Grains of Sand

Reading: Acts 13-15 The heavens, and the earth, continue to declare the glory of God.

Reading: Matthew 21, 22 Nuances are sometimes so subtle that we miss them entirely. Though I’ve read Matthew 22:17-22 many times over the years, it wasn’t until this morning that I had an “aha” moment and noticed something that I hadn’t realized before. Here’s the story. The Lord was approached by His critics during the last few days of His earthly ministry. This wasn’t unusual—they were always hanging about looking for some way to trap Him in His words or actions. But this time they were desperate to find some way of getting rid of Him. It was no secret that the Jews did everything they could to thumb their noses at their Romans oppressors, and withholding taxes that went into Roman coffers was one of those ways of resistance. On this occasion the Lord’s enemies tried to catch Him by asking Him if He thought it was okay to pay taxes to Caesar. Whatever response He made would surely get Jesus into trouble with someone! “ But Jesus, knowing their evil intent, said, ‘You hypocri...

“ He changes times and seasons; he sets up kings and deposes them. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning. He reveals deep and hidden things; he knows what lies in darkness, and light dwells with him ” —Daniel 2:21, 22 NIV. Think about it. This Spring didn’t come according to any calendar except God’s. The results of the election recently held here in Canada was no accident. Smart guys are only smart because He ordains it. Understanding isn’t simply the product of a superior intellect. Doctors and scientists don’t make discoveries “out of the blue.” Evil can’t hide from him. He brings light into our lives because He is a light brighter than the sun He sustains. “ In him was life, and that life was the light of men ” —John 1:4, NIV. Can you feel yourself relax, knowing that God is not only paying attention, He’s totally involved? The world came into being at the sound of His voice. Flames couldn’t even singe His servants because He willed it so. Thousands...

“ Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak ” —Isaiah 40:28, 29, NIV. If we read what precedes these verses we get the distinct impression that Isaiah is issuing a mild rebuke. Starting back at verse 12, the writer begins to describe the power of God, the One who makes everything and then holds it all together, the One whose wisdom and knowledge surpasses that of all the wise and educated men combined, the One who makes great nations look like nothing great at all. He invites his readers   to look around them and consider the One who made heaven and earth. God’s people were in for a rough time, and the prophet wants them to understand that just because it may seem as though God has walked away or has plugged His ears to their pleadings, it doesn’t mean that He has. He re...

Job 25-27 These chapters are short, but powerful. Job’s description of a part of God’s works is absolutely amazing: “ He spreads out the northern skies over empty space; he suspends the earth over nothing. He wraps up the waters in his clouds, yet the clouds do not burst under their weight. He covers the face of the full moon, spreading his clouds over it. He marks out the horizon on the face of the waters for a boundary between light and darkness. The pillars of the heaven quake, aghast at his rebuke. By his power he churned up the sea; by his wisdom he cut Rahab to pieces. By his breath the skies become fair; his hands pierced the gliding serpent. And these are but the outer fringe of his works; how faint the whisper we hear of him! Who then can understand the thunder of his power? ” —Job 26:7-14. There are some who believe that if God created the world, he then left it to run on its own. From these verses we know that Job certainly wasn’t one of those. He believed that though nature...