Christ

Thomas: More Than His Doubt

Approximate Reading Time: 15 minutes Mention the apostle Thomas and one word almost immediately follows his name: doubt. “Doubting Thomas.” Nearly two thousand years have passed, and one painful declaration still seems to introduce him: “Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of…
The Junk Drawer Solution

Scripture Focus: “And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them an heart of flesh.” — Ezekiel 11:19 Every home has a repair drawer. It may not officially be called that—I call mine…
Apparently, I Missed the Fine Print

I have been looking through my “Welcome to a New Life in Christ” packet, and apparently I am missing a page. You know the one. YOUR NEW MEMBER BENEFITS! Congratulations on your decision to follow Jesus! Please enjoy your complimentary lifetime package, which includes financial security, excellent health, agreeable relatives, cooperative children, painless aging, answered…
The Living Bread: No Substitutes

Scripture Focus: “And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.” -John 6:35 Jesus does not offer Himself as a small improvement to an already satisfied life. He speaks to hunger. Real hunger. The kind we…
More Than a Passenger

Scripture Focus: Mark 4:36-38 “And when they had sent away the multitude, they took him even as he was in the ship. And there were also with him other little ships. And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full. And he was…
Before the Soul Grows Breathless

Scripture Focus: “Pray without ceasing.” — 1 Thessalonians 5:17 One of the things I love about God’s creation is how often it quietly preaches without ever saying a word. Somewhere in the ocean, a dolphin is resting with only half its brain asleep because it must remain alert enough to rise to the surface and…
Guarding the Gateway

Scripture Focus: “…bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.” — 2 Corinthians 10:5 Have you ever noticed how one unpleasant moment can seem to erase an entire day of blessings? You might wake up to a beautiful sunrise, enjoy a conversation with a friend that leaves you smiling, receive an unexpected compliment,…
Worth Every Nail

Scripture Focus: 1 Peter 1:18–19: “Knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.” (NKJV) Have you ever heard of the IKEA Effect? It’s the…
Eyes That Search for You

Scripture Focus: “For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him…” — 2 Chronicles 16:9 (KJV) Walk into a café and you might notice something rather peculiar. Above the napkin dispenser hangs a simple picture…
Not Mine To Carry

Scripture Focus: Hebrews 12:1–2 “Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our…