Helpless
“For while we were still helpless, at the right time, Christ died for the ungodly.” (Romans 5:6) I was 19 and in college. It was October 14, 1987 when 18-month-old Jessica McClure fell into a well at her aunt’s house in Midland, Texas. (That was 36 years ago last week!) Americans were glued to the […]
Grace and Truth
“The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. We observed his glory, the glory as the one and only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14) John’s introductory comments to his gospel are meant to shock his readers. The Creator of human flesh became human flesh and dwelt among us. The […]
Legend or Legacy?
“For David, after serving God’s purpose in his own generation, fell asleep, was buried with his fathers, and decayed,” (Acts 13:36) I spend a little time on social media – well, Facebook…social media for old folks. We’re probably all chasing the adrenaline rush of getting likes and followers. In fact, in a recent poll of […]
Reaping the Whirlwind
“Don’t be deceived: God is not mocked. For whatever a person sows he will also reap, because the one who sows to his flesh will reap destruction from the flesh, but the one who sows to the Spirit will reap eternal life from the Spirit.” (Galatians 6:7–8) It is so fun watching my two-year-old grandson […]
You are the Man!
“God, create a clean heart for me and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not banish me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore the joy of your salvation to me, and sustain me by giving me a willing spirit.” (Psalm 51:10–12) The Scriptures tell us David was a “man […]
Grace in Lo-Debar
“David asked, ‘Is there anyone still left of the house of Saul to whom I can show kindness for Jonathan’s sake?’” (2 Samuel 9:1) That word “kindness” is one of those important Hebrew words, hesed – sometimes translated as loving kindness. We might think of the synonym grace. After the deaths of Saul and Jonathan, […]
As the Deer…
“As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God? My tears have been my food day and night, while men say to me all day long, “Where is your God?” These […]
Leave a Legacy
“After removing Saul, he made David their king. He testified concerning him: ‘I have found David son of Jesse a man after my own heart; he will do everything I want him to do.’ “From this man’s descendants God has brought to Israel the Savior Jesus, as he promised.” (Acts 13:22–23) Ever wonder what people […]
Game of Thrones
“Then David knew that the Lord had established him as king over Israel and had exalted his kingdom for the sake of his people Israel.” (2 Samuel 5:12) We’ve seen David respond well in bad situations …but how will he respond in good ones? I think of those lottery winners you always hear about. Like […]
Lost and Found
“David and his men reached Ziklag on the third day. Now the Amalekites had raided the Negev and Ziklag. They had attacked Ziklag and burned it, and had taken captive the women and all who were in it, both young and old…David recovered everything the Amalekites had taken…Nothing was missing: young or old, boy or […]
Shadows on the Wall
“David left Gath and escaped to the cave of Adullam….” (1 Samuel 22:1) When I saw this, I was reminded of another famous cave I read about in a philosophy class. Maybe you’ve heard of it: Plato’s “Cave Allegory.” In his book Republic, Plato told a story of an imaginary group of people who had […]
Finding God in a Cave
“David left Gath and escaped to the cave of Adullam….” (1 Samuel 22:1) The bottom had just fallen out of David’s life. Within a span of a few very painful months, David lost everything: his position, his wife, his mentor, his best friend, and ultimately his self-respect. He went from living in a palace to […]
