Unless you are born again, you can never see the Kingdom of God. —John 3:3 I presided at two funerals where several people smiled perceptively as they passed the caskets. The first was for a man whose job had sent him flying the friendly skies most days […]
Born-Again Birth Certificate Read More »
Whoever eats this bread will live forever. —John 6:58 William Shakespeare, arguably the greatest English language playwright in history, has been dead over 400 years. One of Shakespeare’s contemporaries, Ben Jonson, wrote of him: “He was not of an age, but for all time.” I
Timely and Timeless Read More »
Everything we have has come from you. —1 Chronicles 29:14 Elisabeth Elliot, in Passion and Purity, wrote: “If we hold tightly to anything given to us, unwilling to let it go when the time comes to let it go or unwilling to allow it to be used
We . . . are being transformed into his likeness. —2 Corinthians 3:18 My father was a master wood carver. When I view pieces of his elegant craftsmanship on my apartment shelves, I am reminded of his technique. He described it as choosing an appropriate
He has given each one of us a special gift. —Ephesians 4:7 Thomas J. DeLong, a professor at Harvard Business School, notes a disturbing trend he sees in people in all walks of life. He calls it “comparison obsession”—being consumed with comparing our accomplishments with the achievements of others. The Bible warns that comparisons
Celebrate Your Uniqueness Read More »
Look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. —Philippians 2:4 I suppose you’ve heard the story about a boy who was carrying a polio-afflicted youngster wearing heavy leg braces. A passerby commented that he was lugging quite a load. The boy said, “He
Look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. —Philippians 2:4 I suppose you’ve heard the story about a boy who was carrying a polio-afflicted youngster wearing heavy leg braces. A passerby commented that he was lugging quite a load. The boy said, “He
Turning his bruised and bloody face toward Jesus, he asked, “Are you doing this for me?” “Yes. And for that soldier with the club hanging from his belt, that he’s going to use at sundown to break your legs. And for the one standing next to him, thumbing the tip of the spear that he’s
The Rejected Challenge Read More »
At the moment of our need, Christ died for us. —Romans 5:6 Jackie Robinson was the first black to play major league baseball. When he botched a play on his home turf in Brooklyn, a trickle of boos quickly swelled into a roar. Shortstop Pee Wee Reese walked over, draped his arm around Jackie’s
He Stood Up for Us Read More »
You are the God who sees me. —Genesis 16:13 The massive statue, Cristo Redentor (Christ the Redeemer)—ninety-eight feet high, arms spread wide—stands watch over Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Millions see this Jesus, but this Jesus sees and hears no one. The first person to give God a name was
