In Hebrews 12:6 we find a citation of Proverbs 3:11,12: “For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.” The author then elaborates the point (verses 10-11), “For they [earthly fathers] disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our | Read More…
Who is the Spirit? What should we expect of him and how do we respond to him? It’s an important question, especially given what Jesus had to say. And what Paul said as well. It’s a question so important that our lives depend on getting it right. We need to begin by getting the right | Read More…
“The plans of the heart belong to man, but the answers of the tongue is from the LORD” (Proverbs 16:1). Here the author offers us God’s perspective as a basis for our own point of view. That is, of course, a key insight for faith as we enter a new year. Let me carry it | Read More…
Most of us find security in numbers. We like to be with others—to go with a crowd. And a strong majority vote is the ultimate measure of a good democracy. So, too, as those involved in economics or politics say before they make a key decision, “Let’s look at the numbers.” Numbers, after all, don’t | Read More…
Humans love being religious. That’s not to say everyone loves a given religion—or even the notion of religion. Rather I’m thinking of religion as a profound, worship-like devotion in life. In the secular West, for instance, the prominence of the Christian Church may have faded over time but the impulse to worship remains lively. My | Read More…
My generation of Christians love rationalistic debates. And one favorite debating point is the question of salvation: among professing believers who is truly saved? Whenever that question is raised claims and counterclaims fly: “You don’t have any right to judge us!” Or, “You’re bending the Bible to build your view!” And again, “Our faith offers | Read More…
The residents of Jerusalem during King Josiah’s reign (640-609 BC) experienced a revival that came with a rediscovery of God’s previously ignored and misplaced Word. Zephaniah, a prophet, warned that enjoying the memory of a revival is not the same as living in response to God. The problem? The people of his day were ready | Read More…
Jeremiah’s book is God’s spiritual and moral bristle brush: it always gives my soul a good scrub when I read it. God, as the prophet tells us, will confront sin. Chaos is coming. Why? Because national religious and political leaders all support evil: the evil of ignoring God’s words and ways. Jeremiah promises his readers | Read More…
Today in our Cor Deo meeting we spoke of Athanasius as one of the heroes of the faith. As bishop of Alexandria, Egypt, (328-373) he was sent into exile by various Roman emperors five times, so that of his 45 years in office he was away more than he was at home. Still he wrote | Read More…
Christians, if quizzed, will favor firm objective truth rather than loose subjectivity. If, for instance, believers are asked, “Do you know that God loves you?” most will respond with, “Yes, of course”. We can treat God’s love as an objective certainty affirmed in the Bible. But if the subjective question is asked, “Do you often | Read More…
