READ: 2 Kings 10-12, Psalm 110, Matthew 21, 2 Timothy 3 ATTRACTIVE VIOLENCE Jehu is not known for his balance. His driving was aggressive, he was ruthless (2 Kings 10:5), sarcastic (v. 9), devious (v. 18-19), zealous to wipe out others (v. 16), violent and severe (v. 24). Jehu killed Ahab’s 70 sons (cut their […]
Region: Arab World
Give Us New Eyes
by Matt Sprenger, Chi Alpha Campus Pastor, Fairmont State Univ., Fairmont, WV I wasn’t raised a Christian, but since childhood I’ve had a mental portrait of Jesus – his looks (long flowing hair, well-manicured beard and skin, blond hair, blue eyes) and character (tender, gentle teacher). After serving the Lord for 22 years and spending […]
Abiding in Jesus: April 19
READ: 2 Kings 7-9, Psalm 109, Matthew 20, 2 Timothy 2 IT’S ONLY DEATH Four leprous men of Israel make three profound statements. The first is: “Why are sitting here until we die” (2 Kings 7:3)? The Syrians surround the city, the people are starving, and the lepers come to the conclusion they have another option […]
Abiding in Jesus: April 18
READ: 2 Kings 4-6, Psalm 108, Matthew 19, 2 Timothy 1 THE HONOR OF BEING SELF-SUFFICIENT Jesus is pleased by those who are not needy, by those without a whiff of entitlement about them. When Elisha asks how he can return thanks to the Shunammite noble woman for her hospitality, she classically responds: “I dwell […]
Abiding in Jesus: April 17
READ: 2 Kings 1-3, Psalm 107, Matthew 18, 1 Timothy 6 GODLY CURSING There is a bit of a dearth of honesty in our age. Advertising lies. Hollywood lies. Lying is not new; humanity just seems to get more and more bold in repeating what is untrue. Part of the joy of little children is […]
Abiding in Jesus: April 16
READ: 1 Kings 22, Psalm 106, Matthew 17, 1 Timothy 5 TRUTH TELLING The wise man learns to love his critics. Critics often speak a measure of truth. We need to be secure enough to absorb the sting of truth even when it is barbed with envy. The wise swallow the truth and spit out the […]
Abiding in Jesus: April 15
READ: 1 Kings 19-21, Psalm 105, Matthew 16, 1 Timothy 4 DOCTRINE MATTERS It is increasingly common to regulate doctrine to a secondary tier of importance. In the church and in mission we are bombarded with the message of journey, relationship, and process – as if journeys don’t need maps, relationships don’t have guidelines, and process […]
Abiding in Jesus: April 14
READ: 1 Kings 16-18, Psalm 104, Matthew 15, 1 Timothy 3 STANDING IN HIS PRESENCE Among their other qualifications, overseers are to be able to teach (1 Tim. 3:2). Deacons are to hold the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience (v. 9). Disciples are to have enough internal fortitude to not be bothered […]
Abiding in Jesus: April 13
Read: 1 Kings 13-15, Psalm 103, Matthew 14, 1 Timothy 2 GRACE AND MERCY If grace is God giving us what we don’t deserve, mercy is God not giving us what we do deserve. The cross affords both: At Calvary, “mercy there was great and grace was free.” The real question in life is not “Why […]
Abiding in Jesus: April 12
READ: 1 Kings 10-12, Psalm 102, Matthew 13, 1 Timothy 1 SUPER G’s For being the wisest man to ever live, Solomon sure was stupid. He did not heed God’s warning about marrying those of disparate faiths (1Kings 11:2), instead “clinging to them in love.” And “when Solomon was old his wives turned his heart […]
