When I think of fallen people, my mind returns to an ancient example, King Saul, the tall, dark, handsome monarch of the Hebrews. What an impressive specimen of humanity!
Read MoreCategory Archives: Bible Characters
Temporal Rewards for Those Who Serve God
I’ll be candid with you. I have never read anywhere else in the Bible what God revealed to me in 2 Corinthians: “We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.”
Read MorePar for the Servanthood Course
Paul was no criminal. The man was innocent of wrong . . . yet he was misunderstood, mistreated, hunted like a wounded deer, and hated by those who once respected him. In 2 Corinthians 4:9, Paul states we are “struck down.”
Read MoreDealing with Physical and Emotional Pain
It’s hard for me to read Paul’s words without wincing: “Five times I received from the Jews thirty-nine lashes. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, a night and a day I have spent in the deep.”
Read MorePaul Was Normal, Like Us
Funny, we seldom think that a great apostle like Paul ever suffered from insomnia, but he did. He couldn’t sleep sometimes because of acute deprivations, like hunger, cold, and exposure.
Read MoreDealing with Rejection
If you enjoy watching and playing the game of football (I certainly do), you have observed a curious activity called a “spike.” It’s rather unusual. A team fights its way toward the goal line yard by yard.
Read MoreOur Common Struggles: Affliction, Confusion, Persecution
In yesterday’s post, we were introduced to four common struggles all servants of God deal with. Really, they’re consequences. In 2 Corinthians 4:8–9 we read them: afflicted, perplexed, persecuted, struck down.
Read MoreThe Dark Side of Serving Others
We Christians have received a priceless treasure (the glorious gospel) in a very frail and perishable container (our weak bodies). There is a reason. So nobody will have any question about the source of power.
Read MoreBeing a Servant Is Unannounced
As Jesus prepared to wash His disciples’ feet, He never said, “Men, I am now going to demonstrate servanthood—watch my humility.” No way. That kind of obvious pride was the trademark of the Pharisees.
Read MoreFeeling Used and Unappreciated
For a servant named Gehazi, working alongside a high-profile, greatly respected prophet like Elisha was a privilege. But at the same time, it was a particular position that brought about unique temptations.
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