Sketch by Patrick Murphy: inspiredsketch.blogspot.com “Love…bears all things….” (1 Cor. 13:6-7). Considering what Jesus suffered when He died on the cross, is there anything the Lord wouldn’t call us to bear in love? We all have an internal line that says, “I will only take this much and no more.” This is fine because it…
Category: The cross
Nothing without Christ
“[W]e labored and struggled, working night and day, so that we would not be a burden to any of you. It is not that we don’t have the right to support, but we did it to make ourselves an example to you so that you would imitate us (2 Thess. 3:8-9). Paul comments that, while ministering to…
Terror and Darkness
After promising Abram descendants, the Lord restated His promise to give Abram the land of Canaan. Abram asked, “Lord GOD, how can I know that I will possess it?” (Gen. 15:8). The Lord answered by telling Abram to sacrifice a three year old cow, a three year old female goat, a three year old ram, a turtledove, and a…
Same Song, Different Versus
America’s 2020 presidential election is right around the corner. The usual posturing, mud-slinging, glad-handing, and promising is heightened as some cities are plagued by protests and civil-unrest. This is to say nothing of coronavirus, which has killed about 180,000 Americans and could have our economy on a ventilator before long. All of this had my…
Only One Is All
My wife and I were talking recently about America’s divisive socio-political landscape. COVID and protests have exacerbated division but did not create it. Division exists in each of us because human nature is prone to sin. Strident exchanges are everywhere. As usual, social media is the great bullhorn, amplifying every discourtesy and difference. Even between…
Silence Is…Golden
“Silence is Violence” “Silence is Compliance” These are among the slogans wielded by protesters following the killing of George Floyd. I’ve seen such signs in news coverage and my home town, where protests continue on a daily basis. I understand the anger surrounding Floyd’s death. No one should be murdered by an officer sworn to…
Yes, I Will Say His Name
Since the murder of George Floyd, American cities have experienced paroxysms of protests and riots. To date, three separate protests have happened where I live, which is saying something for our small town. Thankfully, they remained peaceful; some of our police participated, exchanged fist-bumps with protesters, and walked along to show support. Along with real…
Re-imaging
God created man in His image. His original command to His image was, “Be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth, and subdue it” (Gen. 1:28). Man fell from this purpose. God’s image in man was marred. As a result, man multiplied his own image and likeness (Gen. 5:3). Man’s image filled the earth. All things…
The Kenosis Conundrum
“Make your own attitude that of Christ Jesus, who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God as something to hold onto. Instead He emptied Himself by assuming the form of a slave, taking on the likeness of men” (Php. 2:5-7). When Paul says Jesus emptied Himself, what does he mean? Debates about this center on the Greek…
Image
“Let us make man in Our image, according to our likeness” (Gen. 1:26). We see from this verse that, from the beginning, God’s purpose was for us to be in His image. God’s image was to be fruitful, multiply, fill the creation, and subdue it (Gen. 1:28). This purpose was frustrated and delayed at…
