Tag: JOHN D. BARRY

  • THE TRICKS WE PLAY ON OURSELVES

    Connect The Testaments2 Samuel 18:1–33; 2 Peter 2:12–22; Psalm 144:1–15 A great deal of leadership is based on consistency. King David is a prime example: He struggled most when he was inconsistent. David’s son, Absalom, committed horrific acts against David and others (2 Sam 14–17). David repeatedly responded in a manner unbefitting a king, finally…

  • COURTROOM DRAMA, DAYTIME TV, AND GOOD DIETY

    Connect The Testaments2 Samuel 16:1–17:29; 2 Peter 2:1–11; Psalm 143:1–12 I remember old television courtroom episodes where people beg for forgiveness from a cynical judge when they should seek forgiveness from the person they’ve wronged. Usually these shows take the irony to the next level: The judge shows less mercy to those who beg, viewing…

  • THE DIFFICULT ISSUES OF THE HERETICS

    Connect The Testaments2 Samuel 14:1–15:37; 2 Peter 1:16–21; Psalm 141:1–142:7 Distinguishing between correct and false teaching has plagued nearly every church. We ask questions such as, “Are we venturing too far in that direction?” “Is this just my personal theological issue, or is this actually a big deal?” “Should I be concerned about that, or is it…

  • FINDING GOD IN SHEOL

    Connect The Testaments2 Samuel 11:1-12:31; 2 Peter 1:1-8; Psalm 139:1-24 We’ve all felt distant from God. Sometimes it’s sin that makes us feel separated from Him; other times it could be a lack of prayer. Either way, when we feel apart from God, God has not moved away from us. God never moves—we do. But…

  • SHOWING KINDNESS TO A STRANGER

    Connect The Testaments2 Samuel 9:1–10:19; 1 Peter 5:1–14; Psalm 138:1–8 When I was a teenager, I became serious about showing unsolicited kindness while working through a 30-day intensive devotional. The devotional required me to record an act of kindness each day. My efforts included things as mundane as taking out the trash before being asked…

  • TRUTH AND HONESTY CAN BE PAINFUL

    Connect The Testaments2 Samuel 7:1–8:18; 1 Peter 4:12–19; Psalm 137:1–9 A commitment to honesty and truth often puts us in unexpected spiritual situations—something David experiences in 2 Sam 7. David thinks he will build God a great house—a temple—but instead God plans to build a house for him—a legacy. Because David seeks God, God does…

  • WHEN KINGS MOURN

    Connect The Testaments2 Samuel 1:1–2:32; 1 Peter 3:1–7; Psalm 133:1–134:3 No one can tell you how to mourn. You have to mourn as you see fit, making sure you don’t introduce sin into the grieving process. Several people who were dear to my heart have died. Each time, I processed it differently—immersing myself in work,…

  • EMOTION VERSUS LOGIC

    Connect The Testaments1 Samuel 30:1–31:13; 1 Peter 2:18–25; Psalm 131:1–132:18 Reacting is easy. What’s difficult is overcoming emotions in a time of adversity. Although emotions are not bad, they can lead us astray. At the same time, when we stray too far in the other direction and rely entirely on reason, we risk using logic…

  • REFRAME IT

    Connect The Testaments1 Samuel 26:1–27:12; 1 Peter 2:1–12; Psalm 128:1–129:8 “ ‘Too often they have attacked me from my youth.’ Let Israel say, ‘Too often they have attacked me from my youth, yet they have not prevailed against me’ ” (Psa 129:1–2). As these verses show, sometimes problems can be solved by simply reframing the issue at…

  • UNITY IN ADVERSITY

    Connect The Testaments1 Samuel 22:1–23:29; 1 Peter 1:13–19; Psalm 123:1–124:8 Distress can unite people. In difficult moments, in shared pain, we discover our true friends. When David fled from King Saul, his divided family was suddenly supportive of him, as was every man in the region who was distressed or indebted (1 Sam 22:1–2; compare…