READ: Proverbs 24, Luke 12, Revelation 4 THE GREAT DIVIDER The Prince of Peace proclaims: “Do you suppose that I came to give peace on earth? I tell you not at all, but rather division” (Luke 12:51). Modern man distorts Jesus into what they want Him to be: the great uniter, the one who makes everyone happy […]
Region: Arab World
Abiding in Jesus: November 18
READ: Proverbs 23, Luke 11, Revelation 3 ZEAL “My zeal has consumed me, because your enemies have forgotten your words.” Psalm 119:139 Zeal is one of those qualities we regard with a little bit of scorn. It is the fanatic who is zealous, not the wise man, or so goes the conventional wisdom. Jesus’ life […]
Abiding in Jesus: November 17
READ: Proverbs 22, Luke 10, Revelation 2 THE PRINCIPLE OF PROMISE Much hurt and harm occurs to the Christian spirit when we mistake the principles of God for His guaranteed promises. Principles balance combined truths. The promises of God have to be interpreted collectively, for an isolated promise that is claimed in ignorance or avoidance […]
Abiding in Jesus: November 16
READ: Proverbs 21, Luke 9, Revelation 1 AWARE Jesus is continually perplexing people, particularly the ruling classes (Luke 9:7). The poor seem to have an easier time in understanding Jesus, probably because they have the humility to accept God’s self revelation, while the rich and self-reliant have the hubris to think they can describe God […]
Abiding in Jesus: November 15
READ: Proverbs 20, Luke 8, Jude IN THE LIGHT Our bondages cease to awe us after a while and begin to comfort us. We prefer our pigs and are afraid to be free (Luke 8:26-39). When sin settles in it becomes bondage, and to the bound deliverance is more intimidating than slavery. Slavery is predictable […]
Abiding in Jesus: November 14
READ: Proverbs 19, Luke 7, 3 John SUBMITTED FAITH Jesus neither cries nor dances when we want Him to (Luke 7:32), for He is subject to neither our authority or our expectations. John the Baptist, who knew Jesus best, was still offended (or at least disappointed) in both what Jesus didn’t do and in how He […]
Abiding in Jesus: November 13
READ: Proverbs 18, Luke 6, 2 John BLESSING FOR CURSING Words matter. Sticks and stones break bones and words crush spirits. When Jesus instructed us to “bless those who curse” us (Luke 6:28), it is in the context of verbal wars. In the text He warns us that we are in danger when all men speak well of […]
A Warning to the Itinerant Missionary
Missionaries are given the immense privilege of representing God’s heart to both the nations and the church. When we return from our fields of obedience, we are invited into pulpits—grand and humble—to speak on behalf of both the lost and the Lord. We are feted and lauded, which can lead to pride. We observe shallowness […]
Abiding in Jesus: November 12
READ: Proverbs 17, Luke 5, 1 John 4 REACTIONARY LOVE It is humbling to realize that our love for God is reactionary. John is brutally clear that we don’t initiate love for Jesus. “We love Him, because He first loved us” (1 John 4:19). There is a sneaky sort of pride which is self-congratulatory about loving Jesus. […]
Abiding in Jesus: November 11
READ: Proverbs 16, Luke 4, 1 John 5 TEMPTED TO PRIDE Pride lurks in every human heart, waiting for the most damaging time to emerge. Proverbs warns us that “pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall” (16:18), and the destruction is not of the bearer alone. Pride destroys the innocent as […]
