“You study the Scriptures diligently because you think that in them you have eternal life. These are the very Scriptures that testify about me” (John 5:39). Christ’s Favorite Book Did you know that Jesus had a favorite book? Scripture makes it clear that our Lord did indeed have a favorite book — the Old Testament — the “Hebrew Bible” or the “Tanakh” — as evidenced by the fact that He quoted from it and alluded to it numerous times throughout His earthly ministry. The books Jesus quotes from most are Exodus, Deuteronomy, Psalms, and Isaiah.   I must confess that Jesus’ […]

I long for heaven. My heart burns for the day when King Jesus descends from heaven with a loud commotion, the dead in Christ rise, and the living are caught up in the air to be with Him forever (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17). In many ways, it seems like our lives will only truly begin on that day. We’ll have new, sinless bodies. We’ll be able to see our God in fullness. We’ll be able to know a perfect existence without tears, without pain and without evil. The desire in my heart for this kingdom to come is so great, but […]

I was recently talking with a local pastor who reminded me that there are two battles in the book of Joshua that are recapped with some detail. The first is the famous battle of Jericho. God miraculously moved almost inexplicably through nothing more than their shouts and trumpet blasts of faith. It taught God’s people that He is a miracle worker, and they are utterly dependent on Him. The other battle is the second battle against Ai. This is strikingly different than Jericho. There was nothing bizarre or overtly supernatural. But it was a brilliant battle strategy. Both battle plans, that […]

You “old timers” probably remember the “mandatory” books that students were expected to read during their young adolescent school years. While a freshman, I was “forced” to read a historical novel by Charles Dickens which vividly brings to life the French Revolution in two European capitals. “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, we were all going direct to Heaven, we were all going direct the other way,” were the first lines of A Tale of Two Cities, well known words ascribed to one […]

  “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect” (1 Peter 3:15).   We have been looking at how the life of Jesus Christ makes the Gospel both reasonable and desirable. We have seen how the Good News that Jesus declared and demonstrated during His earthly ministry speaks to both the head and the heart of the listener.  Sensitive Mercy In June we saw Christ’s Searching Mercy displayed in His encounter with the Samaritan woman in John 4; in […]