Proverbs 3 emphasises a father’s concern that his son live a life of trusting the Lord. Coupled with this is his desire that his son be trustworthy—both to man and God. The person who lives a life trusting the Lord will find much treasure in God’s accompanying promises. Atkinson summarises: “Proverbs 3:1–12 focuses our attention on love to God which is expressed in keeping his … [Read more...]
Living in Babylon (1 Peter 5:13)
Our text for this study points us to the reality of hardship in the life of the Christian. It points us to how to face suffering as a Christian. The more I have considered this text, and the theme of this message, the more I realise how relevant it is on the cusp of a new year. It is all too easy to slip into a syrupy sentimentality when it comes to Christmas. But when you … [Read more...]
Victory Loves Preparation (Genesis 14:1–24)
It has been said that “combat is reflective of life, only amplified and intensified.” That being the case, Genesis 14 records the first ever special operations combat in Scripture. In that combat, we learn the value of preparation as a principle in life, but also are pointed to our real role in the story. The real preparation doesn’t end with a moral principle but with us bring … [Read more...]
#Blessed (Ruth 2:1–23)
For several years now, I have noticed a trend. You’ve probably seen or heard it too, even if you haven’t identified it as a trend. This trend is employed by Christians and non-Christians alike. If you’re not convinced that it’s a trend, a quick hashtag search across social media platforms will convince you. As I was working on this study, I performed a hashtag search in … [Read more...]
An MRI and the Mercy of God
This past week I had my first (and, I hope, my last) MRI. It wasn’t quite as bad as I had anticipated, but close enough that I am committed to taking better care of my health! The radiologist was very kind and very thorough in her explanation of what was about to happen. She gave me a form to fill out, with questions that served as a warning of the things to come. One of … [Read more...]