I have noticed a curious phenomenon among Christians today: when it comes to sin in the church, we speak when we should remain silent, and remain silent when we should speak. If someone sins against me, causing personal offenseâby which we usually mean a wounded egoâI am likely to confront the person, sharing my hurt and frustrations with him. It is almost unforgivable that someone who claims Christ as Lord could treat me in…
Jeremiah, in some of his best known words, wrote, âThe heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?â The implication to the final rhetorical question seems to be no one can understand it. And, in particular, we cannot understand our own hearts. We think we know ourselves, but our own hearts deceive us, blinding us to our real motivations, thoughts, feelings. We do not need Satan to deceive us when…
I have always noticed that the surest remedy to creeping sin in my life is to come into Godâs presence regularly in prayer and the study of his Word. A colleague and friend used to joke that when we miss our daily quiet times, God notices the first day, I notice the second day, and by the third day everyone notices. There is a lot of truth in that. Whatever the sinâdishonesty, fear, lust, discontentmentâit…
The fourth in a short series on the biblical virtue of modesty. Despite the Churchâs lax stance on the issue today, Scripture nevertheless commands and expects modesty from those who follow Christ. âToday, if you hear his voice, do not harden your heartsâ (Hebrews 3:7-8). Because the weather is unseasonably warmâswelteringly hot, at least where I amâit seems worthwhile to discuss swimwear in this short series on the biblical virtue of modesty. Here especially…
The third in a short series on the biblical virtue of modesty. Despite the Churchâs lax stance on the issue today, Scripture nevertheless commands and expects modesty from those who follow Christ. âToday, if you hear his voice, do not harden your heartsâ (Hebrews 3:7-8). If clothing should draw attention to whatâs inside a womanâs heart, rather than whatâs under the clothes, what can we do to ensure this is the case? In other…
The second in a short series on the biblical virtue of modesty. Despite the Churchâs lax stance on the issue today, Scripture nevertheless commands and expects modesty from those who follow Christ. âToday, if you hear his voice, do not harden your heartsâ (Hebrews 3:7-8). Modesty matters because our clothing matters. Clothing has a purpose according to Scripture. If women are going to dress in God-honoring fashion, they must understand that purpose well and…
The first in a short series on the biblical virtue of modesty. Despite the Churchâs lax stance on the issue today, Scripture nevertheless commands and expects modesty from those who follow Christ. âToday, if you hear his voice, do not harden your heartsâ (Hebrews 3:7-8). Whether we choose to listen or not, the Bible has much to say on the issue of modesty. Our whole lives, really, should reflect the modesty of our meek…
In a famous passage the apostle Paul enjoins us, âwhatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirableâif anything is excellent or praiseworthyâthink about such thingsâ (Philippians 4:8, NIV). I wish to focus on the first part today: what it means to think about âwhatever is trueâ only. This encouragement has broad implications for our lives, for training our minds to live by the revealed truth…
This past weekend I had the privilege of spending some time with a group of high school students on our annual retreat. As a community we devoted a good portion of our time to silent meditation on four verses from the Holy Scriptures. Here are some reflections springing from that time of meditation. Second Meditation: James 5:16 âTherefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be…
This past weekend I had the privilege of spending some time with a group of high school students on our annual retreat. As a community we devoted a good portion of our time to silent meditation on four verses from the Holy Scriptures. Here are some reflections springing from that time of meditation. First Meditation: Isaiah 48:17 âThis is what the LORD saysâyour Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: âI am the LORD your…