Category: MOMENT WITH GOD-A DEVOTIONAL ON EVERY BIBLICAL BOOK

  • COUNTERFEIT REPENTANCE

    Reflections on 2 Kings We often take the genuineness of our repentance for granted, as if feeling sorry for our sin is proof enough. But just after Paul preaches repentance, he commands his listeners to “prove their repentance by their deeds” (Acts 26:20). True repentance has corroborating evidence. Perhaps the best way to learn what…

  • WHERE CREDIT IS DUE

    Reflections on 1 Kings I was once promised a job that was terminated before I could begin. The company unexpectedly closed my division. I felt humiliated and disappointed as I told my family and friends that the great opportunity I’d snagged was gone. When I finally secured a new position, I believed all my hard…

  • LITTLE WHITE LIES

    Reflections on 2 Samuel It’s easy to declare, “Lying is a sin; never lie!” The ninth commandment tells us that God abhors it. And we see King David experience negative consequences for lying in 2 Samuel 11–12. However, a reading of the Old Testament will quickly reveal that “Never lie!” isn’t so clear cut. What…

  • AN ENTRY-LEVEL KING

    Reflections on 1 Samuel Do you remember your first job? Chances are, it was low paying, low prestige, and if anything like mine, you counted the minutes until quitting time. The best thing about my first job was that I knew it was temporary—I had no doubt that it was not part of my career…

  • WHY GOD?

    Reflections on Ruth We have a mental checklist for life. Happy marriage: check. Healthy kids: check. Good reputation: check. Great job: check. Enough money: check. All the pieces are lining up. But then tragedy strikes: The bottom falls out on your finances; you get breast cancer; your spouse dies; or, in my case, you learn…

  • GOD’S THUNDEROUS & LOVING NATURE

    Reflections on Judges The book of Judges tells the story of Israel’s disobedience and unfaithfulness—again and again Israel turns from God and he allows their enemies to defeat and oppress them. “Yet you have forsaken me and served other gods; therefore I will save you no more. Go and cry out to the gods whom…

  • HOW TO BRAG LIKE AN ISRAELITE

    Reflections on Joshua Childhood lessons about the consequences of bragging have stuck with me. As I learned about humility and modesty, I became afraid of being seen as conceited. When presenting myself at a job interview, I was hesitant to speak of my successes. I was especially careful when I talked about my faith or…

  • REMEMBERING TO REMEMBER THE GOODNESS OF GOD

    Reflections on Deuteronomy I must confess that sometimes I read about the forgetfulness of Bible characters and chide them in my mind. I think, “If God showed me a burning bush, I would never doubt him again.” But I would. And so would you. God knows our propensity to forget. That is why he is…

  • FINDING HELP

    Reflections on Numbers I say, “Help comes from God.” I tell people, “You’re not alone.” Both are empty phrases if I don’t live like I believe them. The book of Numbers shows us that as the Israelites traveled through the wilderness, they, too, struggled to live out these words. After 40 years of wandering, they…

  • REDEFINING SACRED SPACE

    Reflections on Leviticus After worship one Sunday, I overheard a teenager recounting the latest scandal at her school. Another student reprimanded her, “Don’t gossip, you’re in church!” He certainly ended the conversation, but his words revealed an underlying view by which many Christians compartmentalize life—church is “holy,” everywhere else is “unholy.” You do not have…