STUDIES IN THE NEW TESTAMENT “Consider [Jesus] who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted. In… Read More »God’s Discipline Demonstrates His Love for Us!
READY TO GIVE AN ANSWER (IMPENITENCE) Passages that will help you respond when people say… Our conversations around God’s Word vary. Sometimes witnessing to the… Read More »“I don’t need to repent.”
A HYMN OF GLORY LET US SING (THIRTY-FIRST IN A SERIES)
“On Christ’s ascension I now build/ The hope of mine ascension.” (verse 1)
When Christ returns on Judgment Day, you, along with all believers, will ascend bodily into heaven, to be forever with Him where there is no sorrow, no tear, and everlasting joy. This fundamental Christian doctrine is scorned by many “modernists” as “pie in the sky bye and bye”—mere wishful thinking. However, our confidence in this truth is unshakably founded on the inerrant Word of God and confirmed by the historical fact of Christ’s Ascension.
In John 14:2-3, Jesus tells His disciples, “In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.” When the resurrected Jesus later visibly ascended into heaven, that historical event—witnessed by the apostles—confirmed His promise. Josua Wegelin (1604-1640) provides an additional reason for our assurance. He writes, “For where the Head is, there full well/ I know His members are to dwell/ When Christ shall come and call them.” (verse 1)Read More »“On Christ’s Ascension I Now Build” TLH Hymn 216
GEMS FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT Life is a journey. As Christian travelers, we’re simply passing through the Temporary on our way to the Eternal. During… Read More »Prepared for the Journey
STUDIES IN THE NEW TESTAMENT “Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight,… Read More »A Faith That Runs
READY TO GIVE AN ANSWER (AUTHORITY OF THE WORD) Passages that will help you respond when people say… It used to be that the most… Read More »“Don’t Judge Me”
GEMS FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT “Going all in” is a phrase commonly used by poker players. With a short stack of chips, the player bets… Read More »Going Awl In
STUDIES IN THE NEW TESTAMENT Women received their dead raised to life again. And others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a… Read More »Triumphant Faith in the Face of Persecution
A HYMN OF GLORY LET US SING (TWENTY-NINTH IN A SERIES)
To “take it for granted” is a shorthand way of saying that frequency and abundance of blessings can breed a lack of appreciation for those blessings. That lack of appreciation then hinders thankfulness. That which is part of our usual routine tends to have diminished value in our estimation because we soon see it as “normal” and may then begin to “take it for granted.”
I was reminded of that truth recently when our Florida home was without power for ten days as a result of Hurricane Irma. I normally don’t think about—much less feel specific thankfulness for—the blessings of being able to refrigerate and freeze food, control the temperature of our house, have lights at night, and even enjoy electronic entertainment almost effortlessly. I seldom thanked God for those blessings when they were my “normal,” but how thankful I was for them when the power came back on!Read More »TLH Hymn 310 “Thy Table I Approach”
GEMS FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT “And the Lord said to Abraham, ‘Why did Sarah laugh, saying, “Shall I surely bear a child, since I am… Read More »“Is Anything Too Hard for the Lord?”
