Some people find the concept of God’s ultimate and complete sovereignty a little unsettling. Let’s face it, we like our autonomy; we find comfort in calling our own shots. Even so, the wise men of Israel, writing under the direction of the Holy Spirit, affirmed God’s ultimate authority to administer the world as He sees fit and regardless of human will:
Read MoreCategory Archives: Christian Living
Memorisation Made Real
In years past, before the printing press and the Internet made information so readily available, people memorized—precisely, word for word—anything they considered helpful. With the mass production of books, memorization steadily declined. Today, with the Internet in everyone’s pocket, the discipline of memorization has all but died.
Read MoreBound to Memorise
Solomon offered several insights about the value of placing God’s Word at the center of our lives. Let’s begin with Proverbs 4:4, where the wise king recalled the instruction of his own father, David: Then he taught me and said to me, “Let your heart hold fast my words; Keep my commandments and live.” Take note of the words hold fast.
Read MoreThe Supernatural Benefits of Wisdom
Obviously, behaving wisely or sensibly prepares us to respond constructively to difficulties and conflicts. Consider again the examples of Harper Lee and Truman Capote. I don’t know if either of them professed belief in Christ. Regardless, we see how the presence or the absence of wisdom led them to experience life very differently.
Read MoreThe Benefits of Wisdom
Wisdom is its own reward. Even so, Solomon predicted that the person seeking divine wisdom will enjoy significant advantages. Today we will consider the benefits of wisdom from within. [Tuesday], the benefits of wisdom from above. 1. Benefits of wisdom from within: further wisdom plus knowledge and understanding For the LORD gives wisdom; From His mouth come knowledge and understanding. (v. 6)
Read MoreDeep Impact
Our image-conscious, hurry-up culture celebrates people with broad appeal and shallow character. Just look at the proliferation of reality shows featuring people who are famous for being famous. They do nothing, contribute nothing, stand for nothing, and accomplish nothing, yet television and tabloids can’t get enough of them. This is nothing new, of course.
Read MoreClaiming Refuge in God
In Psalm 91:1–4, the songwriter has acknowledged the Lord as his refuge when under attack by the forces of evil. Now in 91:5–10, he sizes up his enemy and calculates his (and our) chances of surviving the battle. (Spoiler alert: we stand a 100 percent chance of victory.) Attitude toward Evil. The majority of the song is written in the second person singular, as if composed especially for one person.
Read MoreThe Shepherd Provides Abundantly
As David’s song of the sheep concludes, he suddenly drops the analogy to consider his own experience of God, both as a simple man in need of a Savior and as a king in need of divine guidance. Verse 5 No sheep ever ate at a literal “table” prepared for it. Abruptly, we are transported from the green pastures, the valley, and the rugged mountainside to “a table” in the enemy’s presence.
Read MoreThe Woeful Song of Frightened Sheep
I have observed that few inner battles are more fierce than the daily grind of uncertainty. No doubt you, too, have encountered one or more of its many faces as you have struggled with a career choice, new direction in life, purpose in pain, job security, financial pressures, physical handicaps, relational snags, and a dozen other confusing puzzles not quickly or easily solved.
Read MoreChrist, Our Solid Rock
Long ago you laid the foundation of the earth and made the heavens with your hands. Psalm 102:25 Fear of the LORD is the foundation of true wisdom. All who obey his commandments will grow in wisdom. Praise him forever! Psalm 111:10 Two lingering questions are yours—and only yours—to answer: Is the foundation beneath your […]
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