[Y]our kingdom come. —Matthew 6:10 One phrase in The Lord’s Prayer entreats, “Your kingdom come.” The language would have enlivened the Jewish expectation of a Messianic earthly kingdom, stimulated the later Christian hope for God’s spiritual kingdom to advance on earth, and invigorated anticipation of the return of Jesus and the inauguration of the […]
[S]in, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death. —James 1:15 English essayist Thomas De Quincey’s On Murder, published in 1827, evoked lots of grins. It ran this way . . . Many a person who upon committing a murder begins a downward slide and soon may come to robbing and then Sabbath breaking,
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Sooner or later nearly every church is contaminated by contention. Like cancer, it infiltrates furtively at first and goes undetected. But eventually, it metastasizes and permeates the body, resulting in severely depleted strength. Or death. Toxic Intruders Paul used a lot of ink exhorting Christians to encourage one another, build each other up, love one
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We always thank God for all of you. —1 Thessalonians 1:2 Robert Emmons, a psychology professor at the University of California, Davis, and author of The Little Book of Gratitude: Create a Life of Happiness and Well-Being by Giving Thanks, coined the term “defiant gratitude.” Defiant gratitude is the attitude
[Bringing] salvation to those who are waiting for him. —Hebrews 9:28 Hebrews 9 cites Christ’s three appearances on our behalf: past, present, and future. In the past he appeared to redeem us: to ransom us from sin’s bondage, “once for all by his own blood, having obtained eternal redemption” (vv. 11–12). In the
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Do not be anxious about anything. —Philippians 4:6 Can you think of anyone with more reason to be anxious and depressed than the apostle Paul when he jotted down that line? Under house arrest, awaiting trial, shaky health—eyesight so bad he had to squint to read. Yet, read his letter to
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He who guards his mouth and his tongue keeps himself from calamity. —Proverbs 21:23 William Barclay wrote: “We owe a very great deal to the fact that Peter had a quick tongue. Again and again Peter rushed into speech, and his impetuosity drew teaching which is immortal.” Here’s an example . .
Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances. —1 Thessalonians 5:16 Sometimes you get slammed by a train wreck over which you have no control: divorce, disease, death. But you have control over your thoughts. A flash of anger or lust may pop in, but you are able to flip the switch
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This week we’re considering Five Life-Changing Questions (5) Is This Who I Want to Be? I will watch my ways and keep my tongue from sin. —Psalm 39:1 Blunt fact: you are what you say and do. Blunt truth: you’re not good if your words and actions are bad. Measure your stature by asking if
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This week we’re considering Five Life-Changing Questions (4) Is This a Healthy Relationship? He who walks with the wise grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm. —Proverbs 13:20 Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, widely considered Germany’s greatest literary figure, said, “Tell me who you spend time with,
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