Sound Words (Page 31)

Inadequate, Inactive, Inexcusable Why do Christians hesitate to speak the word of God they know is truth? It seems silly to suppose that saints who have been saved by faith in and obedience to the word of the Sovereign Lord would skirt situations in which they might spread that saving truth. Still, saints stay silent. And while there are, presumably, many reasons for this reluctance, perhaps one of the most prominent is a feeling of inadequacy. In short, we just feel that…

A Reason to Believe Standards shape cultures. Several thousand years ago, a woman’s worth in many places was measured by a standard: fertility. Consequently, society at large honored women for bearing many sons, but it likewise shamed them for being barren. Wives who could not be mothers considered themselves cursed. This is exactly the kind of cultural environment that surrounded Sarah, and she understood this plague all too well. Moses records, “Sarai was barren; she had no child” (Genesis 11:30…

We Are Not Immune! The concept of idolatry is not a particular cultural corruption of the children of Israel; it is, however, a narrative arc. The story of Israel’s redemption is tainted by persistent idolatry throughout each generation, from the time God led the people out of Egypt. Holding to syncretistic worship, idols, and corrupted means of worship are common occurrences throughout the Israelite nation’s historical narrative. And we would do well to pay attention to its prevalence, as it…

When Leaders Lead Astray “The princes of Zoan are mere fools; the advice of Pharaoh’s wisest advisers has become stupid. How can you men say to Pharaoh, “I am a son of the wise, a son of ancient kings”? Well then, where are your wise men? Please let them tell you, and let them understand what the LORD of hosts has purposed against Egypt. The princes of Zoan have acted foolishly, the princes of Memphis are deluded; those who are…

Silly Servants I have an ever-lengthening bucket list, but I honestly can’t say that building a giant box is a priority item. It was definitely on Noah’s to-do list, though. In fact, the project was a big part of his life for at least a century. Forget for a second that you know his story and try to imagine what it was like to be in his position. You spend a good portion of most days assembling materials to construct…

The Beauty of Reconciliation Sometimes people don’t get along. And yes, there are in fact greater understatements. In any case, for those of us with siblings, we probably learned fairly early just how easily conflict can arise. From disputes over toys to room intrusions, to wars waged over the coveted shotgun seat, it seems there is no shortage of reasons for children to bicker. I can only imagine, then, that two boys as different as Jacob and Esau could have…

The Meaning of Life I have lived most of my life as a dead man. While that statement is sure to warrant at least a few raised eyebrows, I’d argue that any surprise stems from a fundamental misunderstanding of what it really means to be alive. Occasionally, we talk about our “spiritual lives” and “physical lives” as if the two could be separated. On the one hand, we can only understand life and death as we witness it: the spark of energy…

The Best Record in History It’s a pretty big deal for sports teams to have a perfect record throughout the season.It’s also extremely difficult to maintain, especially after a team has held one for a while. For one thing, players feel the additional pressure of perfection that tempts them to strive not to lose rather than fighting to win. But they also experience a lot of extra attention as every other team tries to dethrone them. Invariably, perfect records dissolve…