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]
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]