‘I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths I will guide them…’ Isaiah 42:16 Sometimes, following God involves leaving a secure and lucrative career. Moses left a palace, Elisha left a farm, James and John left their fishing boats. But sometimes, following God means […]
‘God chose things the world considers foolish in order to shame those who think they are wise.’ 1 Corinthians 1:27 A pastor writes: ‘Poll after poll has found that most people’s number one fear is speaking in public. Death ranks number two. That means some people would rather die than […]
“For God does not show favoritism.” – Romans 2:11 Hilaire Belloc (1870–1953), an author, critic, and devout Roman Catholic, lived in a Britain where strong anti-Catholic sentiment prevailed. Known for his passion and unwavering conviction, Belloc decided to run for political office in 1906, fully aware of the challenges posed […]
‘Preach the Word of God. Be prepared, whether the time is favourable or not.’ 2 Timothy 4:2 In training Timothy for ministry, Paul says, ‘Preach the Word of God. Be prepared, whether the time is favourable or not. Patiently correct, rebuke, and encourage your people with good teaching’ 2 Timothy […]
“For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: ‘The righteous will live by faith.’” – Romans 1:16-17 Dr. William Rowley writes: “R. C. Sproul points out that diligence matters in sanctification. We may […]
“I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.” Luke 13:5 In his book Growing strong in the Seasons of Life, the author Charles Swindoll tells a story about the 19th Century agnostic Thomas Huxley. The story goes like this – Huxley was in Dublin and […]
“Jesus answered him, ‘I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.’” – Luke 23:43 Jon Tyson in his book “The Burden Is Light”, writes: “On a warm summer night, I drove my son to a local cemetery. It was a Moravian cemetery that sits nestled […]
“And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, ‘This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.’” – Luke 22:19 In his book “Truth We Can Touch”, Tim Chester writes: “Every meal—not just Communion, but including Communion—is a reminder […]
“Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up.” Luke 18:1 David Brooks, in his book “The Social Animal” writes: “In 1997 Gary McPherson studied 157 randomly selected children as they picked out and learned a musical instrument. Some went […]
“Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us. And lead us not into temptation.” Luke 11:4 Pete Peterson served in the Vietnam War, where his F-4 Phantom II fighter was shot down on September 10, 1966. He spent six years in prison, a period he […]
“Therefore I say to you, Whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you shall have them.” Mark 11:24 Charles Spurgeon wrote “Prayer pulls the rope below and the great bell rings above in the ears of God. Some scarcely stir the bell, for they […]
‘I lie awake, And am like a sparrow alone on the housetop.’ Psalm 102:7 Wolfgang Dircks, a divorced, disabled loner, was found deceased in his apartment in Bonn, Germany, in December 1998 – five years after he died. He was forty-three and died watching television. Neighbours didn’t notice his absence. […]
‘No one needed to tell Him what mankind is really like.’ John 2:25. In Scripture, we are commanded to love everyone, not trust everyone. Jesus is our example in this. ‘Because of the miraculous signs Jesus did … many began to trust in him. But Jesus didn’t trust them, because […]
“He who observes the wind will not sow, and he who regards the clouds will not reap.” Ecclesiastes 11:4 There’s a time to be cautious, and a time to throw caution to the wind. The challenge is knowing the difference, and that requires discernment. If you’re waiting for perfect conditions […]
“If he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times comes back to you and says, ‘I repent,’ forgive him.” – Luke 17:4 At a Prison Fellowship banquet in Seattle, Ruth Youngsman said: “The man I ate dinner with tonight killed my brother.” Ruth introduced her incredible […]