Suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. —Romans 5:4 From the standpoint of human injustice, the day that Jesus died could easily be labeled the worst day in history. Yet it was the day God’s greatest gift of grace […]
Limping ashore after decades at sea, he was greeted by taunt … “You don’t have much to show for all those years do you?” “No, not much,” said the old salt who had spent years sailing with Sir Francis Drake. “I’ve been cold, hungry, sick, scared, and shipwrecked. But I am certain of one thing;
O Captain! My Captain! Read More »
He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification. —Romans 4:25 The resurrection of Jesus was a “But God” moment. Peter on Pentecost: you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death
Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed. —Romans 4:18 You want to scream “No!” when you hear God order Abraham to sacrifice his son as a burnt offering. You see faith at its finest as you watch the heavyhearted patriarch pack his
The wrath of God is being revealed … against all the godlessness and wickedness of men. —Romans 1:18 Don’t make the mistake of equating divine wrath with human wrath. They have little in common. Human anger is usually self-centered,
Rescued from Wrath Read More »
You also are among those who are called to belong to Jesus Christ. —Romans 1:6 Think the world is in worse shape now than it has ever been? It isn’t. In Old Testament days parents murdered their own children, sacrificing them by fire to their gods. Fathers cold-heartedly decided
Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus. —Romans 1:1 When Paul wrote Romans, the first word he used to describe himself was “servant.” The Greek word for servant (doulos) is best translated “slave.” For a Roman citizen—which Paul was—to call himself a slave would shock his Roman readers out
On the first day of the week we came together to break bread. —Acts 20:7 Have you noticed that an increasing number of calendars, especially the week-at-a-glance genre, start the week with Monday rather than Sunday? God gave preeminence to two days of the week—the first
Two Important Days Read More »
When he came to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples. —Acts 9:26 Paul wasn’t welcome in Jerusalem. Christians were scared of him, convinced that his reported conversion was a hoax. Barnabas was the only person who believed his story and went to bat for him. It was also
The Gift of Encouragement Read More »
His followers took him by night and lowered him in a basket through an opening in the wall. —Acts 9:25 Infuriated by his conversion, a gang of Damascus fanatics plotted to assassinate Paul. They posted around-the-clock lookouts by the city gates,
