Samson: Small is mighty
How do you envision Samson? With a mountain of muscles? Taller than everyone? What if he just looked like an average guy? In Judges 16, the Philistines tried to discover the truth behind Samson’s impossible-to-understand strength. They bribed his girlfriend, Delilah, saying, “See if you can lure him into showing you the secret of his […]
Samson: Follow the instructions
In Judges 13, Samson’s parents received special instructions on how to raise their soon-to-be-conceived son. “You will become pregnant and have a son whose head is never to be touched by a razor” (verse 5). Before he was even born, Samson was set apart by God as being different. You aren’t commanded by God to […]
Thieves, hired hands, and shepherds
According to Jesus, there are three types of people in your life: thieves, hired hands, and shepherds. Thieves are people who only want something from you. You are the means to get money, fame, or fulfillment of a desire. Some thieves know exactly what they are doing, while other thieves might not understand the way […]
Help! is a brave word
I recently met a young woman who just became a Christian. During our conversation, she told me of a book about a horse, a mole, a fox, and a boy who become friends and teach each other the most important lessons in life. One time, the boy asks the horse, “What’s the bravest thing you’ve […]
Repent!
God sent someone with the specific job to prepare people’s hearts for Jesus. That sounds pretty important, doesn’t it? God wanted people to be ready for Jesus. How? Here was John the Baptist’s message: “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near” (Matthew 3:2). How often do you hear that message today? “Repent!” I’m […]
Finding Jesus
Even today, Abraham Lincoln is one of the most recognizable people of all time. His height. His hair. His hat. His beard. Even people with little interest in history can recognize Abraham Lincoln. So here’s a surprising stat: when Abraham Lincoln was running for president in 1860, it’s estimated that only around 5 percent of […]
Bloom in God’s time
One of my favorite flowers are the big, fluffy peonies that bloom in Michigan in May. They always look like puffy snowballs to me—so beautiful! I’ve been getting braver with perennials, so a few years ago, I decided to purchase a peony plant at a local nursery. It was supposed to be a lovely shade […]
Can Christians live together before marriage?
That title deserves careful thought as we seek a biblical answer: “Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral” (Hebrews 13:4). “Marriage should be honored by all.”—Even if your parents were bitterly divorced or you’d rather save for a beautiful […]