THE REFUGEES OF JUDAH March 23, 2019 | 2 Chronicles 28 DEVOTIONS This Month’s Issue In their book Seeking Refuge: On the Shores of the Global Refugee Crisis, Stephan Bauman, Matthew Soerens, and Issam Smeir write: “The question of refugees—and refugee resettlement, in particular—has divided the church as well. Many Christians feel torn between the […]
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MIGHTY AND YOUNG March 22, 2019 | 2 Chronicles 27 DEVOTIONS This Month’s Issue Social identity is the term used by social psychologists to describe the ways that people express who they are. These ways include making choices that align with their “in-groups” and avoiding behaviors that they associate with their “out-groups.” Social identities can […]
A PATH TO LEPROSY March 21, 2019 | 2 Chronicles 26 DEVOTIONS This Month’s Issue When playing with tools in his father’s workshop at age 3, Louis Braille was struck in the eye by a piece of metal. The injury blinded him, and a subsequent infection took the sight of his other eye. His parents […]
The New Patriotic Party (NPP) Member of Parliament for Assin Central, Kennedy Agyapong, has revealed that some big men within the party asked him to destroy renowned investigative journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas. The controversial politician confessed that after mounting a spirited defense for the party, some members with the NPP have now decided […]
PARTIAL OBEDIENCE March 20, 2019 | 2 Chronicles 25 DEVOTIONS This Month’s Issue Probably every parent of teenagers can relate to this experience: the parent issues an instruction or relays a story, while the teen nods and murmurs “um-hmm” without looking up from his mobile phone. A few minutes later, the parent asks, “Did you […]
MATURE FAITH DOES NOT PURSUE WORLDLINESS March 19, 2019 | James 4:4–6 DEVOTIONS This Month’s Issue “What a friend we have in Jesus,” a classic hymn rejoices, “all our sins and griefs to bear! What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer! Oh, what peace we often forfeit, oh, what needless pain we […]
MATURE FAITH SUBMITS HUMBLY TO GOD March 18, 2019 | James 4:7–10 DEVOTIONS This Month’s Issue The narrative climax in John Milton’s Paradise Lost is the choice made first by Eve and then by Adam to give in to the serpent’s temptation and disobey God. In Milton’s Paradise Regained, the story’s climax is Jesus’ perfect […]
MATURE FAITH DOES NOT PURSUE SELFISH PLEASURES February 17, 2019 | James 4:1–3 DEVOTIONS This Month’s Issue The first sermon in American history was preached at Plymouth, Mass., on December 9, 1621 by Robert Cushman, a deacon and Puritan leader. His text was 1 Corinthians 10:24, “No one should seek their own good, but the […]
MATURE FAITH AND SELF-CONTROL IN SPEECH February 16, 2019 | James 3:1–6 DEVOTIONS This Month’s Issue The Yik Yak app, now thankfully defunct, allowed users to post anonymous comments and to agree or disagree with other users’ comments within a five-mile radius. For example, students on a university campus could share opinions about teachers, […]
MATURE FAITH AND GOOD DEEDS: EXAMPLE OF RAHAB February 15, 2019 | James 2:25–26 DEVOTIONS This Month’s Issue We know Rahab had faith in God because her actions revealed her faith (see Joshua 2; 6:22–25; Heb. 11:31). She hid the two Israelite spies from her own government, then misdirected their pursuers and helped them escape. […]