“If you ask, ‘Why is this happening?’ no light may come, but if you ask, ‘How am I to glorify God now?’ there will always be an answer.” J.I. Packer Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will exalt you. James 4:10 The saying goes that hindsight is 20/20. It seems rather poetic to have such insight having come out of 2020. This month marks two years for me since the fateful events transpired that led to my departure from…
It is January 21, 2021. No, these numbers do not have a mystical or prophetic meaning. It is the day that the Lord has made, and we are to rejoice in it regardless of the current state of affairs. It is the day after the forty-sixth President of the United States was sworn into office. Though I am personally concerned about the future of our nation morally, I am even more concerned about the eternal state of individuals. This concern…
I bless the LORD who gives me counsel; in the night also my heart instructs me. I have set the LORD always before me, because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Psalm 16:7-8 ESV Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 ESV The middle of the night has been an unexpected friend as of late. Lying awake…
In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace, Ephesians 1:7 This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. Matthew 26:28 Years ago, I remember reading a book centered around the blood covenant. I read that book several times, taking in the types and shadows found in the Old Testament, the tabernacle, the sacrifices, the High Priest, the Passover,…
I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naïve. Romans 16:17,18 ESV Calling out false teaching and the teachers perpetuating such things is a touchy subject for some. There are beliefs that names should not be…
When you come into the land that the LORD your God is giving you, you shall not learn to follow the abominable practices of those nations. There shall not be found among you anyone who burns his son or his daughter as an offering, anyone who practices divination or tells fortunes or interprets omens, or a sorcerer or a charmer or a medium or a necromancer or one who inquires of the dead, for whoever does these things is an…
Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name. And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ. Acts 5:41,42 ESV Worthy to suffer dishonor for the name. This statement stood out as I am currently studying the Acts of the Apostles. Those words seemed to hang in the air after reading it out loud. I…
The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers. John 10:3-5 ESV My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. John 10:27 ESV There…
There is this gospel that has been preached and offered up to some in the modern day church for quite some time. It is a beautiful prison, adorned with walls of half truths and sweet words of personal affirmations seeming to come from God Himself. There is no judgment or chastisement. There is no call to die to self or any biblical teaching to discipleship. The use of “offensive words” causing us to think that we are anything less than…
No wisdom, no understanding, no counsel can avail against the LORD. Proverbs 21:30 ESV Yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist. 1 Corinthians 8:6 ESV Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither…