A Matter of Conscience

… having a good conscience… (1 Peter 3:16).  “I don’t know what you mean by ‘glory’,” Alice said. Humpty Dumpty smiled contemptuously. “Of course you don’t — till I tell you. I meant ‘there’s a nice knock-down argument for you!’” “But ‘glory’ doesn’t me...
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How God Draws Near

  Father of the fatherless and protector of widows is God in his holy habitation (Psalm 68:5).   The verse struck me as curious. How is the Lord a Father of the fatherless and a Protector of widows from His holy habitation? Rather, it sounds as if by being in His holy...
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The Call to Community

  And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. And all who believed were together and had all things in...
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Passive Fathers 1 Samuel 3:1-20

I declare to him that I am about to punish his house forever, for the iniquity that he knew, because his sons were blaspheming God, and he did not restrain them (1 Sam. 3:13). A word before beginning.  That the following reflection is about fathers does not ignore the vital role...
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Engaging a Broken World

“How is it that you, a Jew, ask a drink from me, a woman of Samaria?” (John 4:9)   The following reflections are on John 4, which concerns a Samaritan woman who came to draw from a well at noon (which many have suggested meant that she was trying to avoid others who would...
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Exposed

Therefore do not become partners with them; for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. Take no part in...
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Called to Trust

Now the LORD said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and...
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Choices

  For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil (Genesis 3:5). In the midst of the Garden of Eden there were two trees. One, the pro-life tree, was called the tree of life. Adam and Eve were permitted, even...
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The Strength of Our Service

  The LORD spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to Aaron and his sons, saying, ‘Thus you shall bless the people of Israel: you shall say to them, The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the LORD lift up his countenance upon...
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A Way of Escape

No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it (1 Cor. 10:13). The scope of this promise is...
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