If you love me, keep my commands….Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them. (John 14:15,21) This builds on a previous post titled Trust and Obey. Loving God is Crucial C. S. Lewis …
Trust and Obey
You have laid down precepts that are to be fully obeyed. (Psalm 119:4) Obedience Better Than Carefulness Aretta Loving served with Wycliffe Bible Translators for fifty-seven years. One day as she was washing her breakfast dishes, she saw Jimmy, the five-year-old neighbor, coming toward her back porch. She had just finished painting the porch handrails and they needed to dry. …
Power for Living
God is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us. (Ephesians 3:20) Over President’s Day weekend, Winter Storm Uri hit Texas and other parts of the USA with record setting low temperatures. Millions of people lost electricity, water, and heat. It reminded me of a story told …
The Christmas Spirit (Even in Summertime)
For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many. (Mark 10:45) This builds upon our previous post. You can read Jesus the Suffering Servant In his book Knowing God, J. I. Packer echoes Scripture’s teaching that Christ-like service is essential to our walk with …
Jesus the Suffering Servant
Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made Himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to death, even …
Hospitality Ministry (Part 1)
Note: I wrote this before the COVID-19 pandemic, but we still need to find ways to practice hospitality in creative ways despite the troubles. Social distancing cannot mean social disconnection. My recent post about Dr. John Skilton, a life-long bachelor, reminded me how he preached and practiced the value of hospitality in evangelism. Some people who are not initially persuaded …
Thanksgiving to God for Dr. John Skilton
Dr. John H. Skilton (1906-1998) was my professor and friend in Philadelphia, PA and I remembered him again recently with gratefulness to the Lord. Moisés Silva wrote in appreciation: “Few and far between are those who combine, as Skilton has, an unshakable and fearless commitment to orthodox Christianity in its Reformed expression alongside a most gentle and patient spirit.” I …
Naomi: Hero of Faith
Return to your God, observe kindness and justice, and wait for your God continually….Wait for the Lord; be strong and let your heart take courage; yes, wait for the Lord….Behold, as the eyes of servants look to the hand of their master, as the eyes of a maid to the hand of her mistress, so our eyes look to the …
Jesus-like Love (Part 6)
Love does not rejoice at wrongdoing, evil, or injustice, but rejoices with the truth….I was overjoyed to find some of you walking in the truth, just as the Father has commanded us….Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. (1 Cor 13:6; 2 John 4; Rom 12:9) Love was so important to Jesus that shortly …
Jesus-like Love (Part 5)
When you pray, say: Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us. And lead us not into temptation….For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins. (Luke 11:2-4; Matthew 6:14-15) …