“Then the Lord appeared to Abram…From there he moved to the hill country on the east of Bethel and pitched his tent…And there he built an altar to the Lord and called upon the name of the Lord.” – Genesis 12:7-8 Who spoke first? God or Abram? Clearly it was God! God called. Abram obeyed, and from his experience of obedience, Abram […]
Read More“The Lord said to Abram: Go from your land, your relatives, and your father’s house…” – Genesis 12:1 God is not a career placement counselor. He does not carefully consider my desires and make up and place me in a job that neatly fits my hopes. He’s not looking to take square pegs and put them in square holes. He’s looking to take a square […]
Read More“The Lord said to Abram…” – Genesis 12:1 Faith is a fuzzy concept until it is lived out in real life. When the Bible sets out to define faith, it doesn’t begin by saying, “faith is…” as the dictionary does. It begins with “the Lord said to Abram.” Very personal. Deeply human. To define faith, the Bible […]
Read More“Our God is coming; He will not be silent! Devouring fire precedes Him, and a storm rages around Him. On high, He summons heaven and earth in order to judge His people…” Psalm 50:3-4 The following two headlines caught my attention today: “How Bad is the Bootleg Fire? It’s Now Generating Its Own Weather.” “Egypt […]
Read MoreNo greater words could be spoken to us by Jesus. “Your faith…” Not your works nor your worth. Not your parents nor your peers. Only humble, submissive faith in the work and worth of Jesus is what matters. “…has saved you…” Neither my emotions nor my circumstances can change It. No accusation from without or […]
Read MoreThey go together – “A wide door for effective ministry” and “many oppose me.” We expect one or the other, but the example of Paul’s ministry is that they go together. Opposition often feels like defeat. The mosquito stings of criticism feel like daggers of deceit. The natural fatigue that comes with a “wide door […]
Read More“Let everyone submit to the governing authorities, since there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are instituted by God. So then, the one who resists the authority is opposing God’s command, and those who oppose it will bring judgment on themselves.” Romans 13:1-2 This is the difficulty. Both sides of […]
Read More“It is not good to eat too much honey or to seek glory after glory.” Proverbs 25:27 We are glory seekers by nature. We delight in our favorite team’s glory. We delight in our children and grandchildren’s glory. We even delight in our city, state, or nation’s glory. Like the sweetness of honey on our […]
Read More“Am I a God who is only near” — this is the Lord’s declaration — “and not a God who is far away? Can a person hide in secret places where I cannot see him?” — the Lord’s declaration. “Do I not fill the heavens and the earth?” — the Lord’s declaration.” Immanence…the Lord is near. Transcendence…the Lord is far […]
Read More“As for you, do not pray for these people. Do not offer a cry or a prayer on their behalf, and do not beg me, for I will not listen to you.” – Jeremiah 7:16 Three times. Three times God tells Jeremiah not to pray for his nation because their rebellion and rejection of God’s rightful rule and their wickedness […]
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Think These Things 