Wednesday's Word

Have you ever tried to cram final words of instruction into the ears of someone, right before you leave them on their own to do something significant? Maybe that's as a parent, dropping a child off at overnight camp or university. Maybe that's as a coach or teammate, right before the big game starts. Maybe that's as a co-worker or boss, in the moments leading up to that huge presentation. Whenever I read Deuteronomy 10:12—22, I feel like I'm listening in on a similar... Read More

Shrink wrap was a genius invention. The scientific brilliance behind it is that it always shrinks down to the exact size of whatever it has been wrapped around. Whether it's a piece of beef jerky or a boat in winter storage, the plastic molecules contour to the shape of the item to preserve and protect it. Sin has a similar effect to shrink wrap, but not in a beneficial way. On the contrary, our sinful hearts cause damage by shrinking our life down to the size of selfish desires. ... Read More

When my mother was in her last dying moments in the hospital, artificially kept alive by technology, I avoided going into her room for as long as possible. Medically, I knew her death was unavoidable. Spiritually, I knew her death would lead to eternal life. But neither prepared me for the moment when she breathed her last. Death should be universally hated. Some deaths produce a deeper grief than others, but any type of death should be counterintuitive to the human experience. God... Read More

One of the biggest spiritual dangers that Christians experience on this side of eternity is death masquerading as life. The enemy will promise life, but what it actually results in is death. It was the lie that tricked Adam and Eve, and frustratingly, our sinful hearts continue to fall for the false promises. That's why we need to remind ourselves daily of the warning in Proverbs 14:12 - "There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death." ... Read More

"Christ-Centered" - it's a phrase we love to use. It's probably in the mission statement of your church and in the title of a book you own. But "Christ-Centered" is a lot easier to talk about than to live, isn't it? In the mundane moments of everyday life, a lot of other things compete with Christ for center stage. Today I want to share four words that have helped mold my understanding of what a Christ-centered life looks like. 1. SOURCE A... Read More

What I'm about to ask won't be easy to answer. When was the last time you did something outwardly "for God" that was actually inwardly motivated by personal gain? That's a hard question because it first requires the courage of humble honesty. It's not easy for us to admit that we prioritize ourselves over our Lord and Savior. But second, it's a hard question because we struggle to see our motives, words and actions with biblical accuracy. Let me... Read More

I love a good picture book. As the father of four and now a grandfather, I've seen my fair share of illustrated stories. I don't know if you've thought about this, but the best picture book of all is the Bible. God, the great Author of life, employs everyday, earthly illustrations to communicate his invisible, spiritual truths to the reader. While these pictures are splashed across nearly every page of Scripture, Jesus draws three in particular in Matthew 6 that have helped... Read More

I live in Philadelphia, and a few miles outside the city limits is the King of Prussia Mall. This complex contains more dedicated retail space than any other shopping mall in the United States! A few years ago, the mall had a marketing slogan: "Your Kingdom Awaits." Whoever came up with the phrase was a brilliant theologian and deeply understood the condition of the human heart. Since the beginning of time, the lie of the Enemy has been this: ultimate joy and... Read More

Have you ever said, "I'll never do that again!" only to make the same mistake a few days later? If you're a Christian, at some point in your walk with God, you'll feel stuck in the same cycle of sinful decisions and foolish mistakes. So how do we get from where we are to where God wants us to be? Well, we need to start here: sometimes, we don't actually want to change. It sounds harsh, but I’ll lead the way. Maybe that selfish pleasure is just... Read More

I hope that your church pulled out all the stops for a raucous celebration of the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. Without this historic event, our Christian faith would be worthless. We should absolutely make Easter Sunday the biggest and best on the calendar. But what are you going to do with Easter for the next 364 days of the year? What will you do with Easter when a particular area of sin looks attractive to you, and you feel weak and unable? What will you do with... Read More