Have I Committed the Unpardonable Sin?
Published July 21, 2011“But whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin” Mark 3:29 (ESV)
Many people read Mark 3:29 and worry that they have committed the unpardonable sin. What is the sin of Holy Spirit blasphemy that makes it unforgivable?
Some of the Saddest Words in the Bible
Published July 19, 2011Today’s reading contains some of the saddest words in the entire Bible. “And all that generation also were gathered to their fathers. And there arose another generation after them who did not know the LORD or the work that he had done for Israel. ” Judges 2:10 (ESV).
Why did the generation not know the Lord? Simply because their parents didn’t tell them.
The Great Commission or the Great Omission?
Published July 18, 2011In today’s reading from Matthew 28, Jesus gave what is commonly called the Great Commission. In it, He gives His disciples their commission to get the word out about Him.
If you ask evangelicals (and Baptists are evangelicals) about the Great Commission, most will probably tell you that Jesus told the disciples to make converts of people all over the world. But is that all that Jesus told His disciples?
From Suffering a Little While to Eternal Glory
Published May 18, 2011“Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.” (1 Peter 5:9–10 ESV).
Repentance Gone Awry
Published May 6, 2011Numbers 14 records a sad day in the life of the people of Israel. God judged them for their unbelief after hearing the spies’ report of the Promised Land. God says that for every day the spies explored, the people would wander in the desert. Joshua and Caleb would be the only ones able to go into the promised land.
Spying Out the Land and Obedience
Published May 5, 2011Numbers 13 records the story of the Hebrew spies that Moses sent to do reconnaissance before he led them into the land. Their task was simple: Continue reading
Be Careful What You Wish For …
Published May 4, 2011Rocker Chris Daughtry released a song a few years ago that warned, “Be careful what you wish for, ‘cause you just might get it all (and then some you don’t want).” The Hebrews could have written those words at the end of today’s reading. Continue reading
The Right Way to Solicit Help
Published March 25, 2011How often do you hear churches and ministries “beg for money” in their never-ending quest to build their ministries? Oftentimes, people are coerced into “giving sacrificially”, not because God is leading them to give, but they are being bullied and spiritually abused by the ministries. Continue reading
Avoiding Temptation to Foolish Living
Published March 20, 2011The picture I get from Proverbs 7 is that the temptation to foolish living is personified and lies in wait for us. Specifically, Solomon addresses adultery in today’s and yesterday’s readings, but temptation to any sin also applies here. Continue reading
Why God Defends His People
Published March 3, 2011Picture for a moment every man, woman, and child in the Texas counties of Wise, Parker, Denton, Tarrant, Johnson, Collin, Ellis, Hunt, Delta, Kaufman and Rockwall Counties (11 of 12 counties in North Central Texas [all except Dallas]). Imagine all of these people (about 3 Million [Exodus 12:37-38]) leaving their homes in the middle of the night to move to Austin, Texas. Continue reading