One of the benefits of being a pastor is knowing that so many people are praying for me. I bet your pastor is similar. We truly are blessed by your praying for us, and we need it. 

In the book of Daniel, Daniel and his three friends, who are taken into exile, are given food from the king’s table and trained in all of the ways of Babylon. How would they respond?

The character of Boaz is a pretty clear type of Christ. But we also see Ruth as a bit of a Christ figure. Her words in Ruth 1:16-18 have been used time and again in marriage ceremonies. And that is certainly fitting, but we can also see here a picture of the gospel of Jesus. Her words are a picture of the way in which Christ rescues us. 

Saul was a religiously devoted man who was zealous in his beliefs. And he had the education to back it up. Think of your rising star seminary student. But as the story fills out a bit more, we see that Saul’s zeal motivated him to “destroy the church. Going from house to house, he dragged off both men and women and put them in prison” (Acts 8:3). 

We might think that the Minor Prophets are less important than the Major Prophets. But that’s not what the word minor means here. “Minor” has more to do with their size and scope than it has to do with the respect which was held for the prophet whose name it bears. 

Paul’s point here is that union with Christ comes through an act of repentance and faith. We are brought into union with the Lord Jesus. Through this, everything else flows. We didn’t come to Jesus by engaging in works, jumping through spiritual hoops, saying the right words, etc. We came to Jesus with nothing in our hands and simply asked Him to rescue us. 

The Book of Numbers is really a travel story. Now, if it’s a travel story through the cornfields of Kansas, you can’t fault the editor for thinking “Book of Numbers” might at least hit the math-nerd demographic. But it’s not that kind of travel story. It’s one filled with life and death survival stories. In the midst of all this excitement is also a story about the gospel. 

You’ve likely heard the fable of the frog slowly boiled alive. The idea is that if you put a frog in a vat of boiling water, he’s going to feel the heat and jump out. But if you put the little guy in lukewarm water, he’ll just think it’s a nice cozy bath. If you slowly crank up the heat, Kermit won’t even know what hit him. You’ll be eating frog legs in no time. 

It’s likely not scientifically plausible, but this apologue (that’s a fancy word for a moral tale involving an animal) remains as a metaphor for those who are unable to perceive danger. Or in the words of Barney Fife, “if you give them an inch, they’ll take a mile.” Don’t be like the foolish frog who ends up being served for supper because he thought he found a jacuzzi. 

I think of this story when talking about idolatry. Very seldom is idolatry something that we willingly sign up for. Idolatry can start out rather innocently, and good things can be morphed into idols. Anything can draw our heart away from Christ. And as fallen creatures we can have the propensity to be drawn away by the gifts of God, and before we know it we’re worshipping the gifts instead of the Giver. 

Idolatry is subtle. As such, it’s helpful to make ourselves aware of a few of the warning signs that something is becoming an idol. 

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There isn’t much in Genesis that points us to the eternity that awaits us. But again, there are little glimpses, like Jacob’s ladder. There is hope even in Joseph’s death and burial in Egypt that the story isn’t finished. But as the book of Genesis closes, we are indeed looking for a rescuer. 

God never breaks a promise. 

I think we know that is theologically true, but what do we do when this theological truth doesn’t seem to be matching reality? 

We claim Proverbs 22:6. “Train up a child in the way he should go and he will not depart from it.” What do you do with that verse when your child rebels and continues to rebel until your death. Did God break a promise? 

In Philippians 4:19, Paul encourages the Philippians who have given to his ministry with these words, “But my God will supply all your needs…” You take that to heart. Finances are tight, but you trust the Lord. You’ve got $19 in your bank account but you still write that $50 tithe check. It bounces. Should tithe checks ever bounce? 

James 5:15 tells us that “the prayer given in faith will heal the sick man.” A man with cancer comes to the church elders, they put anointing oil on him, just as prescribed in the text. He is prayed over. We believe that God will heal him. He dies of cancer a couple days later. Didn’t God say this man would be healed? 

What do we do when marriages fail? What happens when our ministry is dashed upon the rocks? I could go on and on mentioning several disappointments. And these are just a few of the ones mentioned in Scripture. What do we do about some of the impressions which we believe the Lord gives to us — where we are confident that He has spoken and it ends up almost the opposite. What do we do when it seems like God’s promises do not match reality?

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When the Bible talks about walking in truth it is usually more than just believing a set of ideas. Walking in the truth is much more than believing bare facts about God, sin, humanity, Jesus Christ, and other essential beliefs. No, walking in the truth means patterning your life after these realities. It means living in such a way as a result. 

Rick Warren’s soft complementarian position, echoed by more than a handful within the SBC, will push the SBC to further define its stance on women in ministry. It is dishonest to connect this with the “battle for the Bible.”

“How are things going for you, pastor?”

“Doing great! I have been crazy busy lately. We have quite a bit going on with it being around the holidays. Busy. Busy. Busy.” 

The parishioner has a bit of concern for the pastor, hoping he doesn’t burn out. But she is also encouraged that her pastor has such a great work ethic and isn’t a lazy bum like some other pastors that she hears about. Good that he’s keeping busy with kingdom work. Better to burn out than rust out, right? 

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“How are things going for you, pastor?” 

“Doing great! I’m not busy at the moment. In fact, I can’t think of the last time that I’ve really felt busy or overworked. I have finished most of my work for the week and I’m going to spend some time taking a nature hike today.” 

Is the parishioner encouraged by this response?

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In Proverbs 17:15, we read,

He who justifies the wicked and he who condemns the righteous, 
Both of them alike are an abomination to the Lord.

How does this verse apply to the trial of Jesus? Was it illegal? Did they “condemn the righteous”? A Dartmouth College professor, Richard Wellington Husband, has argued that the trial of Jesus was legal and justified. In his book, The Prosecution of Jesus, Husband says this:

“The arrest” of Jesus “was legal, for it was conducted by the proper officers, acting under instructions from the Sanhedrin. There was no illegality in the circumstances under which the arrest was affected. The hearing by the Sanhedrin was legal, for it was merely a preliminary hearing, and was not a formal trial. The course of trial in the Roman court was legal, for it harmonized with the procedure shown in the sources to be pursued by governors of provinces in hearing criminal cases.”

Against Husband, here are ten ways in which the trial of Jesus was illegal. Though this is only a summary and some points are combined. Some scholars have the number up to at least 18 reasons.

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