It is easy to think parents have no idea what the world and its temptations are like. Parents talk about things like not drinking (you mean “AT ALL”?) or remaining a virgin until marriage, or not smoking, or not skipping classes, or whatever else—and it is easy to think these old people are out ofContinue reading “Your Parents May Be Out of Touch, But God is Not.”
Category Archives: Obedience
God Knows How to Muck Out Your Hurricane-Ravaged House.
After Hurricane Harvey, I thought I’d seen it all. In my rubber boots I had slogged through a dozen Houston-area houses with water dripping from carpets and insulation. As the sun rose toward noon, you could feel the steam coming out of those swampy damp caverns of mold and moisture. It was interesting, but grossContinue reading “God Knows How to Muck Out Your Hurricane-Ravaged House.”
How Do You Start a Nation?
Men who found nations begin by positioning armies at the borders. God begins by telling people WHAT TO EAT! And then? After food, God gives laws addressing dead animals, skin diseases, and mold! So unexpected! As with the well-known dietary laws, God provides “hygiene” laws that would later be confirmed by science. If unclean animalsContinue reading “How Do You Start a Nation?”
“Just as the Lord Commanded.” Exodus 40:34
In Exodus 39 and 40, the artisans used their crafts to build the tabernacle. Do you know what the tabernacle is? If the temple is God’s House, the tabernacle is God’s mobile home: it could be moved. The artists and craftsmen obeyed God in EVERY DETAIL. The result: God’s glory. 39:1— “They made … garmentsContinue reading ““Just as the Lord Commanded.” Exodus 40:34″
None of These Diseases. Exodus 15:26.
If you have ever tried to read the Bible, you have probably made it as far as Leviticus. Genesis and Exodus are pretty easy: lots of great stories. But Leviticus is a book short on stories and long on laws. The same is true for Numbers and Deuteronomy—there are stories mixed in, but much ofContinue reading “None of These Diseases. Exodus 15:26.”
Is Anything More Valuable Than Wisdom?
Would you trade wisdom for a million dollars? Would you surrender all your wisdom for 30 million dollars? Is it worth it? Job, once rich, now poor, says NO: “A miner puts an end to the darkness. He probes the deepest recesses for ore in the gloomy darkness. He cuts a shaft far from humanContinue reading “Is Anything More Valuable Than Wisdom?”
Report Cards.
What if God offered a report card on the state of your heart? In Revelation 2 and 3, Jesus evaluates seven churches, praising them when He can, but also pointing out weaknesses: “You have lost your first love… You are lukewarm….” Job likewise received a “report card” but he got perfect grades. Twice God saysContinue reading “Report Cards.”
The Lord is With You. Genesis 39 and 40.
Who is your favorite person in the Bible—excluding Jesus, the God-Man? Mine has always been Joseph, and I began reading his story today: a gifted dreamer, super-talented, picked-on, and misunderstood. And righteous. What a man of INTEGRITY. But though sold into slavery in a foreign, pagan land, he was never alone, not even in theContinue reading “The Lord is With You. Genesis 39 and 40.”
Remember. Genesis 35:14.
We make souvenirs of silly things sometimes. The pack rats among us save not just one childhood report card, but all of them. Not just one or two art projects, but all of them. Not just one or two children’s toys—but ALL of them. Eventually you need file cabinets and a rented storage unit toContinue reading “Remember. Genesis 35:14.”
Test Your Heart.
Abraham had it all—land, cattle, crops, gold, 300 employees—but no children. His peers might have had 60 descendants at his age, but Abe had none. SIX times God repeated his promise of a son—and of heirs that would outnumber the stars. Then at 86, Abe had a son, by Hagar. Finally at 100, God gaveContinue reading “Test Your Heart.”
Household Words: 