The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field, but while his men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat and went away. (Matt. 13:24-25) Jesus paints a picture of a beautiful wheat field, which was spoiled by an enemy. Coming into the…

You know how, like a father with his children, we exhorted each one of you and encouraged you and charged you to walk in a manner worthy of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory. (1 Thess. 2:11-12) The Marlboro Man and Michelob weekends represent the manhood of a biblical father about as…

Let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe. (Heb. 12:28) Press Secretary Tony Snow was fifty-three when he died. Snow, a Christian, had terminal cancer while in office under President George W. Bush. Despite his affliction, Snow was…

The Lord of hosts has sworn: “As I have planned,     so shall it be, and as I have purposed,     so shall it stand. (Isaiah 14:24) The nightly news can discourage us with accounts of violent crime, social injustice, natural calamity, viral disease, global terrorism, and human foolishness. Evil is real, but it never thwarts God’s ultimate purpose….

We rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. (Rom. 5:3-5) When we’re facing a challenge, our tendency is…

When Daniel knew that the document had been signed, he went to his house where he had windows in his upper chamber open toward Jerusalem. He got down on his knees three times a day and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as he had done previously. (Dan. 6:10) How would you define courage? …

What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? (Rom. 8:31-32) One of my pastorates was in a rugged…

The Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. (John 10:17-18) Christ came to earth with his death in mind. The cross wasn’t a surprise ending. His heart of all-consuming love did…

Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure. (1 John 3:2-3) A sign recently appeared…

Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives, and do not be harsh with them. (Col. 3:18-19) Scripture never justifies dictatorial rule by one spouse, nor does it require the abandonment of personal dignity by another. Despite the controversies of our age over Scripture’s instruction, the Bible’s marital…