You say, “I am allowed to do anything”—but not everything is good for you. And even though “I am allowed to do anything,” I must not become a slave to anything. (1 Corinthians 6:12 NLT) Is grace risky? You bet your life it is. I am well aware that this issue of grace is indeed […]
Read MoreTag Archives: First Corinthians
The Real Reason We’re Doing What We’re Doing
Just last month, my wife Cynthia and I were engaged in a cruise conference to the Greek Isles with some friends of Insight for Living Ministries. As we disembarked at Athens, we were near ancient Corinth, one of the sites where the apostle Paul ministered untiringly on his journeys. Anyone who visits Corinth’s marketplace will […]
Read MoreA Month for Love
It is February. Overcast, chilly, bleak-and-barren February. If you’re not into skiing the slopes, skating on ice, or singin’ in the rain, there’s not a lot outside to excite you. Sure was gracious of God to make it last only twenty-eight days . . . well, sometimes twenty-nine. No wonder bears hibernate at this time […]
Read MoreThis Should Be Me
The sound of bleating lambs and shuffling footsteps filled the temple. With three trumpet blasts, the priests announced the start of the Passover sacrifices. Worshipers responded to the priests’ psalms with “Hallelujahs” as each man offered his household’s sacrifice to God. As the disciple John raised the knife to the throat of the lamb he’d […]
Read MoreHumility Has a Selective Memory
“Forgetting what is behind” (Philippians 3:13 NIV) is a statement that assures us that Paul was not the type to live in the past. He says, in effect, “I disregard my own accomplishments as well as others’ offenses against me. I refuse to dwell on that.” This requires humility, especially so when you examine Paul’s […]
Read MoreThe Full Gospel…And Nothing More
In Bible college I sat under Dr. Charles Ryrie for a course in soteriology—the doctrine of salvation. He opened the first lecture with this instruction: “Take out a piece of paper. You have less than one minute to share the gospel with a stranger, or he’ll be lost for eternity. Write down what that person […]
Read MoreChrist’s Return
The other evening my wife and I were enjoying a quiet conversation together. We were sipping some fresh-perked coffee, the house was unusually still, and there were no plans to go anywhere that evening. It was one of those cherished moments you wish you could wrap up and reserve for later use when it’s really […]
Read MoreThe Devil Made Me Do It?
More than thirty years ago Flip Wilson kept America in stitches with his television characters “Reverend Leroy,” the friendly, pompous pastor of the “Church of What’s Happening Now,” and “Geraldine Jones,” the sassy African-American woman in a miniskirt. Whenever Geraldine would impulsively buy a dress—or do anything she shouldn’t—she excused her urge by uttering the […]
Read MoreFollow Through
My Grandfather’s brother taught me to drive. Uncle Dick was a wiry, chipper little Welshman who had driven lorries for the local council most of his life. “When you indicate, always follow through.” Gear control was important, lane discipline was important, checking your mirrors was important, but most important: “when you indicate, always follow through.” […]
Read MoreAn Easter Narrative
Mary woke with the dawn cry of the rooster. The coolness of the early morning air served only to confirm the grief she had fallen asleep with. Heavy-hearted and downcast with the events of Friday, she hadn’t slept much the last two nights. Tossing and turning, she couldn’t dispel those images from her mind. The […]
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