Category: Spiritual Growth
When Jesus Speaks: Following New Covenant Commands
When Eric Liddell (1902-1945), the famous Scottish Olympic runner of “Chariots of Fire” fame, dedicated his life to working with the Chinese as a missionary, he still could outrun most of us. His daughter recalls that he once caught a hare on foot for supper. But...
What Did George Muller Think About the Bible?
George Muller loved orphans. By the end of his life in the late 1800’s, he had housed over 10,000 in Bristol, England. Remarkably, throughout his ministry he made needs known only to God. Muller’s ultimate desire for destitute boys and girls was not just to provide...
Still Faithful: George Muller’s Prayer-hearing God
The living, eternal Lord always came through for George Muller. He cared for over 10,000 orphans throughout his life in Bristol, England, but he made his needs known only to God. He believed God answered over 50,000 of his prayers. One of Muller’s hopes in trusting...
Prayer That Changes Things
Despite my best intentions, I’ve often been disappointed in the lack of results from my praying. Since the death of my wife, however, I can honestly report more effectiveness than in any previous recollection. But why? Perhaps because the trauma of death forced a shift in...
What Should You Do About Sexual Sin?
In the town where I grew up, the sexually explicit magazines in the bookstore were placed on the top shelf. That usually didn’t keep a curious young boy or teen from grabbing one, stuffing it in a Sports Illustrated to make it look like he was...
The Whisperer, The KJVer, and Other Types of Group Prayer Participants You Don’t Want to Be
My first opportunity to pray in a group came when some of my fellow students and I were standing in a circle, holding hands. The leader told us we could either pray or squeeze the hand of the person next to us. I was a squeezer...
The Unrepenting Repenter
The believer in Christ is a lifelong repenter. He begins with repentance and continues in repentance. (Rom. 8:12-13) David sinned giant sins but fell without a stone at the mere finger of the prophet because he was a repenter at heart (2 Sam. 12:7-13). Peter denied...
The Importance of Fearing the God You Love
Aside from atheists and people in false religions, most people would argue that God should be loved. Jesus went so far as to say that the obligation to love God is the foremost commandment in Scripture (see Mark 12:29-30). What is not universally agreed upon is...
Sweeter Than Honey: A Lesson From Pooh
In Psalm 119:103 the psalmist exclaims, “How sweet are Your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth.” Though we may not put it in such eloquent words, that is the testimony of every true Christian. Nevertheless, even true Christians, those who recognize the...
Sucked In: A Lesson from Demas about the Dangerous Side of Love
At the center of the swirling mass of stars known as the Milky Way galaxy exists a phenomenon known as a black hole. This cosmic garbage disposal has a gravitational pull so strong that stars, planets, asteroids, and even space itself cannot escape. What happens to...