READ: Psalm 127, Zechariah 6, Matthew 9, 1 Timothy 4 THE COMPASSION OF JESUS The graciousness of the Spirit to guide us into all truth (despite our determination to wrest good points from misunderstood texts) is assuring. Matthew 9:36 presents an example: “But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because […]
Region: Arab World
Abiding in Jesus: October 2
READ: Psalm 126, Zechariah 5, Matthew 8, 1 Timothy 3 AUTHORITY TO ABSORB Jesus was delighted with a Roman soldier. Now consider that this is like a West Bank Palestinian thinking the world of an Israeli soldier. Very few in the scriptural record gave Jesus as much joy as a foreign military leader. What delighted […]
Abiding in Jesus: October 1
READ: Psalm 125, Zechariah 4, Matthew 7, 1 Timothy 2 MOUNTAINS Mountains Around. The Lord surrounds His people as the mountains surround Jerusalem (Psalm 125:2). As we move closer to Jesus’ coming again, the minions of evil will move closer to us. Darkness and injustice are going to become more common, not less. If God’s people […]
Abiding in Jesus: September 30
READ: Psalm 124, Zechariah 3, Matthew 6, 1 Timothy 1 REBUKING THE DEVIL In the ministry we have some powerful enemies. Zechariah tells the story of post-exilic high priest Joshua standing before the presence of the Lord, with Satan standing on his right hand to oppose him (Zech. 3:1). It is interesting to note that […]
Abiding in Jesus: September 29
READ: Psalm 123, Zechariah 2, Matthew 5, 2 Thessalonians 3 PRAYING THROUGH & SHUTTING UP The earth has always been full of bad news; modern media just makes it more immediate. Humanity’s heart has always been vile; it is just now visually and graphically displayed on a global scale. There have always been babbling, lewd, […]
Abiding in Jesus: September 28
READ: Psalm 122, Zechariah 1, Matthew 4, 2 Thessalonians 2 HELPING GOD . . . WITH EVIL INTENT There have been days to my shame that I wanted some Muslims to go to hell. My wife and I have now lived in the Arab world for over twenty years, and it can feel like every […]
Abiding in Jesus: September 27
READ: Psalm 121, Haggai 2, Matthew 3, 2 Thessalonians 1 THIS DAY, THAT DAY Instability is the order of our day. Shootings, bombings, attacks, violence, abuse, insecurity, and trouble are the new normal. Do not suppose that any of these sinful acts take the Lord by surprise. God is intentionally allowing humans to manifest what is […]
Abiding in Jesus: September 26
READ: Psalm 120, Haggai 1, Matthew 2, 1 Thessalonians 5 SONS OF LIGHT The psalmist is not very impressed with the sons of Kedar: “Woe to me, that I dwell among the tents of Kedar” (Psalm 120:5). The psalmist has asked the Lord to deliver his soul from lying lips and deceitful tongues (v. 2), and it is […]
Abiding in Jesus: September 25
READ: Psalm 118, Zephaniah 3, Matthew, 1 Thessalonians 4 SEXUAL AVENGER Honor killings in the Muslim world are a horror to us. It seems unfathomable that a man or woman would be killed for sexual impropriety (best case) or because by being a victim they brought shame on the family (worst case). Like all twisted acts […]
Abiding in Jesus: September 24
READ: Psalm 117, Zephaniah 2, John 21, 1 Thessalonians 3 PENTECOSTAL PRIDE There are two equal and opposite errors about Pentecostal praxis: one is being proud that you are Pentecostal, and the other is pride in not being Pentecostal. Proud of Being Pentecostal. Pride and Pentecost are mutually exclusive. Spirit empowerment is the lifeline of […]
