In Greek mythology, the Oracle of Delphi would give cryptic “prophecies” to those who visited her. When Croesus, the king of Lydia, visited her, he wanted advice before fighting the Persians. The king was told, “If you cross the river, a great empire will fall.” Empowered by the prophecy, Croesus...
Hebrews chapter 3 warns the church that there be no one among them with “an evil, unbelieving heart.” But what exactly does that mean? How could a member of God’s church, a believer, be counted as having an evil heart that does not believe? To better understand this condition, the...
To seek after something implies two things: you know what you’re seeking, and you have the ability to search in hope of finding it. God’s people are called to seek him wholeheartedly (Jer. 29:13). However, one cannot seek after the unknown. One may have the ability to seek after God,...
Often, it is easy to fall into the trap of comparison. There are few ways to rob ourselves of joy and purpose quicker than to compare our lifestyle, looks, family, or talents to that of our other brothers and sisters. When we compare then we can become discouraged, ungrateful, and...
When we look at the world around us, it seems as if everything is defiled and impure. Our country, culture, and even the Lord’s people have begun to be corrupted by outside influences. These issues are not only plaguing and deteriorating the world around us, but even within our church...
When discussing commitment, the story of Hernán Cortés is often told. A Spanish conquistador of the 16th century, Cortés landed in Mexico with the intent of conquering the Aztec Empire. To show his commitment to the mission, Cortés famously commanded his army to burn the boats upon arrival. This extreme...
The apostle Peter wrote to the elect sojourners (or exiles) in his epistles, instructing them on how they should live their lives—and even how to suffer as Christians without losing their way. As he wrote these epistles, Peter had in mind not only the people of the early church but...
“Timing is everything.” This phrase can relate to the seizing of an opportunity or the appropriateness of an action or word. We all have certainly benefited from moments when it seemed like we had just the right timing, but we’ve also experienced the disappointment of just missing an opportunity. The...
There are a few times in the life of King David when he had a plan to do something one way, but then God changed his plans (e.g., taking a census, carrying the ark on a cart, or covering up an adulterous relationship). Another one of these significant moments is...
Throughout the Old Testament, we find prophecies that point us to the coming Messiah. These help confirm and provide proof that Jesus was in fact the Messiah and Son of God.