At one point in the Lord of the Rings movie, two characters, Sam and Frodo, talk about their epic journey. They had set out to defeat the evil master while preserving peace on earth. They speculate about how they might be favorably remembered by future generations. They guess at the back-and-forth between a father and … Continue reading Frodo wouldn’t have got far without Sam
daily devotional
They tied a rope around his ankle
[New podcast and blog - link below] ~ “But only the high priest entered the inner room, and that only once a year, and never without blood, which he offered for himself and for the sins the people had committed in ignorance” (Hebrews 9:7). Bill Leslie described the high and holy reverence that was shown … Continue reading They tied a rope around his ankle
The angels of God will encamp around us
In the previous devotional we discussed how God has constructed reality. I highlighted four categories of beings. (If you missed it, scroll back a day.) Category 2 is heavenly begins. This includes angels and demons (more commonly called ‘unclean spirits’ in the New Testament). But what do they do? First, the good news. Angels are … Continue reading The angels of God will encamp around us
Put on the armour of light
God has constructed reality in a certain way. When we understand how he has done so, we will be better equipped to navigate life successfully. Consider the following four categories. Category 1 is God. He is above all. Nothing or no one else is like him. Category 2 is heavenly beings. This includes angels (who … Continue reading Put on the armour of light
Those who are with us are more
In the movie Free Guy, Ryan Reynolds’ character discovers he’s in a video game. When he puts on some special sunglasses, he can see things that only certain players can see. He can see threats to his well-being and also opportunities which will help him. But as soon as he takes off the sunglasses, all … Continue reading Those who are with us are more
It’s about Jesus
I’m often curious about the day-to-day spiritual practices of famous, faithful people. Did they shine only when others were watching, or was their devotion to God sincere and consistent? Did Saint Francis ever have dry spells in his prayer life? Was Billy Graham gracious to others when he was off the stage? Did Augustine frequently … Continue reading It’s about Jesus
Showing God his own handwriting
In Psalm 25 David is in distress. He doesn’t get into the specifics, but he’s very aware of his own sin (verses 7, 11, 18), experiences guilt (verse 11), and is under the threat of enemies (verse 2). In the midst of this prayer he says: “Remember, LORD, your great mercy and love, for they … Continue reading Showing God his own handwriting
Integrity blesses others
We’ve been spending some time talking about integrity. This virtue is about living wholeheartedly for God no matter the situation. Not only does your integrity honour God, but it blesses the people around you. Proverbs 11:30 says: “The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life…” When someone lives in a way that is … Continue reading Integrity blesses others
Integrity is a trajectory
If you are increasing in spiritual maturity you are going to have an increasingly honest understanding of yourself. Yes, you will grow in confidence that you are a child of God. But at the same time you will become increasingly aware of your own sin. This is one of the things that makes you more … Continue reading Integrity is a trajectory
The protection integrity provides
How do we protect ourselves? How do we stay safe, not only for ourselves but for those we care about? Some answer by describing door locks, safety bunkers, strong fences, surveillance cameras, or first-aid kits. All of these things are external; they exist outside of us. Depending on the situation they can be very helpful. … Continue reading The protection integrity provides
