Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. Rom.12:19 The challenges of this life come to us from all directions. Most of the pain and hurt we experience are the results of our broken ... [Continue Reading]
Surrender Your Vengeance to God
God’s Presence in His Hiddenness
When He acts on the left, I cannot behold Him; He turns on the right, I cannot see Him. “But He knows the way I take; When He has tried me, I shall come forth as gold … But He is unique and who can turn Him? And what His soul desires, that He does. For He performs what is appointed for me, And many ... [Continue Reading]
Despairing Even of Life
For we do not want you to be unaware, brethren, of our affliction which came to us in Asia, that we were burdened excessively, beyond our strength, so that we despaired even of life; indeed, we had the sentence of death within ourselves in order that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God who ... [Continue Reading]
He is Sovereign Over All
The LORD kills and makes alive; He brings down to Sheol and raises up. The LORD makes poor and rich; He brings low, He also exalts. He raises the poor from the dust, He lifts the needy from the ash heap; to make them sit with nobles, and inherit a seat of honor; for the pillars of the earth are the ... [Continue Reading]
Suffering Opens Spiritual Eyes and Ears
My ears had heard of you; but now my eyes have seen you. Therefore I despise myself, and repent in dust and ashes. Job 42:5-6 NIV The story of Job is the most famous story of suffering in human history. It is so intense and heart-wrenching that it is almost unbelievable. How could someone endure ... [Continue Reading]
Mental Illness and the Demands of Christian Faith
My husband received a call this morning informing us that an old friend (whom I call Carl) had killed himself with a gunshot in his own bed. As you can imagine I was deeply rattled, saddened, and shocked by the news, but I was not surprised. Carl was a man in his early forties, quite attractive, ... [Continue Reading]
From Death to Life
Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death? Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, in order that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life. ... [Continue Reading]
When Curses are Meant for Blessing
If he curses, and if the LORD has told him, “Curse David,” then who shall say, “why have you done so?” 2 Samuel 16:10 When King David was fleeing Jerusalem and his son Absalom, and was passing through Bahurim, one of Saul’s relatives by the name of Shimei came along cursing David continually and ... [Continue Reading]
Law Awakens Pride
For while we were in the flesh, the sinful passions, which were aroused by the Law, were at work in the members of our body to bear fruit for death. Romans 7:5 Our flesh is sinful and though we may have put our trust and faith in Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, that does not mean that our ... [Continue Reading]
Obedience
And Samuel said, Has the LORD as much delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed than the fat of rams. For, rebellion is as the sin of divination, and insubordination is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you ... [Continue Reading]