Abraham’s Early Mornings
For most of my life, I was not a morning person. The older I get, the more I enjoy rising early to start the day. But it doesn’t happen quickly. Most days, without an alarm pounding my eardrums, I would sleep later than I should. If, however, the day promises something out of the ordinary and pleasant (e.g., the beginning of a vacation), I will wake up before the alarm clock goes off. But the prospect of an unpleasant day…
What Exodus Teaches Us About God
Exodus does not merely tell the facts about the Jewish people escaping slavery. It draws the reader ever closer to the God who made it all happen. What do we learn about God in the book of Exodus? God Keeps His Promises. God had promised Abraham that he would make a great nation out his descendants (Gen. 12:2; 15:12-16). The book of Exodus emphasizes God’s intention to fulfill those promises (Exo. 2:24; 3:6–8, 15–17; 4:5; 6:2–8; and also 32:13). God…
The Excellent Ones
“As for the saints in the land, they are the excellent ones, in whom is all my delight.” Psalm 16:3, ESV In the passage above, David revealed his love for his kinsmen. They were God’s people, which made them majestic and noble. That’s high praise for people who weren’t perfect. David’s fellow-Israelites made their share of mistakes. They had their flaws. They committed their sins. Yet, inspired of the Holy Spirit, David called them “excellent” – warts, blemishes, and all.…
God Isn’t Finished with You Yet
For the conscientious Christian, weaknesses and failures can be particularly vexing. To put it bluntly and personally, I hate it when I fail to live up to God’s standard. It irritates me. I know that when it comes to sinners, the apostle Paul staked a claim to the moniker, “chief” (1 Tim. 1:15). But he died centuries ago, and there are days when I believe I can make a compelling case that I now deserve chieftain status in the tribe…
Nehemiah: a Great Servant of God
Nehemiah, the ancient wall builder of Jerusalem, often finds himself far down the list of favorite Bible personalities. That’s understandable. There is much to commend the more popular names of Abraham, Paul, David, Peter, or Moses. But Nehemiah deserves to be in the conversation, too. Consider some of his admirable traits. He Was Compassionate We are introduced to Nehemiah’s compassion for his people early in the first chapter of the book that bears his name. Though his hands were full…
Self-Examination and the Lord’s Supper
In the troubled Corinthian church, the Lord’s Supper had not been protected from abuse. This mistreatment of the Supper was so serious that Paul bluntly told them that the way they were handling this memorial was actually a despising of the church (1 Cor. 11:22) that invited God’s judgment on them (11:29). As he corrected their practice, he called their attention back to the inauguration of the Lord’s Supper on the night of the Lord’s betrayal (11:23-25). The apostle affirmed…
Foundations of Progress
If someone asked you to identify the most basic fundamental principle that must be present in order for humans to reach their full potential in knowledge and wisdom, what would you say? How about this: “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction” (Prov. 1:7). “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight” (Prov. 9:10). True knowledge and wisdom are rooted in…
Are You Ready To Die?
“For I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus,” Acts 21:13. Last week I wrote that death did not scare Paul because he was in a proper relationship with God. Being baptized into Christ, he knew that at the moment of his death, all would be well. But there is more to being prepared to die than just being immersed with Christ. 2) Paul was not afraid…
More, Please
Ralph Kramden, the loveable oaf portrayed on television by Jackie Gleason in the 1950s, found it easy to put his foot in his mouth. When asked why he didn’t treat Alice, his wife, in the same romantic way he did before they were married, he replied, “Why keep running after you catch the bus?” His misguided philosophy not only illustrates what is all too often the case in marriages, it also has found a place in the relationships that some Christians have…