Posts from September 2023

People looking for a relationship often go to hangouts, social events, and even clubs trying to meet other people. Sadly, most of those frequenting these places are not looking for a long-term commitment, thwarting the efforts of those who are. Other people look closer to home: school, church, and work. But here again, a lot of people cannot seem to find the right person. This is especially true for believers who are looking to marry someone of “like precious faith.”…

As the wearied Israelites neared the mountain, many were awed by its majesty. From the deserts through which they had wandered, the jagged peak of Sinai rose as a stony monument to how far they had come. Only three months into their flight from Egypt, the nation needed respite, and the shade of Sinai provided rest. However, her majesty quickly turned to terror when God spoke to the people in the midst of thunder and lightning, and a cloud of…

Attributed to King David, Psalm 31 is the prayer of the righteous sufferer. In the psalm, the worshiper pledges to trust in the Lord and find refuge in him (vv. 1-5). Then he gives thanks to the Lord for delivering him from the hand of the enemy (vv. 6-8). He admits his distress is a result of his sin but trusts in the graciousness of God to overcome his iniquity (vv. 9-10). The oppression of his neighbors weighs heavily on…

One of the most important themes in the New Testament is persecution—a terrifying concept, but one vital to the survival of the early church and beyond. It may be confidently said that persecution was as necessary to the spread of the gospel as preaching was. Jesus warned his disciples, “Woe to you, when all people speak well of you” (Luke 6:26). Again, “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you…therefore the world hates…