Wonderful Counselor
Christmas is a season of awe. It’s a time when we celebrate God’s extravagant display of grace, humility, and wisdom that runs contrary to conventional thinking: the King of Kings coming to dwell with commoners, the Most Holy meeting us in the mundane, Majesty cloaked in meekness, the All-Sovereign swaddled as a helpless newborn. This…
The Christmas Story
Every year my parents would gather our family together, and each night for about a week we would quote, from memory, the Christmas story found in Luke 2. You see, Christmas isn’t about trees and lights and presents and candy and,… well, whatever your favorite tradition is. It’s not even about donating to a charity…
God’s Discipline and Christian Suffering
It may surprise some Christians to learn that some of the pain and suffering we experience during earthly life comes directly from the hand of God. I am referring to divine discipline. Allow me to make a distinction for you. Divine discipline is different from divine punishment. Punishment involves retribution for wrongdoing. It consists in…
Fifth Commandment: Honor your Father and Mother
“Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you.” (Exodus 20:12) “Honor your father and your mother, as the Lord your God has commanded you, so that you may live long and that it may go well with you in the land the Lord your God is giving you.” (Deuteronomy 5:6) What does it…
The Role of Satan and Demons in Human Suffering
Satan is pictured in Scripture as being extremely powerful and influential in the world. He is called the “prince of this world” (John 12:31), “the god of this age” (2 Corinthians 4:4), and the “ruler of the kingdom of the air” (Ephesians 2:2). He is also said to deceive the whole world (Revelation 12:9: 20:3). He is portrayed as having power in the governmental realm (Matthew 4:8-9; 2 Corinthians 4:4), the physical realm (Luke 13:11, 16; Acts 10:38), the angelic realm (Jude 9; Ephesians 6:11-12), and the ecclesiastical (church) realm (Revelation 2:9; 3:9).
Not By Might Nor By Power
This past week I have been working on the next article in my series on the Ten Commandments. This week it’s the fifth commandment, “Honor your father and your mother.” As I’ve been reading, researching, and praying in preparation to write that article, it brought to my mind the years my sister and I cared for our mother in our home.
The Fourth Commandment: Remember the Sabbath
“Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns. For…
Why Doesn’t God Abolish All Evil Immediately?
Atheists and agnostics often claim that if there were indeed a God who is both all-good and all-powerful, He should abolish all evil immediately. If you’ve ever wondered why doesn’t God abolish evil – keep reading. Since all human beings are sinners and all have been contaminated by evil, one would be wise to rethink…
Does Evil Prove God Is Finite?
Some claim that the existence of evil in the world indicates God must be limited in power and is therefore finite. They suggest that God may want to do away with evil (that is, He is a good God), but He simply does not have the power to carry out His wishes. Does evil prove…
The Third Commandment: Don’t Misuse God’s Name
“You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name” (Exodus 20:7; Deuteronomy 5:11). Let’s look further at the phrase: Don’t Misuse God’s Name Got to admit, I thought I was golden on this one. I rarely cuss (in polite company, at least), and for the…
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