“Give us day by day our daily bread. And forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who is indebted to us” (Lk 11:3-4). Hmmm…Give us and forgive us. Here are two daily requirements, neither to be taken for granted. One is the recognition that, no matter how well-educated or well-employed we are, not […]
Bertrand Russell, philosopher and mathematician, was the author of Why I am Not a Christian. Katherine Tait, Russell’s daughter, wrote: “I would have liked to convince my father that I had found what he had been looking for, the ineffable something he had longed for all his life. I would have liked to persuade him […]
I often recall my father warning me in my teens, “Without the Lord, you’re no match for the devil.” Unless you know everything, one sure path to failure is listening only to advisors who agree with you. An echo chamber is “an environment where a person only encounters opinions that reflect and reinforce his or […]
Charles Stanley (1821-1890), when given the opportunity to speak to a large crowd of Roman Catholics, said: “I want to prove that the doctrine of the Church of Rome, in the year 60, is the only true doctrine.” He showed them “that we are not in any uncertainty as to which was the true church […]
“Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven” (Mt 6:9-10). With such economy of words, our Lord gives an inspired checklist of elements to include in our petitions. Immediately He states that we are to address “our Father” from whom comes […]
The man whose name means “the strength of God” goes it alone and arranges his own demolition. Amaziah seems to be writing us a manual on The Top Ten Blunders of Unsuccessful People. It was a bad idea to seek the help of men rather than God by hiring the Israelites. Now “Amaziah discharged the troops […]
“When you pray, say…” (Lk 11:2). Pre-approved. That’s the word used to describe someone who is promised a certain amount of credit in advance. Pre-approved loans or credit cards are offered to consumers so they can do business with the confidence that the money will be available. But wait! Imagine if we had pre-approved prayers! […]
“This month shall be unto you the beginning of months: it shall be the first month of the year to you” (Ex 12:2). As a new year begins, may we enter fully into the high privilege of our relationship in the Lord Jesus Christ. “You also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual […]
Loyal hearts are characterized by saying, “Yes, Lord,” in every circumstance, whatever the consequences. So the bad brothers (Zabad the son of Shimeath the Ammonitess, and Jehozabad the son of Shimrith the Moabitess) murdered Joash in his bed. It’s probably not a great idea to have unconverted Ammonites and Moabites in your inner circle! “Then Amaziah his son […]