“Behold, He who keeps Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep. The Lord is your keeper…” (Ps 121:4-5). He’s the wide-awake God! Darkness and light are the same to Him. The keep in Medieval times was the most secure fortress within the castle. The Lord is both our center and circumference. […]
“The people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, and upon those who sat in the region and shadow of death Light has dawned” (Mt 4:16). The world sits in “darkness” and in “the shadow of death,” one heartbeat from hell. But the Light has dawned! May “the light of the gospel of […]
“More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold” (Ps 19:10). What exactly is better than gold? It’s God’s transformative Word! What does it do for me? “Converting the soul…making wise the simple…rejoicing the heart…enlightening the eyes.” Yes, Lord! […]
“Little children, keep yourselves from idols” (1 Jn 5:21). Wycliffe translates this, “Keep yourselves from puppets.” Do I like to “pull the strings”? That’s the point with idolatry—keeping control. But what peace when the gracious, all-wise Lord reigns! […]
And David said, ‘What have I done now? Is there not a cause?’” (1 Sam 17:29). Look at the victories David won before he faced the giant: over his temper (v 28); over his fear (v 32); and over unbelief (v 36). Battles won or lost in secret often herald how it will go in […]
“Bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do” (Col 3:13). Can I both forgive and forget? Look how we set aside a thousand wrongs that we do ourselves! The appreciation of Christ’s grace to us is both our […]
“That Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love…” (Eph 3:17). Love is the ground where the vast array of God’s plantings grow. The same soil feeds plants with different uses, colors, and fragrances. Celebrate the exotic varieties among God’s people today! […]
“Since his days are determined, the number of his months is with You; You have appointed his limits, so that he cannot pass” (Job 14:5). There is “a time to die” and we cannot extend life by human effort; yet “violent and deceitful men shall not live out half their days” (Ps 55:23). Let’s use […]
“We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we mourned to you, and you did not weep” (Lk 7:32). So did our Master speak of those who had lost their capacity to empathize? Locked in prisons of selfish living, they could no longer enter into others’ joys or sorrows. Lord, keep me […]