God’s Way Really Is Best
Proverbs 3:1-7 It was a surprising question from someone who only recently started worshiping with us, “Do you and your husband plan to stay at this church?” I responded that we didn’t have plans to...
View ArticleMentor to a Monarch
2 Chronicles 26:1-8 What were you doing at 16? I was trying to keep my first jalopy running while fighting the battle against acne and all the while holding down my first regular job. Uzziah, however,...
View ArticleOur Source of Success
2 Chronicles 26:9-15 Young leaders are often commended for their innovation, energy, and boldness. This was certainly true of Uzziah. The writer of the Chronicles particularly emphasizes how Uzziah...
View ArticlePride’s Deadly Consequence
2 Chronicles 26:16-23 Power is particularly dangerous when it is controlled by sinful pride. We have the power to do so much. Our power is directed by our will. If our will is guided by self, sin...
View ArticleA Proverb of Solomon
Proverbs 11:1-7 Solomon is an intriguing figure in scripture. He is the eldest of the surviving sons of King David and Bathsheba. Through the prophet Nathan he was given the divine nickname:...
View ArticleMis-Focused Faith
Matthew 23:23-28 The young pastor was thrilled to receive an unanimous call to his first church. Nevertheless, some members who were present when he interviewed were not there on his first Sunday....
View ArticleHumility and Jesus
Philippians 2:1-8 Jesus once advised a group of honor seekers on how to act at a banquet. In short He said, don’t try to grab the best seat at the table. It might be reserved for another. In...
View ArticleGuiding Us Safely Home
Psalm 73:23-28 The psalmist in Psalm 73 had just come through a time of struggle over the injustice of life. The wicked appeared to get away with their evil behavior. They prospered while the...
View ArticleWhose Example Is Worth Following?
2 Chronicles 28:1-11 King Ahaz was given the reins of kingship and, like many 20-year-olds, started looking around him to figure out what to do. He followed others’ lead in interactions with people,...
View ArticleOur Bad Choices Affect Others
2 Chronicles 28:12-21 King Ahaz’s poor choices and rebellion led him down a slippery slope and now it’s affecting others. Men returning from war came back with material and human spoils. A wise group...
View ArticleIt Worked For Them!
2 Chronicles 28:22-27 King Ahaz is still up to no good. When Ahaz became king, “he followed the ways of the kings of Israel” (v. 2) and “did not do what was right in the eyes of the Lord” (v. 1b). It...
View ArticleWhen Bigger Isn’t Better
Matthew 7:13-20 We live in a world in which bigger is usually considered better. For instance, to get the best deal you might go to a value club where, when buying paper towels, you get 15 mega rolls....
View ArticleListen Up!
Romans 10:9-17 Through Romans 10, we are reminded that faith is a multi-faceted, whole-self engagement. Specifically, the apostle Paul mentions declaring with our mouth and believing with our heart...
View ArticleAll You Have To Do Is Ask!
James 1:1-8 I am currently in a season of life in which everything feels new. Everything. Family life is different. Work has changed dramatically. I’m in a new city and area of the country. For the...
View ArticleEvery Good Path
Proverbs 2:6-15 They say hindsight is 20/20. Today’s reading tells us again that God gives wisdom and then says that “he is a shield . . . he guards . . . and protects” (vv. 7-8) the path of those who...
View ArticleThe Shadows Gather
2 Chronicles 32:1-8 First the rumors of war arrive, followed by the affirmations that the shadows of invasion are approaching the land. It is time to protect that which has been granted by the hand of...
View ArticleThe Shadows Growls
2 Chronicles 32:9-15 The shadow of invasion had grown darker and more certain. Sennacherib was not impressed by King Hezekiah’s rousing speech, nor was he intimidated by Hezekiah’s confidence in the...
View ArticleThe Shadow is Annihilated
2 Chronicles 32:16-23 Sennacherib executed his well-planned campaign of terror against the people of God. The role of fear and anxiety were key to their annihilation. Sennacherib was a master of...
View ArticleSingularity of Purpose
Mark 10:17-27 Stop working for a moment. Stop planning. Take a deep breath and relax. Now we are ready to ponder what Jesus is saying to us in this passage. Jesus is speaking of the singularity of...
View ArticleIt Is Grace
John 15:1-9 We have become so focused on the unpredictability of our lives that we have forgotten to rejoice in the predictable. God is a God of order, hovering over the waters of the chaos of our...
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