Last week was a rough work week. First, it was exhausting due to its long hours. Second, my health gave me some trouble, and third, I dropped one of the many balls I have been juggling on a project, and now I am cleaning up the pieces. None of these issues were that significant in … Continue reading Recognizing the Curse in Our Work
When a man or woman of God invites you in as they process their grief of losing a loved one, they are giving you a spiritual gift to strengthen you. Throughout church history, many faithful Christians have suffered the loss of children and encouraged others through their experiences. Samuel Rutherford, John Flavel, John Bunyan, and George Whitfield … Continue reading Seasons of Sorrow
It started with the drama at the throne (Revelation 5). The scroll containing the inheritance of the children of God was sealed with seven seals, and no one could open it. No one, that was, until the slain Son of God appeared. Because he died and rose again, he is worthy. He had borne the wrath they deserved. Because of this, he is both just and … Continue reading The First Six Seals of Revelation
There is a commonplace religion that invites its followers to do the exact opposite of what Jesus taught. It is a religion of self-help, and it likes to go to church. We see it in many popular manifestations of cultural “Christianity.” It has a thin veneer of truth but lacks substance. It gives lip service to following Jesus, … Continue reading The Problem with Cultural Christianity
Remember from where you have fallen (Revelation 2:4). Wake up and strengthen what remains and is about to die (Revelation 3:2). These two phrases, the first spoken to the church in Ephesus, and the second spoken to the church in Sardis, summarize the condition of our spiritual lives from time to time. For countless Christians, it is easy to reflect … Continue reading Strengthen What Remains
Church is often dull because we think about it like secularists, not according to scripture. This world takes its stand against Christ, and Jesus tells us that as believers, we will have trouble. He also reminds us to take heart because he has overcome the world (John 16:33). For us to take heart, which leaves … Continue reading Why Church is Often Boring
No matter how hostile the world may become towards Christians, the Lord always has fellow believers available to us for support. We were never meant to stand alone, and we should be available to encourage other believers as well. The apostle Paul faced countless persecutions as a Christian. From stonings to beatings to imprisonment, all … Continue reading Together in a Hostile World
There is joy and peace in believing. Once we know Jesus and the forgiveness he has granted us through faith, joy and peace begin to flow. The problem is if our faith weakens and our spiritual-mindedness begins to diminish, so does the joy and peace that flows from it. There is peace in knowing that we are no longer at … Continue reading Joy and Peace in Believing
When we read God's statement in scripture where he says, "For this very purpose I have raised you up," commonplace religion has conditioned us always to expect the reason to be something positive for the person addressed. Perhaps God raised this person up to save a group of people from genocide, like Esther. Maybe God raised this … Continue reading For this Purpose I Raised You Up
Throughout history, we see the church expand and contract not only in size but also in terms of its faithfulness to Jesus Christ and his word. Today, in North America, the visible church as a whole seems to be in a time of decline. Many churches are shrinking or closing, and many others are giving into the … Continue reading The Remnant is Like a Fuse
The Fight of Faith 