Treasure Chest

“But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God–and righteousness and sanctification and redemption” (1 Cor. 1:30). The preceding verses in this context describe how God chooses the “weak and foolish things” to put to shame the values of this fallen world (1 Cor. 1:23-29). “Of Him you are…

When the apostle Paul wrote to Philemon, he affirmed the good testimony of this pastor of a house-church in Colossae and prayed for his continued spiritual growth. As verse six reads in the Amplified Bible, “And I pray that the participation in and sharing of your faith may produce and promote full recognition and appreciation…

I remember that years ago our daughter went to a concert by the Christian musical group, Jars of Clay. The name “Jars of Clay” is based on the phrase Paul used to describe our frail, mortal bodies. “But we have this treasure in earthen vessels. …” (2 Cor. 4:7). The “treasure” refers to the precious,…

“I am the LORD your God, Who brought you out of the land of Egypt; Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it” (Psalm 81:10). When I think of this invitation to “open your mouth wide,” I picture a young bird eagerly responding to its mother’s feeding in the nest. That imagery was impressed…

I like eggs sprinkled with sodium chloride, do you? It sounds much more tasty to ask “Would you like salt on your eggs?” I’d say, “Yes, and some pepper too!” David Johnson comments on the chemistry of salt: Sodium is an extremely active element found naturally only in combined form; it always links itself to…

“As you have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him.” (Col 2:6). In Dr. Charles Solomon’s book Handbook to Happiness, we see the parallel between salvation by grace and abundant living by grace: “We entered into salvation by grace through faith; we enter into identification (with Christ) in precisely the same manner.…

How does abiding in Christ equip the believer to deal with loss? When we suffer personal bereavement, it reveals not only the value we place on who (or what) was taken away, but also the adequacy of the resources we are depending upon during our time of grief. We all face various kinds of loss…

“If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. (Col 3:1-3). “Ignace Jan Paderewski, the famous Polish…

“Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ…”(2 Peter 3:18a). The grace of God is the wonderful agency whereby He expresses His life to and through the believer. Paul’s amazing missionary work was accomplished because he was energized by God’s grace: “But by the grace of God I am what…

The grace of God that saves us is amazing. The grace of God that enables Christian living is also amazing! Grace is the modus operandi of the Christian life. Grace has been defined as “the desire and power to do God’s will with joy.” And where does it come from? Grace comes from the Holy…