Nothing can stop the Lord answering those who cry out to Him sincerely. Psalm 130 begins with an anguished cry for the Lord to meet some deep request; it ends with unswerving hope. Sin might separate us for a while but repentance breaks the power of iniquity (straying from or twisting the abundant life that […]
Few of us have much understanding of farming conditions in Israel. In many countries, we see vast fields surrounded by tidy fences or hedges. Crops grow in an almost sterile environment with hardly a weed visible. Rarely does the plough encounter a stone larger than a potato. One summer I worked on a typical farm […]
Whenever I go to a doctor I expect a diagnosis before any treatment. I dislike taking medicine just to alleviate symptoms. Treat the underlying condition and the symptoms will vanish. Similarly, it is important to understand the roots of spiritual deafness and blindness so that full health can be restored. One of the main reasons […]
Story time was over. The keel of the fishing boat ground into the gravel along the shore and the men stopped rowing. Jesus climbed over the side and paddled to the beach. As He and the disciples gathered their gear and prepared to go back to the house to rest, one of the disciples raised […]
I find it sobering that one of the best biblical examples of successful ministry looks so different from my efforts. I’m probably not unusual in my preparation for speaking or leading a Bible study. Some messages take me several hours of Bible reading, research, and prayer before I am even ready to compile my rough […]
Problems arise when we stop seeking God for ourselves and expect someone else to seek Him for us. That was the situation with a party of Jews shortly after Jerusalem fell to Nebuchadnezzar. Jeremiah tells us that these Jews, under the leadership of Johanan, wanted out. They were convinced that Egypt would be a safe […]
Continuing to talk while someone else is speaking is generally considered bad manners—unless you are in a position of authority. God certainly qualifies. He cut off Samuel, ignored his question, and proceeded to lay out His instructions. God talks over us sometimes. Now the Lord said to Samuel, “How long will you grieve over Saul, […]
Voice recognition software is the bane of my life. Whenever I reach an answering service that requires me to speak my requests, I know I am doomed. My British accent inevitably stumps the machine: “I’m sorry, I didn’t understand your response. Let’s try again.” Many times I have tried to confirm a flight to London […]
Personal faith rarely depends on one item of “evidence.” Rather our faith is like a planet in a solar system, held in orbit by the gravitational pull of a sun and other planets. It balances between several things that we find compelling. Each supports our faith to a different degree. Scripture is vitally important. One […]
What we call God’s “silence” is sometimes a consequence of selective hearing. King Saul’s situation at the end of his life is unique and extreme, but it illustrates a point about hearing the voice of God. After a series of disobedient acts, Saul languished in spiritual silence. Philistines attacked him and God held His tongue. […]