June 1, 2021 | Psalm 73 DEVOTIONS This Month’s Issue Roman author Phaedrus once quipped, “Things are not always what they seem; the first appearance deceives many.” When the author of Psalm 73 looked around him, his first impression was of a world where the wicked flourish. He found himself envious of the arrogant (v. […]
May 31, 2021 | 2 Thessalonians 3:16–18 DEVOTIONS If there was a recording of our conversation for an entire day, what would it reveal? As our words played back, would God be glorified in our language? In their book, Redeeming How We Talk, Ken Wytsma and A. J. Swoboda wrote: “Words are not to give […]
May 30, 2021 | 2 Thessalonians 3:11–15 DEVOTIONS In the city of Joppa in the days of the early church, a believer named Dorcas (also called Tabitha) “was always doing good and helping the poor.” The poor in that time and culture included many widows. When she fell sick and died, they mourned greatly. But […]
May 29, 2021 | 2 Thessalonians 3:6–10 DEVOTIONS In fixer-upper shows, the most amazing transformations happen when a house has experienced neglect. Ceilings leak. Floorboards are rotted. The structure has disintegrated due to the neglect of the previous owners. It takes a lot of hard work (and money) to restore the home to its former […]
May 28, 2021 | 2 Thessalonians 3:1–5 DEVOTIONS A recent survey by Arizona Christian University found that most American adults believe a gospel of works, that is, they don’t believe the true gospel at all. About 48 percent think that if they are generally good or do enough good things during their life they will […]
May 26, 2021 | 2 Thessalonians 2:5–12 DEVOTIONS In 1997, musician and author Michael Card released an entire album on the Book of Revelation. Titled Unveiled Hope, the album includes songs such as “To the Overcomers,” “The Song of the Lamb,” and “The New Jerusalem.” Its main purpose is to celebrate the completion of God’s […]
May 25, 2021 | 2 Thessalonians 2:1–4 DEVOTIONS When natural disasters and wars occur in rapid succession, many people begin to talk about the End Times. They wonder what day the Lord might return, and which living person might be the promised Antichrist. According to the Moody Bible Commentary, the Antichrist who is controlled by […]
May 24, 2021 | 2 Thessalonians 1:11–12 DEVOTIONS What does it mean for Christ to be glorified in us? The great English preacher Charles Spurgeon answered: “Even now His saints glorify Him. When they walk in holiness they do, as it were, reflect His light. Their holy deeds are beams from Him who is the […]
May 23, 2021 | 2 Thessalonians 1:7b–10 DEVOTIONS What is biblical justice? How is it different than what we mean by justice today? Pastor and author Tim Keller explained: “In the West, when we think of justice, we think of individual rights. We think justice means freeing individuals from the constrictions of the group, freeing […]
May 22, 2021 | 2 Thessalonians 1:3–7a DEVOTIONS The word martyr originally meant “witness”—someone who testifies to truths they have personally seen, heard, and experienced. Even in the first generation of believers, though, the word came to signify someone who testified to truth under threat of death. That’s what we mean today— a martyr is […]