Tag Archives: light in the darkness

Tuesday of Holy Week

Jesus spends most of Tuesday of Holy Week teaching and being questioned by the religious leaders in order that they might trap Him somehow. Were they jealous of His following? Did they feel threatened by the authority with which He taught? Or did they reason, if they could trip Him up, they might surely proveContinue reading “Tuesday of Holy Week”

Thoughts on Holy Week

I can only imagine the spiritual battle being waged in the heavenlies as Jesus headed toward Jerusalem and what we call the Triumphal Entry and Holy Week. Surely, the demons seethed and swarmed. And while we prepare our hearts this week to celebrate the fact that Satan and his minions were eternally defeated with theContinue reading “Thoughts on Holy Week”

A great weapon of the enemy

It’s one thing to be sick over the sin in our culture, but it’s entirely another, and necessary, to have times when I’m sick over my own sin. When you ask the Lord to show you your sin, He does. And it is always out of His kindness that God shows us and leads usContinue reading “A great weapon of the enemy”

Are you weary and troubled?

Do you notice it too? So many I know, who have been on the front lines for the faith are discouraged, and distracted, and some are even deceived by sin right now. Why would I be surprised that now,when the world seems as scary and as crazy as I’ve seen it in my lifetime, thatContinue reading “Are you weary and troubled?”

Don’t change the message!

These words were written to those who would seek to follow the Lord, those suffering for the faith, those not yet born, and those who would live in the End of Days. These were the last words of a dying saint who knew his time was short. Don’t miss this! Paul uses STRONG words whenContinue reading “Don’t change the message!”

We are wrong if we think God does not do this.

I usually breeze past genealogies in the Bible. Except this time I didn’t. (Matt 1) I stopped in adoration of the God, who could have chosen a more flawless lineage, but instead, chose to use and call out by name those with a very checkered past in the birth of His Son. Matthew 1:1-16 listsContinue reading “We are wrong if we think God does not do this.”

End of Days?

The disciples wanted to know when the End of Days would come. (Luke 21:7) I want to know, too. In Luke 21, Jesus gives what is commonly called the Olivet Discourse (Jesus was at the Mount of Olives when He said these things. Matthew 24 also records, in greater detail, the Olivet Discourse, and isContinue reading “End of Days?”

People are increasingly upset by truth.

For years, I’ve merely studied the Bible and written what I’ve learned. I’ve been encouraged by so many who study with me. But others, including some friends and family, have not liked what I have written on things like marriage, abortion, gender identity, homosexuality etc. Most are fairly kind in theirdisagreement, but I’ve also receivedContinue reading “People are increasingly upset by truth.”

Struggling to believe?

Noah lived 350 years after the flood and dies. His descendants are listed in Genesis 10. The earth population grows. At this point, all the people spoke the same language and they decided to stay together and build a city and a tall tower in the plain of Shinar (Babylon). (Gen 11) But remember, GodContinue reading “Struggling to believe?”

God knew we’d want to stop.

Paul ends this letter to the church at Colosse by calling out fellow brothers, beloved friends, fellow servants of God who labor for each other and the cause of Christ and who are “a great comfort” to Paul. He says this just before he closes with the words, “Take heed to the ministry you haveContinue reading “God knew we’d want to stop.”

Your faith is not an entirely private matter…

Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time. Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you might answer each one. (Col 4:5-6) When Paul penned this letter, Christians living in a Roman controlled world were thought to be many things. Many thought them toContinue reading “Your faith is not an entirely private matter…”

Let’s ask God to help us notice this…

Though he was in chains, Paul asked that others would pray for open doors to preach the gospel clearly. “Praying also for us, that God would open to us a door for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in chains, that I may make it manifest as IContinue reading “Let’s ask God to help us notice this…”

God will help us.

What does this verse mean? “Fathers, do not provoke your children lest they become discouraged” (Col 3:20). The Enduring Word warns, “Children who grow up with parents who provoke them will become discouraged. They will not feel the love and the support from their parents like they should, and they will come to believe thatContinue reading “God will help us.”

This will help you…

If we want true joy and to live out our faith in a way that makes an eternal difference, the Apostle Paul says we are to “put on the new man” which means putting to death our old sinful ways. (Col 3:5-11) And, you know “old sinful ways” sounds like not such a big deal,Continue reading “This will help you…”

Are you one of these?

We are all tempted to sin, but we don’t have to give in to that temptation. In chapter 3 of Colossians, Paul offers wisdom for living out our lives in obedience to Christ – “If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right handContinue reading “Are you one of these?”

How on earth do you do THIS?

As I come to the end of Chapter 2 of Colossians, I’m struck by Paul’s last sentence. “These things have the appearance of wisdom in self-imposed religion, false humility, and neglect of the body, but are no value against the indulgence of the flesh.” If I don’t want to indulge my flesh, I can’t relyContinue reading “How on earth do you do THIS?”

When Temporary can feel Eternal

Temporary problems can get us all down. But we need to have our theology straight in order to not get consumed by them. There have always been those who want to take away from the Bible and those who want to add to it. When Paul wrote his letter, many of the Christians in ColosseContinue reading “When Temporary can feel Eternal”

The immortals you’ll see today…

Paul sat in a Roman prison suffering. Yet, he rejoiced (Col 1:24) because he knew the HOPE of glory (Col 1:27)—Christ in us!! Paul was not only able to rejoice as he focused on Christ in that prison, but the work of Christ grew in Paul as he focused on others. Others. Oh, I suspectContinue reading “The immortals you’ll see today…”

Don’t give up!

Spurgeon said, “Spiritual ignorance is the constant source of error, instability, and sorrow.” The Apostle Paul would agree as he sets out to convey the truth of the riches of God’s glory in this letter to the Colossians that he has penned. He knew hearts would be encouraged and knit together by the treasures ofContinue reading “Don’t give up!”