In Christian theology, adoption is one of the most precious and practical blessings that flow from the gospel. It describes the gracious act by which God the Father takes those who were once strangers and enemies and places them into His own family as full sons and daughters, with all the rights, privileges, and intimacy that belong to true children. ...
I often opine that Jesus never asks us to accomplish anything that cannot be done with the help of the Holy Spirit. So his admonition in Matthew 5:48 must be a goal that can be reached. While it is true that none of us will ever be perfect in this life, the high and beautiful standards Jesus set forth in the Sermon on the Mount remain the goals toward ...
I think if Jesus were to ask, “Who do you say I am?” (Matthew 16:15 NLT), the question He famously asked Peter, He would surely be disappointed by some of the answers He’d receive from contemporary Americans.
A nationwide survey conducted by The Barna Group among a representative sample of adults explored how many have what might ...
If you have been following along with my weekly thoughts you will have surmised that I am intrigued by paradoxes — verifiable truths despite initial impressions. For example, love multiplies when it is given away, or as my thought for this week, blessings very often spring from hardship. Life inevitably brings seasons of pressure that none of us ...
[All scripture references are from the New Living Translation]
In a previous post, I compared Jesus’ saving grace to a sturdy bridge that carries us from eternal peril into everlasting safety, provided we trust Him enough to step onto it. It’s a metaphor that resonates with me, because it’s not just a simple picture, but a deeply significant ...
I sometimes joke about my tendency to procrastinate: “The good Lord put me on this earth to accomplish a certain number of tasks; I am now so far behind I shall never die!” You may or may not appreciate my humor, but there is a grain of truth there. God made us with purpose, care, and intention. He knows everything about us, is present with us wherever ...
From time to time, especially when there has been some tragedy or natural disaster, I see people interviewed on television who say that they are relying on their faith to get through it. And I wonder, what are they putting their faith in? Are they talking about the kindness of strangers or their eternal salvation? I know I’ll never know!
What ...