Roots by the River

One of my favorite paragraphs in the New Testament is: “And so it was with me, brothers and sisters. When I came to you, I did not come with eloquence or human wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God. For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. I came to you in weakness with great fear and trembling. My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, so that your faith might not rest on human wisdom, but on God’s power” (1 Corinthians 2:1-5). Notice the word resolved . The KJV says determined . The definition is “to fix conclusively, decidedly, and authoritatively.” What was this resolve? “To know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.” Apparently, Paul was not into small talk and inane conversations. This post coordinates with today's reading in the To the Word! Bible Reading Challenge . If you are not in a daily reading

“Dear friend, you are faithful in what you are doing for the brothers, even though they are strangers to you. They have told the church about your love. You will do well to send them on their way in a manner worthy of God. It was for the sake of the Name that they went out, receiving no help from the pagans. We ought therefore to show hospitality to such men so that we may work together for the truth” (3 John 5-8). We do not see this passage quoted often. I want to bring it to your attention because of all of the hospitality I have received, even though I was a stranger to some of those who showed me hospitality. We have taken in strangers, too. Those who went out for the sake of the Name have always been a great blessing to us. Others we have taken in for the sake of the Name . Some of them have stolen from us, some keep coming back for more monetary help, some have just disappeared, and some have been a great blessing. “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper ti

“By faith Abraham, even though he was past age—and Sarah herself was barren—was enabled to become a father because he considered him faithful who had made the promise. And so from this one man, and he as good as dead, came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore” (Hebrews 11:11-12). “They will say, ‘Where is this “coming” he promised? Ever since our fathers died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation’…. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:4, 9). The first passage has to do with God’s promise to Abraham when he was 100 years old, because Abraham knew that God was faithful and would keep His promise. God kept His promise! The second verse has to do with Jesus’ promise to return to Earth. He gives us the reason for the seeming delay. He kept this promise to Abraham, and H

Some Christians believe that they are enslaved to particular sins. The truth is that they are not slaves. If you are a Christian, you are already free. “Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil—and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death” (Heb. 2:14–15).  “Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free…. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed” (John 8:32, 36).  “We are free indeed. ‘It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery’” (Gal. 5:1). What are we to do with this freedom? “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect ” (Matt. 5:48). How can we do that? This verse tells us how—imitate God. “But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting