“What is the sin that we have committed against the Lord our God?’ then you shall say to them: ‘Because your fathers have forsaken me, declares the Lord, and have gone after other gods and have served and worshiped them, and have forsaken me and have not kept my law, and because you have doneContinue reading “Spiritual Erosion”
Author Archives: Steve Hankins, Th.D.
Fortified Walls
“And I will make you to this people a fortified wall of bronze; they will fight against you, but they shall not prevail over you, for I am with you to save you and deliver you, declares the Lord.” (Jeremiah 15:20, ESV) When in the United States Army, I was stationed in the Federal RepublicContinue reading “Fortified Walls”
A Nonconformist
“I did not sit in the company of revelers, nor did I rejoice; I sat alone, because your hand was upon me, for you had filled me with indignation.” (Jeremiah 15:17, ESV) As I have been in the pastoral ministry for many years, I look back and realize the power of behavior patterns. We establishContinue reading “A Nonconformist”
Sweet Food or Bitter
“Your words were found, and I ate them, and your words became to me a joy and the delight of my heart, for I am called by your name, O Lord, God of hosts.” (Jeremiah 15:16, ESV) Growing up, one of the great breakfast foods that I ate was cereal. My grandmother used to purchaseContinue reading “Sweet Food or Bitter”
Spiritual Weeds
“I will appoint over them four kinds of destroyers, declares the Lord: the sword to kill, the dogs to tear, and the birds of the air and the beasts of the earth to devour and destroy. And I will make them a horror to all the kingdoms of the earth because of what Manasseh theContinue reading “Spiritual Weeds”
Liar Liar Pants on Fire
Then I said: ‘Ah, Lord God, behold, the prophets say to them, ‘You shall not see the sword, nor shall you have famine, but I will give you assured peace in this place.’” And the Lord said to me: “The prophets are prophesying lies in my name. I did not send them, nor did IContinue reading “Liar Liar Pants on Fire”
Slip Sliding Away
“Though our iniquities testify against us, act, O Lord, for your name’s sake; for our backslidings are many; we have sinned against you.” (Jeremiah 14:7, ESV) When I was in college, I had a 1967 Toyota Land Cruiser. This four-wheel drive vehicle could go just about anywhere. I remember taking it on the sandy beachContinue reading “Slip Sliding Away”
Broken Can’t Fix Broken
“Can the Ethiopian change his skin or the leopard his spots? Then also you can do good who are accustomed to do evil.” (Jeremiah 13:23, ESV) Ask people what they consider one of the greatest hymns of all time and you might get a variety of answers. Yet this one hymn almost everyone will recognizeContinue reading “Broken Can’t Fix Broken”
Tears Unto Harvest
“ Hear and give ear; be not proud, for the Lord has spoken. Give glory to the Lord your God before he brings darkness, before your feet stumble on the twilight mountains, and while you look for light he turns it into gloom and makes it deep darkness. But if you will not listen, myContinue reading “Tears Unto Harvest”
Ruined Undies
“Take the loincloth that you have bought, which is around your waist, and arise, go to the Euphrates and hide it there in a cleft of the rock. . . Then I went to the Euphrates, and dug, and I took the loincloth from the place where I had hidden it. And behold, the loinclothContinue reading “Ruined Undies”
Renewing the Heart 