1 Tim. 2:1-7 - This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

At a family meal when I was younger, my siblings and I began sharing various memories each of us had (which weren’t many back then). At some point we were asked what our earliest memory was. I shared what I thought was a recurring dream about being at a beach as a toddler when a cold wave washed over me… [READ MORE]

1 Tim. 1:18 - This charge I entrust to you, Timothy, my child, in accordance with the prophecies previously made about you, that by them you may wage the good warfare…

There is something powerful and energizing when someone embarks on a new task or season of life, especially if the transition is marked by some kind of ceremony that establishes the significance of the new role being accepted…

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1 Tim. 1:14 - “But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief, and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.”

“An artist once submitted a painting of Niagara Falls to an exhibition but neglected to give it a title. The gallery came up with the whimsical words, ‘More to Follow.’ Niagara Falls, which has been spilling over billions of gallons per year for thousands of years and has more than met the needs of those below, is a fit emblem for the floods of God’s grace. There always is more to follow, or as James so beautifully says…

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1 Tim. 1:5 - “The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart, and a good conscience and a sincere faith.”

Have you ever been in a car with poorly aligned tires? There is the shudder of the wheels fighting against themselves, the pull of the wheel to one side or the other. It creates additional friction on the tires, which prematurely wears them out. Fuel economy is decreased as the engine has to work harder to make the wheels spin. All of this can be fixed by having a trained individual align the tires to work together as they pull in the same direction…

Luke 6:12-16 - “In these days he went out to the mountains to pray, and all night he continued in prayer to God. And when day came, he called his disciples and chose from them twelve, whom he named apostles…Matthew [a tax collector]…and Simon who was called the Zealot…”

Phil. 2:29-30 - “So receive [Epaphroditus] in the Lord with all joy, and honor such men, for he nearly died for the work of Christ, risking his life to complete what was lacking in your service to me.”

This passage has been one of my favorites for years. It is so convicting and challenging! In it, Paul praised the willingness of Epaphroditus to risk his personal health and well-being in order to lovingly minister to him…

James 1:2-4 - Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

Recently I attended a Bible study where a brother was wrestling with God’s sovereignty and goodness. Trust me, as a 37-year-old father who has experienced the loss of two children, I am familiar with that struggle! Our brother was wrestling with James’ inspired description of Job as an example of someone who experienced God’s intentional compassion and mercy (James 5:11) and our friend made some pretty strong statements that I think need examining. Let’s think through the topic for just a minute…

Matthew 5:12-14 - “You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet. “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”