Everything in Scripture was written for the sake of the Messiah. The book of Ruth is no exception. It provides not only the backstory for the birth of King David but also many deeper revelations and allusions to the Messiah. One of the seemingly subtle but deeply significant allusions to the person and work…
Don’t Doubt the Devil
The God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly. — Romans 16:20 Who is responsible for the infamy, terror, and agony that we see all around us? How can we account for the sufferings that we all experience if evil is not a potent force? Education has, in truth, impeded our minds.…
Tenderness
And now, here’s what I’m going to do: I’m going to start all over again. I’m taking her back out into the wilderness where we had our first date, and I’ll court her. I’ll give her bouquets of roses. I’ll turn Heartbreak Valley into Acres of Hope. — Hosea 2:14 MSG “Jess is hard on…
How Is Forgiveness Even Possible When I Feel Like This
Editor’s note: This year has been hard on all of us, hasn’t it? 2020’s losses have been big, our emotions have been big, and relationships have taken big hits. Forgiveness sometimes seems impossible. Cruel even. Lysa TerKeurst understands as she has gone through personal crises in the last few years beyond the breaking point and…
Faithful and Sure
God is the One who knows the end from the beginning. He is never caught off guard by our circumstances or bewildered by our behavior. He never feels pressured by the passing of time. God has always been — and will always be — in complete control of His creation. Isaiah’s acceptance of God’s eternal…
El Shaddai
Scripture: Genesis 43:14; Psalm 131:2-3 When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to him and said, “I am God Almighty [El Shaddai] . . . I have made you a father of many nations I will make you very fruitful; I will make nations of you, and kings will come from you.” —…
My Soul Waits
I wait for the Lord, my whole being waits, and in His word I put my hope. I wait for the Lord more than watchmen wait for the morning. — Psalm 130:5-6 I have a routine that I follow almost every weekday: I wake up and gasp at the forty-five-year old woman staring back…
Help Everyone
In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” — Acts 20:35 Jesus calls us all so clearly to love and help others. He doesn’t mince words…
Struggle and Chaos
Struggles He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.” — Matthew 26:39 We all struggle. But did you ever think that perhaps God may be using your…
Hope and Healing
Jesus said to Jairus, “Don’t be afraid; just believe, and she will be healed.” — Luke 8:50 I am prone to lose hope. As a father of five children, I desire to see them all well adjusted and hungry for Christ. What happens when one of them wanders? The waywardness of a son is…