Priorities

Life is a lot like a coin; you can spend it any way you wish, but you can spend it only once. Choosing one thing over all the rest throughout life is a difficult thing to do. This is especially true when the choices are so many and the possibilities are so close. To be completely truthful with you, however, we aren’t left with numerous possibilities.

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And his name will be the hope of all the world. Matthew 12:21 (NLT) No wonder my heart is glad, and my tongue shouts his praises! My body rests in hope. Acts 2:26 (NLT) Hope is our lifeline, keeping us engaged in the struggle. Marathoners press on to the finish line as long as they […]

He Is Risen!

Early on Sunday morning, as the new day was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went out to visit the tomb. —Matthew 28:1 (NLT) Resurrection comes from resurge or resurgence, in the sense of “coming back” or “renewing” or “rising up.” In other words, Jesus Christ, who was once down, dead, laid aside, crucified, […]

Darkness and Silence

At noon, darkness fell across the whole land until three o’clock. . . . Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?” which means “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?” —Matthew 27:45–46 (NLT) Jesus barely clung to life. He was still pushing Himself up against the raw wooden beam […]

Take Up Your Cross

Then they knelt before him in mockery and taunted, “Hail, King of the Jews!” And they spit on him and grabbed the stick and struck him on the head with it. —Matthew 27:29–30 (NLT) Knowing in his heart that Jesus was innocent, Pilate compromised his convictions to appease the people and turned Him over to […]

Our Substitute

“Which of these two do you want me to release to you?” The crowd shouted back, “Barabbas!” Pilate responded, “Then what should I do with Jesus who is called the Messiah?” They shouted back, “Crucify him!” —Matthew 27:21–22 (NLT) Although he never appears on center stage, Barabbas played a major role. Having been convicted and […]

Being Wanted, Part Two

Chances are very good that there are those in your church fellowship, workplace, or family who feel unwanted, forgotten, unloved (and unlovely!)—and are more lonely than words can express. I wish to speak on their behalf and in their defense today. Strange though it may seem, these are often the people most difficult to love. Why?

Idols, Part One

It was the apostle John’s final warning to his readers: Little children, guard yourselves from idols. (1 John 5:21) “Watch out,” said John, in effect. “Be on guard against anything that might occupy the place in your heart that should be reserved for God.” John never qualified that warning. The aged apostle deliberately refrained from classifying the idols or giving us a comprehensive list to follow.

Teenage Turbulence

While I was away for a couple weeks of vacation many years ago, I read a book by David Elkind describing the staggering number of teenagers who lack the adult guidance and support they need to make a healthy transition into adulthood. His choice of title was appropriate: All Grown Up and No Place to Go. The book goes to the heart of the issue and addresses the breakdown of parental security and stability.

A Fire for Cold Hearts

It happened in a large, seventy-five-year-old stone house on the west side of Houston. A massive stairway led up to several bedrooms. The den down below was done in rough-hewn boards with soft leather chairs and a couple of matching sofas. The wet bar had been converted into a small library, including a shelf of tape recordings and a multiple-speaker sound system.

Tag Archives: Matthew