“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.” (Phil. 2:3-4 NIV) “Can you help me buy some food?” The question from a stranger surprised me as I stood in the snack…
He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. (Micah 6:8 NIV) Often used in the context of social justice, this passage reads like a road map for righteous living. With three imperative…
“God hates me. I know he does,” my friend cried in desperation. Malachi 1:3 and Romans 9:13 say, “God hated Esau.” “If God can hate Esau then he can hate me too,” my friend reasoned. But Scripture also says God is love, and perfect love casts out fear. She had me wondering, “Can love and…
The other day, I received a call from a friend. She was in tears, overwhelmed with her to-do list—not just work stress, but also a kiddo struggling with mean girls, an aging mom needing rides to the doctor’s office, and a looming deadline for her writing. Worse, she felt guilty because she couldn’t figure out…
First Kings records a sad summary of King Solomon’s life, but we have other writings from him in the Bible, including the book of Ecclesiastes. Ecclesiastes seems to offer a humble reflection on significant life endeavors with an understanding of human limitations. Ecclesiastes 3:9-15 says: What does the worker gain from his struggles? I have seen…
“I tell you, even though he will not get up and give you the bread because of friendship, yet because of your shameless audacity he will surely get up and give you as much as you need. So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find;…