Similar Trouble The trouble of falling away from the worship of only God was not just an ancient Old Testament problem. In the New Testament, we read about the Galatians, who were falling prey to false doctrine at the time that Paul wrote them. False teachers had suggested they could only be Christian by believing in the gospel (Christ’s atonement on the cross for their sin) plus the act of being circumcised (which had been a former requirement of Jewish law). This idea that grace plus adherence to the law was not the true gospel. In Galatians 1:6-7 Paul admonishes them in his letter, “I am astonished that you are ... Read the Post...
Brought Out to Come In (part 1)
When I was a little girl, we often sang the following at church: “He did not bring us out this far, to take us back again. He brought us out, to take us into the Promised Land.” [1] Every now and then, these sorts of tunes from childhood bubble up in my mind and remind me of a Biblical story or truth. It’s good to have the truth of God’s Word embedded in our hearts and minds. God’s Word Is Given Interestingly, this song lyric was derived from a verse in Deuteronomy when God first began to impart His Word to the ... Read the Post...
Hope for Love Lost
Actions often speak louder than words. Have you ever walked into a room and noticed a familiar face? As you walk in their direction, your eyes lock as you wave hello, but theirs quickly turn away. With your greeting disregarded, it appears they don’t want to talk to you. You begin to wonder what you may have done to offend them. Your thoughts bloat with each passing hour into overgrown insecurities. Realizing a newfound strain on your relationship, you rally your courage to go to them and reconcile. But your high hopes are only met with their avoidance or indifference. This sort of thing happened recently to someone I know. And when ... Read the Post...
Testimony Established
"He established a testimony in Jacob." Psalm 78:5 It was a typical night. I crawled into my bed and settled down to read a bit. After a short prayer, I found myself in Psalm 78. I’m not sure what it was about verse 5, but it gripped my attention. Again and again, I read the line, “He established a testimony in Jacob.” I began considering how his testimony was “established.” I recalled the story of Jacob’s life found in Genesis 25-32. I considered all of his mess-ups and mishaps. How he conned his brother and father and ended up with a birthright and blessing that he did not merit. How he worked long and hard for years before he ... Read the Post...
