The Church and the Gates of Hades
“… and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overpower it.” (Matthew 16:18, CSB) This is Jesus’ very first mention of “the church” as he’s responding to Peter’s confession of Jesus as Messiah. That truth would be the bedrock of the church – the church would build […]
Wearing Justice
“I clothed myself in righteousness, and it enveloped me; my just decisions were like a robe and a turban.” (Job 29:14) Job makes this statement in the midst of a discussion about his involvement with social justice. When he says he clothed himself in righteousness and justice, he is telling us that a social consciousness […]
Who is My Neighbor?
“He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” (Micah 6:8, ESV) Look around and you will see injustice everywhere. Some of it is perceived…but most is very real. After all, ours […]
Justice and Grace
“When you spread out your hands in prayer, I will refuse to look at you; even if you offer countless prayers, I will not listen. Your hands are covered with blood. “Wash yourselves. Cleanse yourselves. Remove your evil deeds from my sight. Stop doing evil. Learn to do what is good. Pursue justice. Correct the […]
What is “Doing Justice?”
“He has told you, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you But to do justice, to love kindness, And to walk humbly with your God?” (Micah 6:8, NASB95) There are a lot of competing theories in our world about how to “do justice.” The debate is part of the […]
Everything that can be Shaken
“But there’s far more to life for us. We’re citizens of high heaven! We’re waiting the arrival of the Savior, the Master, Jesus Christ,” (Philippians 3:20, The Message) That verse came to mind Wednesday as I watched the unbelievable images from our Nation’s Capital. Regardless of your political views, I’m sure you’d agree that our […]
Do You See what I See?
“When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had […]
God Moves Deliberately
“And my God will supply all your needs according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:19) God’s in the business of meeting needs: When Adam and Eve discovered they were unclothed…God made them coverings from animal skins When the world needed saving from a flood, God gave us Noah When Abraham needed […]
The God of Miracles
“For nothing is impossible with God (Luke 1:37).” We serve a miraculous God. From time to time he will suspend his own laws of nature to help his children. Why, you ask? C.S. Lewis says it best: “Miracles are a retelling in small letters of the very same story which is written across the whole […]
Thanksgiving 2020
“By faith Moses’ parents hid him for three months after he was born, because they saw he was no ordinary child, and they were not afraid of the king’s edict.” (Hebrews 11:23) The author of Hebrews tells us that Moses’ parents defied Pharaoh for two reasons: vision and courage. They had a vision of the […]
A Change in Perspective
“If I go away and prepare a place for you, I will come again and take you to myself, so that where I am you may be also.” (John 14:3) Jesus said that to his disciples on the night of the “Last Supper.” He had just explained to them that he would be betrayed, denied, […]
Blessed are the Meek?
In his same Sermon on the Mount when Jesus said blessed are the peacemakers, he also said this: “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.” (Matthew 5:5, NIV84) Later, Jesus would describe himself with the same term: “Take up my yoke and learn from me, because I am lowly and humble in […]
