God Chaser
Years ago, there was a popular book called The God Chasers. I remember one of my more theologically conservative friends asking me if God was running from us and that’s why we were chasing him. Besides just being an unfunny jerk, he missed a very important point the Bible wants us to grasp. Yes, of […]
Gone Fishing
“When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, `Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these?’” (John 21:15) A little background might help here. The resurrected Lord told the disciples to go from Jerusalem to Galilee and wait for him at a certain mountain. Somewhere along the way, Peter […]
Our High Priest
“For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin.” (Hebrews 4:15) Frederick Booth Tucker was a Salvation Army Officer in the late 19th century. One of his sermons in Chicago […]
The Name above Every Name
“Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2:9–11) […]
The Perfect Sacrifice
“…by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy.” (Hebrews 10:14, NIV84) There’s an old story of a church in England with a stone archway inscribed with the words: “We preach Christ crucified.” Years passed and generations of preachers came and went. By then, the cross seemed too old-fashioned and […]
Our Substitute
“But God, who is rich in mercy, because of his great love that he had for us, made us alive with Christ even though we were dead in trespasses. You are saved by grace!” (Ephesians 2:4–5) I read a story recently of an ancient nomadic tribe in the great expanse of Siberia. The tribe had […]
Be Happy or Else
“To love at all is to be vulnerable. Love anything and your heart will be wrung and possibly broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact you must give it to no one, not even an animal. Wrap it carefully round with hobbies and little luxuries; avoid all entanglements. Lock it up […]
The Great Miracle
“Instead he emptied himself by assuming the form of a servant, taking on the likeness of humanity…” (Philippians 2:7, CSB) Paul is describing the incarnation of Jesus. Incarnation literally means “en-fleshment.” John says “the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.” (John 1:14, NIV) C.S. Lewis, one of my favorite thinkers, describes the […]
Salvation in Jesus
When most of us in church talk about salvation, our discussion begins with a test…a test of morality. We ask certain questions of ourselves and sooner or later, even the most upright citizen answers incorrectly. Miss just one question and we fail. The penalty for failure is, of course, hell. Our ticket has been punched. […]
The Preeminence of Jesus
“He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For everything was created by him, in heaven and on earth, the visible and the invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities— all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and by him […]
Resurrection Sunday!
[Note: This week I will be chronicling the events of Holy Week with a short devotion each day.] Resurrection Sunday Resurrection Sunday is the culmination of Holy Week. The resurrection of Jesus is the pivotal truth of the Christian faith! As the sun rose, several women went to Jesus’ tomb, only to find that the […]
Silent Saturday
Silent Saturday Saturday was the Sabbath…a quiet day in Jerusalem. Jesus’ dead body lay in the tomb, guarded by Roman soldiers. Because of the quickly approaching Sabbath on Friday, Jesus was removed surreptitiously from the cross and quickly entombed. His body had been ceremonially treated by Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea, but not his disciples. […]
