If someone examined your bank statement, what would they conclude you value most?
It’s easy to recognize idolatry in the lives of people like Athaliah or the pagans of the Old Testament. But Scripture repeatedly warns that idolatry isn’t just carved images or false gods—it can quietly settle into our own hearts.
One of the clearest ways it reveals itself may surprise us.
Our spending often tells the truth about what we treasure, what excites us, and ultimately what we worship.
Today’s readings also show us God’s remarkable protection of the promised Messiah, the life-changing influence of wise counsel, and the humility of a gifted teacher who was willing to be taught.
Why do some conflicts seem to spiral out of control while others end in peace?
Most of us assume the problem is the other person. If only they would listen… admit they’re wrong… or stop being so difficult. But what if God is trying to teach us something through conflict that has very little to do with winning the argument?
Today’s Proverbs says something surprising: it is honorable to stop striving because any fool can start a quarrel.
That raises an important question.
What if the strongest person in the room isn’t the one who gets the last word—but the one who knows when to let it go?
We’ll also look at David’s preparations for worship and discover why our attitude toward singing on Sunday mornings may reveal more about our hearts than we realize.
Normally, on Sundays people around the world fill their churches. Most would identify themselves as Christians. Perhaps because they grew up in a Christian home or because they have some general belief in God. But could there be a great danger in that assumption? Could many, even some who attend church every week, be Christians in name only?
When an observer in Jesus’ time asked, “Lord, are there few who are saved?” He warned that the gate is narrow. And when the people of Joshua’s day claimed that they would serve the Lord, he told them not to take that commitment lightly. Are there many today who have failed to heed those warnings? Are there many who base their relationship with God on something besides the true gospel?
That should be a heartbreaking thought for those of us who truly understand the gospel because it is the most incredible GOOD NEWS ever! Today’s post includes a link to a video that could shake your understanding of what the good news of the gospel really is!
Most of us love quizzes that test our intelligence or our knowledge of trivia or pop culture. We like to know where we stand in comparison to others. We like checklists to see how we measure up. Today, as we read Colossians 3, we will see what we might call a checklist or a quiz of a different kind.
I first wrote this post a couple of years ago near the beginning of the year when many of us make fresh commitments to read more in the Bible, pray more, and in general, have a more effective quiet time. But when I came across it this morning, I thought it was worth republishing since it’s something most of us think about often.
While there is no right way or wrong way to do that, there are some things that can make our time with God more spiritually profitable and enjoyable. I’d like to share twenty-eight of them.
I was reminded recently that the greatest call for believers is not evangelism or discipleship. It’s not teaching or encouraging or serving. The greatest call to us as followers of Christ is to be worshippers of the one true and living God.
And while most of us would agree that all of Scripture is profitable and we could spend a lifetime mining its depths, the psalms hold special value when it comes to teaching us how to worship. That’s why I was so excited when I heard about the new devotional book Spurgeon and the Psalms.
