THE JOY OF CONSECRATION March 24, 2019 | 2 Chronicles 29:1–19 DEVOTIONS This Month’s Issue When a sports team needs to rebuild after a series of losing seasons, it can be difficult for an owner to know where to begin. Hire a new coaching staff? Draft a younger roster? Hire one or two big-name stars? […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 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. […]
IGNORING THE PROPHETS OF TRUTH March 14, 2019 | 2 Chronicles 18 DEVOTIONS This Month’s Issue Author Marilynne Robinson wrote in her novel Housekeeping: “Having a sister or a friend is like sitting at night in a lighted house. Those outside can watch you if they want, but you need not see them. You simply […]
THE FAILURE OF FEAR March 13, 2019 | 2 Chronicles 16 DEVOTIONS This Month’s Issue Elite professional athletes always face the difficult decision of when to retire. Should they leave at the top of their game? Or should they eke out as many years of playing time as possible? Should they remain loyal to their […]