Blaise Pascal was a well-known mathematician. He said: “There is a God-shaped hole in the heart of every person.”He wasn’t talking about a physical hole, of course, but an existential one. We have a deep, inner yearning for God. We will never find true rest until we make that connection with God.But here’s the problem. … Continue reading The God-shaped hole
glorifying God
What is the Devil trying to do?
C. Peter Wagner writes: “The chief end of humans is to glorify God and the chief end of Satan is to prevent God from being glorified.”*There’s a lot in that statement so let’s take a few moments to unpack it.When he says that the “chief end of humans is to glorify God” he’s referring to … Continue reading What is the Devil trying to do?
Your “calling”
What are you “called” to do? The word “calling” can be intimidating. It makes us think of being a missionary, starting a homeless shelter, or coordinating an after-school program for inner city kids. But all of us have a calling, even if we don’t do those sorts of things. First, we’re called to be disciples … Continue reading Your “calling”
When you don’t get a thank you note
As a part of our daily discipleship, I think it's helpful for us to continually think about how theory meets reality. If an idea is theologically important, I start to wonder about the influence it is supposed to have on my life as I walk out of the church and into the wider world. Speaking … Continue reading When you don’t get a thank you note
Glory, then joy
There's a famous (and historic) teaching tool which presents deep biblical truths in question and answer format. It's called the Westminster Shorter Catechism. The first entry is the most famous. Question: "What is the chief end of man?" These days, we might say it like this: What is the ultimate goal of a person's life? … Continue reading Glory, then joy
Unexpected holy ground
“Be holy, because I am holy” (1 Peter 1:16). In the 17th century, George Swinnock said that a Christian should regard “his shop as well as his chapel as holy ground.”* Here is what he meant. We often think of church buildings as “holy ground.” We might also think of a special location as “holy … Continue reading Unexpected holy ground
Happiness and contentment
A woman named Sarah went to visit Martin Thielen. She had marriage problems, problems with her children, and overwhelming stress in her job. He asked her what she wanted most out of life. Turns out, she wanted to be happy. After thinking for a few moments she explained further: “I make a lot of money. … Continue reading Happiness and contentment
Visual cues for spiritual truths
A stop sign is a visual reminder to stop your vehicle. A stove is a visual reminder that dinner needs to be made. A bed is a reminder that we need sleep. Our world is filled with visual reminders. So why not use them as visual reminders of great and wonderful spiritual realities? Here’s what … Continue reading Visual cues for spiritual truths
People-pleasers or God-pleasers?
I live beside a cemetery. Some people might think that’s creepy, but not me. Maybe it’s because I’m not afraid of death. A few months ago I wandered through it, looking at the names on the headstones. Some had lived a hundred years, others a hundred days. It was a reminder about the shortness of … Continue reading People-pleasers or God-pleasers?
Is it selfish for God to ask for praise?
A high schooler once asked me: “Why is God always saying to glorify him? Isn’t that sort of selfish?” Good question. If any of us did that it would certainly be a selfish thing to do! Here’s the difference. God wants the best for us, and he himself is actually the best. So when … Continue reading Is it selfish for God to ask for praise?
