“Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.” (Acts 17:11, ESV) I planted a small tree today, but I know it will never grow any taller or develop any fruit. Fertilizing and pruning won’t help it grow. It’s fake. I was tired of trying to keep something growing in an empty spot by my house. Then I had a crazy thought. I’ll buy a fake tree and place it there. Unless someone stands close or touches it, they will never…
“And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” (Ephesians 6:17, ESV) When Ephesians 6 describes the armor of God, it covers piece by piece the soldier’s protective gear. From head to toe, we are to put on the helmet of salvation, the breastplate of righteousness, the belt of truth, and have our feet properly fitted with the gospel of peace. In our hand we hold the shield of faith, designed to protect us from the fiery darts that could harm us. Each piece of equipment listed is defensive, protecting us from the enemy’s attack. They help us take a stance and not retreat from battle. But there is one other piece of equipment: the sword of the Spirit. We use this vital weapon to go on the offensive against the enemy. It is the Word of God. This powerful weapon allows us to attack against whatever the enemy brings our way. After His baptism, Jesus spent forty days in the wilderness fasting and praying. It was there that He went through a time of temptation by the devil. (Read Matthew 4:1-11.) Each time Satan came at Jesus, the Lord refuted…
And Saul said to David, “You are not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him; for you are a youth, and he a man of war from his youth.” (I Samuel 17:33, NKJV) The Philistine giant Goliath made an imposing sight. His height (over nine feet), his armor (125 pounds), his spear as large as a weaver’s beam, and his defiant roar caused an entire army to cower on their side of the mountain. How could one man, even though he was a huge man, cause an entire army to tremble? Had we been there, I’m sure none of us would have wanted to go one-on-one with him either. But David was willing. Perhaps even eager! The cause was worth the fight. How did the two combatants compare? Goliath was bigger—much bigger. He was also older and meaner. He had been a man of war for several years, so he was an experienced fighter. He had a reputation that brought fear. David was the youngest of his family, a teenager, and a shepherd boy. He owned no armor and had no military training. Yet he was fearless and did not cower at the giant’s roar. His youth…
“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” (Ephesians 2:10, ESV) God was very intentional when He made us. It did not happen by accident or chance. He was careful, deliberate, purposeful in making each of us into a beautiful creation. The New Living Translation uses the word masterpiece, which speaks of the high quality of His workmanship. Workmanship: the quality imparted to a thing in the process of making. Masterpiece: a work done with extraordinary skill. Something (as a work of art) that is a…
“The LORD will guide you continually, and satisfy your soul in drought, and strengthen your bones; you shall be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail.” (Isaiah 58:11, NKJV). Spring is a time of anticipation and rebirth. After the cold of winter months, watching the days transform themselves into the brightness of Spring makes me happy. Yes, there will still be dreary days of cold rains, but there are also “teaser days” of sunshine and warmth. I feel the promise of budding new life. On those warm days in late March and early April, it is all I can do to restrain myself from dashing to the nursery and filling my car with pots of spring flowers. However, I’ve lived in this climate long enough to know we still have some harsh days ahead. Those young plants will be destroyed if placed outside too soon. They need the protection of the greenhouse a while longer. But then comes the warm days of May! The plants at our local nursery come in plastic container trays or small pots. They spent the winter months in a controlled environment, protected from the harshness of the weather,…
“He is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when a flood arose, the stream broke against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built.” (Luke 6:48, ESV) The sales brochure of a construction company specializing in oceanfront homes informed prospective buyers that “the foundation is the most important thing you will put in your house.” The ad went on to describe dimensions, depth of placement, and its ability to meet building codes. One of their key selling points was the stability and integrity of the structure when strong winds blow, a very necessary consideration for that locale. The brochure concluded by stating, “All this protects your investment though none of it is very glamorous. Surfaces can always be changed cosmetically but the lasting value of your (company name) home depends upon a firm foundation.” I live just a few miles from the impressive Gateway Arch, which stands by the banks of the Mississippi River. At 630 feet (192.02 meters), the Arch is over twice as tall as the Statue of Liberty. How does a 43,000 ton structure stand so firm? Because of what it…