"Watch your life and doctrine closely"
Scripture teaches that God is sovereign over all. Nothing happens in all the universe outside of his permission. From the smallest atom to the largest galaxy, all that occurs in his creation does so according to his will (Proverbs 16:33, Lamentations 3:37-39). No plan of God’s can be thwarted (Job 42:2). Sometimes people will ask,…
I’m ready to go home. I’m tired. I’m tired of seeing the effects of the curse. I’m tired of seeing people sin against God and against others in harmful ways. I’m tired of my own struggle against sin. I grow weary hearing the latest news. Wars and rumors of wars fill the headlines and burden…
A common argument used to justify certain lifestyles or behaviors is to say “I was born this way.” Many who struggle with anger issues testify that they’ve done so from a young age. Those who constantly struggle with anxiety say that’s just their personality. People who claim to be homosexual or transgender often say they’ve…
We all make mistakes. It’s a normal part of life for humans in a fallen state living in a cursed world. Some mistakes seem to have little noticeable consequences, while others affect everything and everyone around us. What do you to do when your sin brings about irreversible consequences? What happens when there are effects…
“If you fail to plan, you are planning to fail.” This quote, commonly attributed to Benjamin Franklin, is applicable in many areas of life. I believe one of those areas is our Bible reading plan. Many good New Year’s resolutions to read Scripture have failed because of lack of direction. You may choose to read…
It’s hard to believe that it’s already Thanksgiving! This Thursday we’ll set aside time to gather with family and friends to feast and give thanks. As Christians, we give thanks to God for all his blessings in our life. However, sometimes it can feel forced, can’t it? Sometimes we go through a difficult time or…
In the beginning was darkness . . . then God spoke. He stretched out the heavens like an artist preparing his canvas, then draped them with the sun, moon, and stars to light the earth. He spoke and the oceans gathered so the dry land could surface. At his command, plants and trees sprang from the earth like…
We like to think we are the exception to the rule. We don’t claim to be exceptional, but we tend to think that what’s good for others isn’t always necessary for us. I see this most often regarding the commands of God. The laws of God are good (Romans 7:10) and help us live according…
The news coming from Israel is gut-wrenching. Reports of mass murder, kidnappings, women being rapped, and ongoing hostage situations continue to shock us. Graphic videos flood the internet with atrocities we can’t even imagine. Then, we find out that forty babies were murdered, some even being decapitated. Soldiers found forty small bodies that had been…
For years I sat a few pews back from Mrs. Maggie every Sunday morning. I would walk into the auditorium, and she’d already be in the front row with a smile on her face and her portable breathing machine next to her. I’d lean over her walker to hug her while she said in her…