In the book of Hebrews, there is a strange statement that compares Jesus to another guy with a strange name, Melchizedek. Here is what it says: We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, where our forerunner, Jesus, has entered on our […]
Abraham had been a man that had been obeying God. He had originally lived in the land of Ur with his father Terah with his wife Sarai. Ur was in the area of what we would today call southern Iraq. Maybe near present-day Basrah. Terah had made a plan, along with his family, to head […]
When God made Adam, it says that he created him from the dust of the earth and then breathed into him to give Adam life. Adam came to life because of God breathing into him. Then the Lord God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath […]
Our concerns are most frequently on this life. Our thoughts are frequently here, in this place and in this time. Our prayers are most frequently focused on the problems of today. But I’ve been struck recently by how different this is from the perspective that we see in the Scriptures, from the narrative that we […]
It is difficult to see a need and, having the ability to fill the need, not fill it. But there are times, of course, when it makes more sense to not fill a need because there it is better over the longer term to have the other person do it for themselves. We can acknowledge, […]
There are many who claim to follow God saying that they follow God by following the rules that He has given to them. Would it be surprising to us to learn that, instead, God has set us free from the rules? Instead of expecting us to follow a set of laws, God expects us to […]
I’ve probably seen too many kidnapping movies. Anytime I see this word ransom, I think of the movies that I have seen where someone has been kidnapped and taken away. There is always a tense scene where the family waits for a phone call. They wait to hear from the kidnapper to understand what it […]
In his letter to Timothy, Paul acknowledged that he was once a blasphemer, a persecutor, and a violent man, all sins for which he should have been condemned. But Paul gives thanks to God because he wasn’t condemned, but instead was shown mercy and grace. And so the first thing that I want to note […]
“Sharing the Gospel and making disciples should be a lifestyle, not just an event that we go to do from time to time.” “Unfortunately, evangelism, if it is done, is frequently an event in our churches today.” “God will give us opportunities every day if we will just pay attention to what he is doing […]
As God brought the Israelites out of Egypt and then subsequently gave him his law, that which today we call the Ten Commandments, the first two were: God is serious about having any other gods, or anything representing other gods, put before him. In fact, just before giving the commandments, he told the Israelites: I […]