We love because He first loved us. In a perfect world, everyone would know what it’s like to be part of a healthy, loving family. But the enemy has waged war against the family, and, as a result, many are born into troubled homes where they experience few, if any, of the blessings that ought […]
The removal of a lampstand Some proclaim that all is well in Christendom by pointing to the growth of mega churches. But the truth is that mega churches often grow by pulling people away from smaller churches. People might be attracted to a larger church by the professional musical program, the elaborate facilities, or the […]
That which we hold out must also be lived out. But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth” (1 Tim. 3:15). First Timothy is written in part so […]
Is there more to it than meets the ear? The arrival and passing of summer in the central plains of North America is marked by characteristic sounds. The call of chorus frogs means the spring rains have awakened eggs laid last year. The distinctive call of the western meadowlark signals the beginning of an annual […]
The sheep of His pasture Shortly after moving to a rural county in Georgia, I purchased seven ewes and a ram. We raised sheep for eight years and had many eventful experiences—some quite humorous and others heartbreaking. One thing in particular stands out in my mind: being called a sheep is not a complimentary term. […]
Exceeding. Abundant. Above. Betrayed by his brothers, sold into slavery, and wrongfully imprisoned, Joseph’s story is enough to drive one to a therapist. And his suffering was made worse by its contrast to earlier days. Once a loved and favored son from a prestigious and wealthy family, Joseph had even had dreams of a bright […]
They might be giants. The one event that shaped the world more than any other during the last century was World War II. Conservative estimates place the number killed during the conflict as well north of 55,000,000.1 In Europe, the war officially began in September of 1939 with Germany’s invasion of Poland. Over the succeeding […]
The Lord Jesus has priority in time, in dignity, and in power. The term firstborn is used three times of the Lord Jesus Christ in relation to others: the Firstborn of every creature (Col. 1:15); the Firstborn from the dead (Col. 1:18); the Firstborn among many brethren (Rom. 8:29). An excellent definition of firstborn is […]
Christ meets both the requirements of God and the needs of man. I find it remarkable that, although 1 John was one of the last epistles to be written, John had not lost his sense of awe and wonder at the truth he records in the opening verse. John was now an old man. It […]