The risen Jesus said: “‘Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.’ And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit” (John 20:21-22). What an enigmatic event! But why would Jesus give them his peace? Many of their dreams had been dashed (or so they … Continue reading The most important thing on the to-do list crossed off
Podcast
The Holy Spirit makes your spirit whole
“He restoreth my soul” (Psalm 23:3, KJV). What does God’s Spirit do in your life? Among other things the Holy Spirit makes your spirit whole. This is an idea worth pondering (and not just because it’s a neat word-play). A lot of people are talking about “wholeness.” It’s related to being mentally healthy and to … Continue reading The Holy Spirit makes your spirit whole
Sigh
Last week a news story of a Toronto boy named Carter sent waves around the internet. He was shovelling piles of snow, dealing with a pandemic, and couldn’t yet go back to in-person learning because his school had been closed because of the storm. As he talked with the reporter he let out an exasperated … Continue reading Sigh
A reset if you’re barely holding on
“We all stumble in many ways” (James 3:2). Many of you are reading this on a Monday. Mondays can be a downer. They’re certainly not the weekend. Many of you are headed back to work, school or other things that remind you that life has unavoidable responsibilities. But Mondays are also a kind of re-set … Continue reading A reset if you’re barely holding on
Truth-less “grace,” or grace-less “truth”?
In John 1:14 (and elsewhere) we learn that Jesus is God come to us in human form. In that same verse we also read: “We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” Notice how Jesus is full of grace and … Continue reading Truth-less “grace,” or grace-less “truth”?
Not lacking the arm of God
Yesterday we talked about being adopted by God and the new special status that gives you. You can be at peace and be confident. You are chosen. You are loved. You are royalty. Today let’s flush out another benefit of being adopted by God. Writing in the 17th century, William Gurnall said: “He who has … Continue reading Not lacking the arm of God
What it means to be a child of God
In my experience, people tend to downplay (or misunderstand) what it means to be a child of God. We often hear or say that ALL people are children of God. If it’s a status all people have, then it’s not really unique to anyone in particular. I get what people mean in a general kind … Continue reading What it means to be a child of God
What’s the point?
John the Baptist was asked to describe himself. He responded by quoting the prophet Isaiah: “I am the voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way for the Lord’” (John 1:23). The point of John’s life was to direct people’s attention elsewhere. That is so refreshing in a world of me, myself … Continue reading What’s the point?
The landslide to depravity
One of the ways we guard our hearts and ensure that the pathways of our lives are steadfast is to deliberately direct our attention to good and godly things. In the words of Proverbs 4:25: “Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you.” Some examples of good and godly things would … Continue reading The landslide to depravity
Have you heard of FOMO?
Have you heard of F.O.M.O.? It has started to appear in dictionaries. It’s an acronym: “fear of missing out.” Apparently there is an entire group of people who are afraid to miss out on the latest trend, post, gossip, news story or event. As a result, they never disconnect. They have to stay online, track … Continue reading Have you heard of FOMO?
