Tag: REBECCA VAN NOORD

  • COSTLY GRACE

    Connect The TestamentsDeuteronomy 23:1-25:19; 2 Corinthians 6:1-13; Psalm 39 When we say something hurtful to a friend or a family member, we know we can’t just ignore the harm we have caused (we should know, anyway). In order to repair the relationship and earn back trust, we have to acknowledge the rift we’ve created. But…

  • TENT MAKING FOR ETERNITY

    Connect The TestamentsDeuteronomy 18:1-20:20; 2 Corinthians 5:1-10; Psalm 37:23-40 Paul, the tent maker, knew the temporal nature of human-made structures. For someone who made and probably repaired tents, he knew all their flaws and tendencies for wear. So it’s not a stretch for him to draw the connection from tents to mortality: “For we know…

  • COMPELLED TO WORSHIP

    Connect The TestamentsDeuteronomy 12:29-14:29; 2 Corinthians 4:1-6; Pslam 36 When we experience God’s mercy, it shows. Our instincts change and our priorities shift from gratifying our own ego to making much of God. We stop fearing what others think of us and find our identity grounded in Christ. It’s a transformation that shows God is…

  • A LETTER OF RECOMMENDATION

    Connect The TestamentsDeuteronomy 9:1-10:22; 2 Corinthians 3:1-8; Psalm 35:1-11 We file letters of recommendation from pastors, past supervisors, and teachers that highlight our skills, attitude, and work ethic. They present us as ideal candidates, glossing over the things we lack and the ways in which we’ve failed. But Paul’s letter of recommendation tells another story:…

  • THE FINAL SAY

    Connect The TestamentsDeuteronomy 2:1-3:29; 2 Corinthians 1:12-16; Psalm 31:10-24 Having the final say in an argument is more satisfying than I’d like to admit. By default, I’d like to be right, even if I have to be pedantic. I wish I could say this was limited to petty concerns. But on more than one occasion,…

  • PRAYER AND HOPE FOR THE ANXIOUS

    Connect The TestamentsNumbers 33:1-49; 1 Corinthians 15:12-34; Psalm 28:1-9 Anxiety, depression, and fear aren’t part of the Christian life—or the ideal Christian life, anyway. But for those who struggle with these emotions, this tidy concept isn’t helpful or true. What is helpful is hope and belief in the midst of tumultuous emotion. The writer of…

  • GRACE AND FAVOR

    Connect The TestamentsNumbers 30:1-16; 1 Corinthians 12:12-13:13; Psalm 25:1-22 Usually when we seek someone’s goodwill, we emphasize our own winning traits or accomplishments. Our supervisor, significant other, or family members are barraged with a list of our actions in an attempt to get the other to respond in kind. Often this results in a tug-of-war…

  • THOUGHTLESS ICONOCLASM

    Connect The TestamentsNumbers 29:1-40; 1 Corinthians 11:17-12:11; Psalm 24:1-10 When we learn something new about life and faith, it’s tempting to use our knowledge and freedom to tear down religious constructs and artifices—exposing truth in a way that’s not helpful or edifying. If we’re honest, pushing boundaries and living edgy and unfettered gives us a…

  • A MERCIFUL SMACKDOWN

    Connect The TestamentsNumbers 22:1-41; 1 Corinthians 5:1-6:11; Psalm 19:1-14 Sometimes, we’d rather not be teachable. When it comes to taking advice from people in my church community, it’s easier to keep an emotional distance than it is to listen. If I tread lightly on their sin, maybe they’ll tread lightly on mine. If we keep…

  • A PSALM OF CONFIDENCE

    Connect The TestamentsNumbers 15:1-41; John 20:1-31; Psalm 16:1-11 You are my Lord,” the psalmist acknowledges. “I have no good apart from you” (Psa 16:2). We know that God is everything we need, but somehow the details still get in the way. We want to alleviate our troubles through other means—that vacation, the position that will…