Why Revenge?
In a relatively short passage, Judges 15:1-17, we see Samson avenge himself three different times. Samson was not acting as a deliverer for God’s people, who had been oppressed by the Philistines for more than forty years (Judges 13:1), even though God was using him in that way (Judges 14:4). Instead, he was acting out of his own selfish and vengeful desires. Every single time, death and destruction were the result. Before we cast stones at Samson, however, we need…
For They Dealt Honestly
In 2 Kings 12:4–15, Jehoash was king over Judah. He instructed the priests to use the money brought into the house of the Lord to repair the temple in Jerusalem. Years passed. Money had been collected, yet the work still wasn’t getting done. The problem wasn’t a lack of resources; it was a lack of follow-through. So Jehoash stepped in and changed the system. A chest was set up by Jehoiada the priest. The money was collected openly, and faithful…
RESIST THE DEVIL
Anna Jean loves to sing. It’s not uncommon for her to jump from Disney songs to church hymns to nursery rhymes in a matter of moments. Last week, she was singing “Roll the Gospel Chariot” and came to the verse about the devil. The verse is supposed to go, “If the devil’s in the way, we will run right over him.” But she got a little mixed up and blended it with another verse: “If a brother’s in the way,…
God’s Desire for Marriage
At daycare one day, a little girl heard the story of Snow White for the first time. She was so full of excitement that she could hardly contain herself. When her mom picked her up, the first thing she did was retell the entire fairy tale. After describing how Prince Charming arrived on his beautiful white horse and kissed Snow White back to life, she asked her mom, “Do you know how the story ended?” “Yes,” her mom said, “Didn’t…
Is the Church Sleeping?
It is amazing how toddlers communicate their thoughts. If Anna Jean is talking about something she is about to do or a place she is about to go, she says that it is awake. If she is not able to do what she wants or go where she wants, she says that it is sleeping. For example, we drove over to Chick-fil-A one evening, not realizing it was closed that particular day. The building was dark. There were no cars…
Offended by Jesus
I read a story about a man whose wife asked him what he wanted for Christmas. He didn’t want to come right out and say it, so he dropped a hint: “Honey, I want something in the driveway on Christmas morning that will go from zero to three hundred in six seconds.” His wife smiled and said, “I think that can be arranged.” On Christmas morning, the man woke up excited, convinced a brand-new muscle car was waiting for him.…
Surrendering Every Part of Me to Jesus
As we were riding down the road one day, Anna Jean and I were listening to the a cappella version of a worship song called “Gratitude.” If you have never heard the song before, one of the lines in the chorus that is repeated several times goes like this: “So I throw up my hands and praise you again and again because all that I have is a hallelujah.” This song reminds us that our words fall short in expressing…
Preach the Gospel at All Times, and When Necessary, Use Words
This Sunday, as we continue moving through the Sermon on the Mount, our plan is to discuss what Jesus teaches about being great in the kingdom of heaven in Matthew 5:19. According to Jesus, we are to both do and teach what He says. His teaching, as the fulfillment of the Law and the Prophets, should direct how we live and what we teach others. Thinking about this reminded me of a quote I have heard from several different individuals:…
The Blessing of Forgiveness
Martin Luther, who was a key figure in the Reformation movement of the 1500s, once had a dream where he was being attacked by Satan. The devil unrolled a long scroll containing a list of sins that Luther had committed and held it before him. When the scroll was completely unrolled and every sin had been read, Luther asked the devil, “Is that all?” “No,” came the reply, and a second scroll was put in front of him. Then, after…
Blessed Are Those Who Mourn
For just a moment, let’s consider the words of Jesus in Matthew 5:4: “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.” We all know what mourning feels like. You may be walking through it right now. Perhaps a loved one has passed away. Maybe your relationships with family or friends are strained. Maybe the bills keep piling up and you don’t know how you’ll make ends meet. Perhaps you’re facing struggles at work or recently lost your job.…
Pursuing Peace
Considering the current state of our country can be a worrisome and troubling undertaking. That might even be true in our own lives. As Christians, in the midst of conflict, chaos, and confusion, we should be pursuing peace. This pursuit is rooted in the teachings of Jesus and the character of our God. In Matthew 5:9, Jesus said, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.” When we live as peacemakers and actively pursue peaceful lives,…
Appearing with Christ in Glory
In Colossians 3:4, we are given a beautiful promise from the apostle Paul: “When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.” One of the most beautiful promises that God has made to us is the promise of heaven. Right now, our lives are hidden with Christ in God (Colossians 3:3). But one day, we will appear with Jesus in glory. Can we pause and dream about that for a moment? There will…