J.I. Packer, as a young pastor, found himself “marginalized, isolated and required to work on unfulfilling and flawed agendas, in a manner that made him think of the Israelites having to make bricks for Pharaoh.” He claims to have lived “like Moses in Midian, with frustration in [his] heart, wondering what God could possibly be … Continue reading The Power of the Word of God in a Young Pastor’s Life
Devotional Thoughts
The Portrait of Prodigal Love – Luke 15
Who is the Real Prodigal in this Parable? Tradition assigned the title “prodigal” to the son, but it more rightly describes the Father. The definition of prodigal: Extravagant, exceedingly lavish, and unrestrained. A Portrait of the Father’s Prodigal Love: Our Prodigal Father joyfully restores returning prodigals. Our prodigal Father is generous (v.11,12). Why would the son want … Continue reading The Portrait of Prodigal Love – Luke 15
Psalm 32
Psalm 32 instructs us that the only people who are truly happy are those who experience God’s forgiveness. Therefore, the refusal to openly confess our sins leads only to spiritual and physical misery. Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man against whom the Lord counts no iniquity, … Continue reading Psalm 32
Compelled by the Love of God – 2 Corinthians 5:14-21
How easy it is to let fear dominate our lives… What am I going to do if I do not find a spouse? What am I going to do if I don’t get into grad school? What am I going to do if they fire me? What am I going to do if the economy … Continue reading Compelled by the Love of God – 2 Corinthians 5:14-21
Idolatry: Causes, Consequences and Cures (1 Corinthians 10)
Why do I lie? Why do I fail to love as I should? Why do I not keep my promises? Why am I selfish? There is something besides Jesus Christ that I feel I must have to be happy, something that is more important to me than God and enslaving me through inordinate desires. My heart is an "idol-making factory". … Continue reading Idolatry: Causes, Consequences and Cures (1 Corinthians 10)
When God’s Word Pours Down Like Rain
Teaching Outline: Rain is the difference between life and death. God’s Word is like the rain. How so? True life (both physical and spiritual) comes from beyond us. We can’t control it; we can only receive it. When God's word pours down like rain, we heed the invitation to our Lord's banquet of grace (Is. 55:1-5). Like rain, … Continue reading When God’s Word Pours Down Like Rain
Prayer of Confession – Romans 8
Holy and gracious Father, the highest court in the universe has declared us completely forgiven, totally accepted and forever loved!” Yet when we find ourselves in a cauldron of adversity and difficulty, we easily succumb to despair and our minds are seduced into believing the lie that you really don't care about us. Forgive us … Continue reading Prayer of Confession – Romans 8
Reflections on the Good Samaritan
Before we go rushing down the Jericho road imagining ourselves the heroes of the story, we need to be quiet, allow ourselves to be comforted, and listen in on the conversations in the Hotel Compassion, where all the talk is about the compassion of the Lord. — Patrick J. Willson Let no one glean from Jesus’ … Continue reading Reflections on the Good Samaritan
Reflections on the Exclusive Claim of Jesus
In John 14:6, Jesus says to Thomas, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." The exclusivity of this claim is completely offensive in our age of tolerance. Here are a few musings on this claim that have proven helpful to me. In a world of … Continue reading Reflections on the Exclusive Claim of Jesus
Reflections on Jesus’ New Commandment
In his booklet on John 13:34-35 entitled “The Mark of a Christian,” Francis Shaeffer called love ‘the final apologetic.’ The love of Christians for one another should be the distinguishing mark by which the world recognizes us as followers of Jesus. Such mutual interest in and concern for each other will arrest the attention of … Continue reading Reflections on Jesus’ New Commandment
2Cherish2Commend 