Here’s a conversation I have every semester: “If my sixteen-year-old son goes to the Ford dealership and convinces them to sell him a Ford Mustang on a payment plan, there may be problems. What are some of those problems? “First of all, as a tenth grader, Marshall doesn’t have any money. But what ifContinue reading “Voidable Contracts and Voidable Vows. Numbers 30.”
Category Archives: Submit/Obey/Behold the Bondservant of the Lord
Do You Live in the Kingdom of NO? Nahum 3:8-10.
Small children love to say ‘no.’ They are quick to discover agency and autonomy. They don’t know the big words, of course, but they understand the ideas: I don’t have to do what Mommy says. I can choose to do what I want. Even toddlers will assert themselves by saying No to everything. My cousinContinue reading “Do You Live in the Kingdom of NO? Nahum 3:8-10.”
The Fork in the Road is Three-Pronged. 2 Kings 22:2.
You always have three options. There is Jeroboam’s path, Rehoboam’s path, and Josiah’s path. Jeroboam was the first king of the Northern Kingdom. He worried his people would desert him and return to Rehoboam (Solomon’s son who was now king only of Judah). To keep his people loyal to him, Jeroboam built idols and altars,Continue reading “The Fork in the Road is Three-Pronged. 2 Kings 22:2.”
GODLY LADIES. 1 Peter 3:1-7.
Today my Bible reading brings me to Peter’s first letter, and chapter three discusses the role and behavior of godly women. What might those characteristics be? Can you guess a few by looking at godly women in your own life? Peter begins with advice on how godly wives may provide LEADERSHIP to their lost husbands.Continue reading “GODLY LADIES. 1 Peter 3:1-7.”
ARE YOU WILLING TO BE INTERRUPTED BY GOD? Acts 27.
When their ship left Israel to sail to Rome, the captain and crew surely believed no one on board knew more about sailing than they did. This was a huge ship for the first century, carrying some 276 people (more than a Boeing 737). They would travel a thousand miles across the Mediterranean Sea inContinue reading “ARE YOU WILLING TO BE INTERRUPTED BY GOD? Acts 27.”
CAN YOU YIELD? Acts 9:1-6.
Saul was committed. As a Pharisee, he was wholly committed to the law. He was brilliant but faith was not an academic pursuit for him—he LIVED it. When Stephen was stoned, Saul did not shy from bloody death. Saul may have felt like a benchwarmer holding everyone’s cloaks (was he the youngest?), but he “heartilyContinue reading “CAN YOU YIELD? Acts 9:1-6.”
“RENDER UNTO CAESAR…” Luke 20:22-25.
Like many phrases in the King James Bible, “render unto Caesar” (give to Caesar) has become a well-known idiom, a cliché even. A politician might say it to defend a tax increase. A reporter might characterize fines paid by a factory as “rendering unto Caesar.” But what Jesus said to the Pharisees that day, someContinue reading ““RENDER UNTO CAESAR…” Luke 20:22-25.”
OBSERVE ALL THINGS. Matthew 28:20.
When Jesus gave us our mission statement, he included a phrase I had not noticed until yesterday’s sermon at Kingsland: “Teach them to observe all things that I have commanded” Matthew 28:20. In context, that means that my mission in life is to “Go… and make disciples… baptize them… and teach them to observe allContinue reading “OBSERVE ALL THINGS. Matthew 28:20.”
More Blessed than Mary. Luke 11:28
Jesus pointed out to the Pharisees that their ancestors loved Solomon, “but one greater than Solomon is here,” and the people of Nineveh listened to Jonah, “but one greater than Jonah is here.” Is that bragging? No. He is speaking the truth in love. They needed to hear the truth from Him directly. Then aContinue reading “More Blessed than Mary. Luke 11:28”
Bondservant. Luke 1:38
How do you respond to bad news? To challenges? To setbacks? Do you know how young Mary responded when the angel came and said, in effect, “God will make you pregnant, but everyone will assume the worst and will whisper lies about you for the rest of your life, and it will be a hardContinue reading “Bondservant. Luke 1:38”
Household Words: 