The Rock that Holds Me
When we think of God being our Rock, our steady guide and solid foundation, we think of Him as being the One we hold on to. This is so true. When the trials of life come our faith clings to
Continue reading“Your testimonies also are my delight; they are my counselors.” – Psalm 119:24
Secured and Empowered by Grace
Those whom God saves are saved forever. Those whom God saves He empowers to endure in the faith until the end (Mk 13:13). This is the doctrine known as the perseverance of the saints. Sometimes referred to as the security
Continue readingCarl Jung’s Counseling Beliefs
The question was posed concerning how the counseling philosophy and practice of the famed psychoanalyst Carl Jung (1875-1961) compares with biblical counseling. Jung was a Swiss psychiatrist and psychologist. As a boy, he developed a lifelong interest in superstition, mythology,
Continue readingBut Christ has Never Been Sweeter
LORD, My sin has never been more repulsive to my spiritual senses, but Christ has never been sweeter. My strength has never more acutely felt like weakness, but Christ has never been sweeter. My awareness of living in a fallen
Continue readingWhat Our Resurrection Body Will Be Like
When facing the reality of ongoing physical suffering, whether by disease or crippling disability, one of the distinct wellsprings of hope that believers in Jesus Christ have is the future resurrection of our body unto new life. Certainly this is
Continue readingHow We Die
Nowadays it is almost illegal to die of old age. The medically scientific world simply has to put a name on whatever it is that causes our death. Don’t get me wrong. I am certainly not opposed to medical and
Continue readingRedeemed
Redemption is the act of God whereby He purchases wayward sinners from the slave market of sin and brings them back into His loving sheepfold. The purchase price was the life of His only begotten Son. Peter wrote, “you were
Continue readingWhy Christians Should Not Sue Each Other
Our society is lawsuit-happy. A woman sues a fast-food chain because the coffee is too hot. An injured man sues a mountain resort because he breaks his leg while downhill skiing. An employee sues his employer because 20 years of
Continue readingA New Identity
Biblically, any “identity crisis,” as it may be termed, is answered and remedied by a proper understanding of the believer’s new identity in Jesus Christ. In other words, we must have a biblically accurate “self-image.” As we grow through the
Continue readingPrayer Answered by Crosses
I ask’d the Lord, that I might grow in faith, and love, and ev’ry grace, Might more of his salvation know, and seek more earnestly his face. ‘Twas he who taught me thus to pray, and he, I trust has
Continue readingSurprised by Psalm 2:12
Light-bulb moments occur frequently while I am preaching. A fresh understanding, or application, of Scripture jumps off the page as the Holy Spirit illuminates, connects dots, and snaps mental puzzle pieces together to help me see a clearer, more beautiful
Continue readingFinding Comfort and Refuge in the King of Kings
The God of the Bible—our God—is absolutely sovereign over the nations of the world. There is no nation, government, political party, or ruler that can escape His scrutinizing oversight. He raises and lowers kings. And yet, somehow, in the mystery
Continue reading6 Reasons Believers Should Always Say “I Will” to God’s Will
According to Romans 12:2, believers can count on the will of God for their life being good, acceptable, and perfect. Therefore, there is never any good reason to not fully surrender to it. In The Christian’s Reasonable Service, Dutch Reformer
Continue readingQ&A – Mysticism
A regular reader of this blog writes, “Dear Paul, a friend of mine is extremely, extremely confused about the ‘leading of the Spirit’ etc., very mystical, continuously telling me about experiences she had and how the Lord explained them to
Continue readingNo ‘Hot Dogs’ Allowed
He was in every one of my high school gym classes. He was on every athletic team I ever played on. Whether basketball, soccer, football, or baseball, he was there. Most of the time, he possessed exceptional athletic abilities. But
Continue readingOn Being a Good Soldier – Part 2 of 2
Believers in Jesus Christ are called to live like soldiers, strengthened by grace as members of God’s army—involved in the lives of other soldiers in God’s battalion. That was the emphasis in yesterday’s post, as we began to consider the
Continue readingOn Being a Good Soldier – Part 1 of 2
Having a son in the U.S. Army has made me a bit more alert to the “soldier” analogy in Scripture. One passage in particular is Paul’s admonition to Timothy, his son in the faith. “You therefore, my son, be strong
Continue readingRemember
On this day of remembrance—without neglecting to thank God for the men and women who have given their lives to purchase our earthly freedom—let us consciously turn our attention to God who has freed us from our sin through Jesus
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