“You shall have no other gods before me” (Exodus 20:3, ESV). We were made to worship, which is a theme that runs through the whole Bible. The essence of worship can be found in the first of the Ten Commandments: “You shall have no other gods before me.” This actually means no other gods before, after, or alongside God. […]
“See, the Lord your God has set the land before you. Go up, take possession, as the Lord, the God of your fathers, has told you. Do not fear or be dismayed” (Deuteronomy 1:21, esv). In the Christian life, faith is so vital and doubt so detrimental that God places regular tests of faith in […]
“Now My soul has become troubled; and what shall I say, ‘Father, save me from this hour’? But for this purpose I came to this hour” (John 12:27, nasb). One of the great hymns we sang two or three times a month in the church where I grew up was the old invitation chorus, “I […]
One of the Pharisees asked him to eat with him, and he went into the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table (Luke 7:36, esv). If you were making plans for going out this Friday or Saturday night, who are some of the people you’d most enjoy being with? And who are some of the […]
Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. . . . and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God (Ephesians 6:11, 17, ESV). In the construction world, nothing good is built without a […]
Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. […]
Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land. For I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you (Genesis 28:15, ESV). Sometimes, we just won’t take yes for an answer. God’s promises to us in Scripture are so clear. Promises […]
Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be as wise as serpents and as innocent as doves (Matthew 10:16, ESV). Know any people who are “wise as serpents” or, in some translations, “shrewd as snakes” (NIV)? Who comes to mind—a savvy business manager, a wily investor, a friend with […]
Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering (Colossians 3:12, nkjv). How do you expect you’d be received if you were to come to God, admitting need, admitting failure, admitting you haven’t lived in a way you’re proud of? Whatever you might expect, here’s what you’d […]
Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you (Ephesians 4:31–32, esv). True forgiveness is a miracle, but there are no enduring relationships without it. Choosing to put others’ […]