Tag Archives: in this world not of this world

Greatest Passion, Greatest Pleasure

There’s no way you read this and it shouldn’t give pause. No way you encounter James’ emphatic statement and subsequent warning and, for a moment at least, do a quick heart check. Better yet, when it comes to discerning friendship … Continue reading

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Doing What’s Right

Would it be accurate to say that our natural tendency when doing what’s right is that we want what we’re doing to be deemed as right? That it’s hard to stand for what is true when the world around you … Continue reading

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A Caution About Imitating the Wrong Stuff

It seems he was an innovator. A collaborator. An imitator. Ahaz, king of Judah, took the things of God and thought he could improve on them. He visited other nations and partnered with them to bring the best of their … Continue reading

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Entering the Kingdom

Hovering over the story of the rich young guy who came to Jesus in order to complete his portfolio. He already had “great possessions” (Mk. 10:22b), but wanted to know how to invest wisely so as to “inherit eternal life” … Continue reading

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When There’s No King . . .

Continuing to read in Judges this morning. And encountered the first of four repeated strikings of an ominous gong. In those days there was no king in Israel. That gong sounds in Judges 17:6, 18:1, 19:1, and 21:25. Implication? It … Continue reading

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Israel’s Real First King?

Realized for the first time ever that, at least technically, Saul wasn’t the first king of Israel. It was a guy named Abimelech. And all the leaders of Shechem came together, and all Beth-millo, and they went and made Abimelech … Continue reading

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What the Lord Has Separated Let No One Join Together

Working my way through a catalog of commandments in Leviticus this morning (Lev. 18-20). Most make sense to this 21st century mind, others not so much. But what is clear is that the reason for the LORD laying out all … Continue reading

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Passing Away

The verses pop this morning. Maybe not surprising given it’s the eve of an election that I can’t imagine anyone — not even the most politically disinterested — not having their eye upon. Beyond the “who wins” there’s so much … Continue reading

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A Foreign Residence

Had another conversation the other day with someone longing to just get back to “normal.” But, I countered, what if this is normal? This season, this insanity, this instability, masks on, six feet apart — what if this is normal? … Continue reading

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Commended Through Their Faith

They were people of promise. A promise that they would be an innumerable people, that they would possess a land flowing with milk and honey, and that they would know, and make known to all nations, blessings unimaginable (Gen. 12:1-3). … Continue reading

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