A Leader’s Motivation

“Woe to him who builds his house by unrighteousness, and his upper rooms by injustice, who makes his neighbor serve him for nothing and does not give him his wages, who says, ‘I will build myself a great house with spacious upper rooms,’ who cuts out windows for it, paneling it with cedar and paintingContinue reading “A Leader’s Motivation”

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”

The Heart and Lasting Change

“Again the Lord said to me, “A conspiracy exists among the men of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem. They have turned back to the iniquities of their forefathers, who refused to hear my words. They have gone after other gods to serve them. The house of Israel and the house of Judah have brokenContinue reading “The Heart and Lasting Change”

A Blessed Greeting

“Paul and Timotheus, the servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.” (Philippians 1:1–2, KJV) When I was in school, we were taught how to address aContinue reading “A Blessed Greeting”

Proportional Giving

“And as for the cities that you shall give from the possession of the people of Israel, from the larger tribes you shall take many, and from the smaller tribes you shall take few; each, in proportion to the inheritance that it inherits, shall give of its cities to the Levites.” (Numbers 35:8, ESV) Here,Continue reading “Proportional Giving”

A Right Way and Wrong Way (Part 2)

And they said, “If we have found favor in your sight, let this land be given to your servants for a possession. Do not take us across the Jordan.” (Numbers 32:5, ESV) Often when a church or group of people is on mission an individual or faction will not desire to continue in the mission.Continue reading “A Right Way and Wrong Way (Part 2)”

Removing Temptations

“And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Harass the Midianites and strike them down, for they have harassed you with their wiles, with which they beguiled you in the matter of Peor, and in the matter of Cozbi, the daughter of the chief of Midian, their sister, who was killed on the day of theContinue reading “Removing Temptations”

Unlikely Vessels

Thus says the Lord, your Redeemer, who formed you from the womb: “I am the Lord, who made all things, who alone stretched out the heavens, who spread out the earth by myself . . . who says of Cyrus, ‘He is my shepherd, and he shall fulfill all my purpose’; saying of Jerusalem, ‘SheContinue reading “Unlikely Vessels”

Observe, Discern, and Teach

“For thus the Lord said to me: “Go, set a watchman; let him announce what he sees.” (Isaiah 21:6, ESV) One of the great practices of elementary school days was that of the “Show and Tell.” The student would bring something from home and tell the story about it. Similar to this is the nextContinue reading “Observe, Discern, and Teach”

Trust God Not Man

“And the inhabitants of this coastland will say in that day, ‘Behold, this is what has happened to those in whom we hoped and to whom we fled for help to be delivered from the king of Assyria! And we, how shall we escape?’” (Isaiah 20:6, ESV) Today, we as a nation seem to beContinue reading “Trust God Not Man”