HOKMA is the Hebrew word for wisdom
“Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.” (Philippians 2:14-15) I have a hard time understanding this teaching.I assume it’s because I love to do both of these things … complain and argue … probably more than most … Read more
I wait for the Lord, my whole being waits, and in his word I put my hope. (Psalm 130:5) What is the difference between expectation and presumption? As we consider the condition of our heart, where is the line between these two postures of the soul? First, the similarities: both begin with a promise from … Read more
DISCOVER is the perfect word to describe what it means to go after God’s call in your life! When you make his plan a priority, an unexpected adventure awaits. One where you’ll What will his call look like? First: God’s call in your life is INTENTIONAL. Now when David had served God’s purpose in his … Read more
“Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, left the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and at the end of them he was hungry … Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit…” (Luke … Read more
“LORD Jesus, I come to you. I am tired and overwhelmed. I’m at the end of my rope; I cannot continue on my own. I accept your yoke, I give you control over the direction and pace of my life. Teach me, Great Teacher! I need more truth and wisdom in my life. Make me … Read more
If you do what Jesus wants you to do, you will have critics—especially if you are a leader. (See Luke 13:10-17). What motivates them? Who can know? They may fear loss of power or some other form of pride. They may not criticise directly, they are hidden, like snakes in the grass. Therefore, a leader … Read more
Jesus warns us about the thorns in life that keep us from following him and being blessed. The thorns are self-inflicted; we choose them. We are responsible for the thorns; they are not situations that happen to us. Jesus specifically mentions three kinds of thorns (although anything that keeps us from following him is a … Read more
[Jesus] was amazed at him, and turning to the crowd following him, he said, “I tell you, I have not found such great faith…” (Luke 7:9) I’m amazed that Jesus was amazed. Luke uses this word 18 times, and only once does it describe Jesus. (In nearly every other instance, people are surprised and impressed … Read more
Did you know that God uses other people to build your faith? In fact, if you feel like you have stalled out spiritually. This could be due to the fact that you don’t have the right people in your life. Here’s the truth: we need each other to grow spiritually. This isn’t a comfortable faith … Read more
Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. (James 1:19–20) What is the connection between listening, speaking, and anger? Although it’s mentioned last, let’s start with a quick look at anger. Most people work hard to avoid expressing … Read more
“But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do. (James 1:6-8) Scripture makes it … Read more
In a list of basic spiritual teachings, Hebrews 6:1 mentions “the repentance from acts that lead to death.” The writer does not talk about a single act that leads to a single death. Instead, there are many kinds of actions that lead to many “deaths.” There is a death that is not final. Physical death … Read more
“I will be their God, and they will be my people.” (2 Corinthians 6:16) Everything belongs to God, but some people “especially” belong to him. The distinction is found in a person’s response to Jesus. He died for everyone (even the people we don’t like!), but not everyone accepts his free gift of salvation. For … Read more
But as for me, I am filled with power, with the Spirit of the Lord, and with justice and might, to declare to Jacob his transgression and to Israel his sin. (Micah 3:8) As I grow older, I want to become more dependent on God and filled with his power, not my own. I desire … Read more
The pride of your heart has deceived you … you who say to yourself, ‘Who can bring me down to the ground?’ (Obadiah 3) The prideful heart believes a lie, saying, “I will never fall because my accomplishments are so amazing!”The humble heart accepts the truth, saying, “I may fall, no matter how much success … Read more
Photo by Tom Wilson on Unsplash “This is why…” (1 Timothy 4:10) Motivation is everything because nothing happens without it. All actions—even the impulsive ones—are prompted by something in our head/heart/soul (call it whatever you want!). Paul knew the importance of being properly motivated for doing the work of God. There are at least two … Read more
“Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.” (1 Timothy 1:15) Jesus was the promised Messiah, the incarnated Son of God, and the Savior of the world. We are the sinners, those who need saving. This teaching is not just the starting line for faith. … Read more
“Such things promote controversial speculations rather than advancing God’s work—which is by faith.” (1 Timothy 1:4) Ideas are important. They determine how we feel, think, speak, and act. When we promote the wrong ideas, not only is unity threatened, but we also don’t accomplish anything worthwhile. (Truth is, there’s enough controversy when we focus on … Read more
“Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the command of God” (1 Timothy 1:1) Paul’s calling as an apostle was based on the command of God. While the position of “apostle” was extremely unique, his mission wasn’t any more important than the rest of us non-apostles. Everyone who follows Jesus has a mission; it’s a … Read more
I really liked The Postmodern Pilgrim’s Progress. It was thoughtful and funny–a great combination! It was an allegory, and I usually rather hear the ideas because that’s much faster than a story. That being said, I recommend this book! The book was filled with a ton of great ideas–challenges, reminders, and encouragements. The book has … Read more