, Galatians 5:24 invites us to examine more than our outward behavior. Paul speaks of those who “belong to Christ Jesus” as people who have crucified the flesh. The Greek wordContinue reading “CROSSING THE RIVER OF SURRENDER”
When God Makes His Home Within Us
As the Day Ends “…If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.” John 14:23 As this day comes to a close, Jesus gives us an image that is both tender and searching. He does notContinue reading “When God Makes His Home Within Us”
From Information to Transformation
As the Day Begins Scripture: “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior.” — Titus 3:5–6 (KJV) There is a subtle temptation in everyContinue reading “From Information to Transformation”
THE BEAUTY OF STARTING AGAIN
DID YOU KNOW Did You Know? God’s renewal begins with mercy, not perfection. One of the most comforting truths in Scripture is that God does not wait for us to become flawless before He begins working in us. Titus 3 reminds believers that before Christ rescued us, we were “foolish, disobedient, led astray.” Paul intentionallyContinue reading “THE BEAUTY OF STARTING AGAIN”