And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience—among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the…
And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all. Ephesians 1:22-23 As the Father has given headship over all things to Jesus, the Father has given Christ to the church. This is…
It is a verse that many know well—even if it is more for its syntactic terseness than its theological robustness. Two words make an easy memory verse but they also make a balm for the pained soul. Upon drawing near to the tomb of Lazarus, John 11.35 says, “Jesus wept.” It has long puzzled many,…
We are creatures who desire autonomy. We will fabricate a past, masquerade in the present and dream a better future all in the name of making it on our own. We want to be self-made, to be the hero and exemplar the world around us desperately needs. And this desire colors the way we approach…
On the night Jesus—the Son of God incarnate, Emmanuel, God with us, the long-awaited Messiah—was born, Luke’s gospel tells us an angel appeared in the brilliant light of the glory of the Lord to shepherds to herald Christ’s appearing. It’s the most unexpected scene. In a moment, the dark of night blanketing the shepherds’ field…
In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory. In him you also, when you heard the word…