Mirrors do a great job at reflecting reality. The reflect exactly what is before them - for better or for worse. Yet, even the slightest imperfection or defect can distort their reflection. Jeremiah's ministry to Israel is in part an effort to help Israel realize their state before God. Israel is stubbornly fixed in idolatry, …
Singing is inherently inspired. Songwriters write about their most awe-held topics. Singers sing about their most beloved experiences. Musicians muse over their most unshakeable hopes and dreams. We sing from our heart’s ever-flowing fount of wonder. Furthermore, singing is inherently inspirational. Teens lose their minds over the latest pop song. Armies have rallied to victory …
God’s providence leads us to John 3:16-17 this week – a great Christmas preparation passage. John 3:16-17 famously reads, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn …
The Bible is the very word of God. It is the source of truth and life, and thus studying the Bible is the very foundation of Christian life. It expands and refines our knowledge of God’s glory and the gospel. It builds up our trust in and obedience of God. It teaches us what God …
Continue reading Three Questions to Help You Study Your Bible
As Christians we are to cherish what God cherishes. Amazingly God cherishes repentance. He doesn’t begrudge the repentant, rather He calls out to a perpetually adulterous Israel in Jeremiah 3:22, “Return, you faithless children.” He always desires the sinner to return to Him. Why? Jeremiah 3:22 continues, “…I will heal your unfaithfulness.” He cherishes repentance …
Something caught my attention in Jeremiah 3:6-18. So far in Jeremiah, God has not held any punches about Israel and their unfaithfulness. Israel has no concern for God while they pursue false gods. So, God blatantly condemns them for their sin and their indifferent attitude toward their sin. Yet, in 3:11-12, God mercifully calls Israel …
Continue reading The Before and After of Repentance (A Devo on Jeremiah 3:6-18)
Recently my family and I took a long trip down to the beach to spend the day with a couple friends and their families. We were rushed and running late (as always) and so we clicked the text they had sent us with the address and hit the road. We did not check the destination …
We live in an age of constant, instantaneous, never-far-from, and ever-imposing digital glitz and glam. Many pixels have been spilt on how our attention to media and its delivery systems have shaped us. One of the chief results of our media-intaking moment is a rise in distracted behavior. I don’t mean those fleeting thoughts that …
Some say "It takes a village to raise a child." I may not completely agree with this statement and it's common applications, but I do think it points to a basic developmental reality sometimes overlooked or under-appreciated by the Church: Community shapes youth. Community is powerful. It is powerful because it is partnership. A community …
With churches not gathering, schools closed, sports scrapped, jobs furloughed, relationships fizzling, proms and graduations snubbed, and vacations axed – disappointment abounds. Disappointment is sadness caused by unfilled hopes and expectations. It can be difficult to handle. We have a choice in disappointment – continue in faith or not. Philippians 4:13 says, “I am able …
Continue reading Devos for A Strange, New World – I Can Be Content
Familyhood 