Why Does Jesus Confront Me With Sin and Make Me Feel Guilty?

The persecutor had become the persecuted.  Saul, a vehement enemy of the “Way” (as early believers in Christ were called), was defending the very cause he once opposed. Saul had changed – his life, his words, even his name! What prompted such a turnaround? Paul’s conversion story is told more than once in Luke’s detailed, historical account of the early church (the book of Acts). Back then, he was known as Saul. He was a respected, educated, and cultured man, whose zealous desire to defend the Law of God compelled him to… Read More

The Day Moses Broke All Ten Commandments

I’m not sure if we admit it as much as we used to, but we all sin pretty regularly.  For those who recognize the authority of Scripture, sin is defined by two words: transgression & iniquity. Transgression is the crossing of a line, the outward act of sin. Iniquity is the inner motivation, our fleshly bent toward sin. (The good news is that Jesus was both wounded for our transgressions and bruised for our iniquity!) Even if a person refuses to accept God’s word as the standard of right and wrong, there… Read More

Faithful, but Fierce

Know therefore that the Lord your God is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, to a thousand generations, (Deuteronomy 7:9 ESV) The God I serve is a faithful God. He keeps His word. He fulfills His promises. He is gracious and kind, benevolent and merciful. There is no god like God. Generation after generation has benefited from His covenant love. But, make no mistake, the same covenant love that is described as faithful is also fierce. God is not… Read More

Three Reasons I Love The Lord

The Lord is my strength and song, and He has become my salvation.”  -Psalm 118:14 Psalm 118 contains 29 verses full of encouragement and truth to those whose distress has been caused by both their own sin and the subsequent condemning voice of the enemy.  The Psalmist writes and repeats several times: “For His mercy endures forever.” Today I am meditating on the truths found in verse 14. The Lord is my STRENGTH.  One of the great promises of the Word is that, “when I am weak, He is strong.”  I often… Read More