“Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, ‘Peace, be still!’ And the wind ceased and there was a great calm” (Mk 4:39). “Be still, and know that I am God” (Ps 46:10). It’s hard to be still in a world like this. The wicked, we are told, “are like the […]
Anyone witnessing will be challenged on homosexuality. Some will say it’s wrong to condemn, since people are born that way. Others will say grace prohibits judging. What is our response? First, we are all born sinners (Ps 51:5) with proclivities in different directions, but cannot excuse our sins by claiming “that’s the way I am.” […]
In 39 books full of amazing personalities, he just could be the most significant character in the Old Testament. Do you know him? […]
Are you fortified—or mortified—when the hard times hit? This psalm tells us how to prepare. Commentators suggest various subdivisions for Psalm 37, although they all agree that the basic point is the same. The wicked may flourish for a time and the righteous may struggle, but it’s the end that tells the tale. However, there […]
CHRIST the JOYFUL SOUL-RESCUER: “Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!” (Lk 15:6). “Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, to God our Savior, who alone is wise, be glory and majesty, […]
“If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!” (Lk 11:13). Is this prayer for today? Certainly every believer has been given the presence of the Spirit: “If anyone does not have the Spirit […]
Andrew Stenhouse writes: “We rented a hall on one of the main arteries of the city. It was busy and noisy, but God gave us the joy of seeing souls saved there. On one occasion a gentleman, Senor Marfan, was walking by when he had a seizure of pain and looked around for somewhere to […]
Like David, we have been anointed (1 Jn 2:20), but we’ll have to wait for the crowning day! We made the first transition from the impending doom of “evildoers” (Ps 37:1-2) to those who are encouraged to “do good” (v 3). We noted David’s string of inspired suggestions: “Trust in the Lord…Delight yourself…in the Lord…Commit your way to the Lord…and…Rest […]
CHRIST the EMPIRE BUILDER: “Indeed a greater than Solomon is here” (Lk 11:31). Harold St. John tells a story from the days of the persecuting emperor Diocletian. A Christian was brought before him, and the Caesar mockingly quipped, “Tell me, what is your carpenter doing now?” The soon-to-be-martyred saint replied, “He is busy making a […]