Abdullah did not see why the Messiah must die for our sins. I took him to Genesis, telling him the story of a holy, faithful, and loving God who created humans to enjoy a close relationship with Himself. Next, we heard of God’s prohibition to Adam (2:16-17). I asked Abdullah, “Did God tell Adam that […]
Conceit is a strange disease in that, when a person has it, it makes everyone else sick! To grasp the significance of the events today, we’ll have to go back to two other stories in Israel’s history. One dates to the early days of the nation’s Egyptian exodus, and the other to the inception of […]
CHRIST the LAMB of GOD: “Behold the Lamb…” (Jn 1:29). Sidlow Baxter points out the ten great Lamb passages: in Genesis 4, we see Abel and the necessity of the Lamb; in Genesis 22, it is Abraham and the provision of the Lamb; in Exodus 12, the Passover emphasizes the slaying of the Lamb; in […]
“He…offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears” (Heb 5:7, KJV). Jesus performed many mighty works without outward signs of strain, but these words describe His praying. J. Oswald Sanders writes: “‘Epaphras is always wrestling for you in his prayers,’ wrote Paul to the Colossians (4:12).…The word ‘wrestling’ is that from which our […]
“The Lord is not slack concerning His promise as some men count slackness; but is long-suffering toward us, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance” (2 Pet 3:9). Repentance simply means “a change of mind.” Man naturally does not think rightly about himself, sin, God, or the way of […]
Wounds are history frozen in time. My grandfather’s war wounds told me of his sacrifice. But Jesus’ wounds tell me something else. […]
“How unsearchable are His judgments…and how unfathomable and untraceable are His ways! ” (Rom 11:33, AMP). While the selection process unfolded in the palace, Mordecai has been occupied with more than pacing “in front of the court of the women’s quarters, to learn of Esther’s welfare” (Est 2:11). With his ear tuned to hear any news from the […]
CHRIST OUR REFUGE: “You have been…a refuge from the storm…” (Isa 25:4). The steamer Empire State scarcely caused a ripple that autumn evening. It was 10:30 pm. Most passengers had retired below deck when suddenly a deafening blast rocked the ship. A boiler had exploded! Panicking, everyone rushed toward the upper deck; the melee that […]
“I will pray to the Lord for you” (1 Sam 7:5). Howard Hendricks’ father was not saved. He had tried many times to share the gospel, but his father would reply, “Don’t worry about me. I’ll work it out with God.” One day a Christian in Detroit handed a cassette to Butch Hardman: “Here’s a […]