Imagination
Today’s Bible Reading: John 1:1–14
In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. -John 1:4
My friend, the late Steve Bly, was uber-creative. Steve had a special knack for writing Christian Western fiction. He could constantly spin characters and stories out of his head that were, at the same time, incredible yet fully believable.
One of Steve’s fun things to…
The Greatest Story Ever Told
Today’s Bible Reading: Acts 2:29–35
God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of it. -Acts 2:32
When I was a boy, I saw the film The Greatest Story Ever Told—a cinematic retelling of the life of Christ. The movie boasted an all-star cast that included Charlton Heston as John the Baptist, David McCallum as Judas Iscariot, John Wayne as…
Our Powerful Destiny
Today’s Bible Reading: Acts 2:14–28
God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him. -Acts 2:24
In William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, two “star-crossed” (negatively destined) lovers from rival families are drawn irresistibly to one another. But events conspire against them, first to inspire their love and its…
Mission Impossible
Today’s Bible Reading: John 17:20–26
I have made you known to them. -John 17:26
In the Mission: Impossible film series, agent Ethan Hunt is always given a seemingly insurmountable task. The challenge is presented with this stark option: “Your mission, should you choose to accept it . . . .” Of course the fate of millions is at usually stake, and the resulting drama keeps…
Glory
Today’s Bible Reading: John 17:1–8
I have brought you glory on earth by finishing the work you gave me to do. -John 17:4
The movie Glory celebrated the first African-American units to serve in the United States Army. Set in the Civil War, the film was based on historical accounts and made for brilliant storytelling! But in the end, almost all the key characters…
The Heart of a Servant
Today’s Bible Reading: John 13:1–11
The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. -Mark 10:45
From time to time, King James V of Scotland (1512–1542) would set aside his royal robes to dress in the clothes of a commoner. Why would he do such a thing? So he could…
Where It All Began
Today’s Bible Reading: Philippians 2:3–11
The Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. -1 John 4:14
Perhaps you recall the words of this classic Christmas carol expressing wonder at the birth of Jesus:
Thou didst leave Thy throne and Thy kingly crown,
When Thou camest to earth for me;
But in Bethlehem’s home was there found no room
For Thy holy nativity.…
Before and After
Today’s Bible Reading: Galatians 4:4–7
When the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law. -Galatians 4:4–5
My wife, Marlene, and I enjoy watching home improvement programs. We love learning from the experts as they transform a tired living space into something new and remarkable. But there’s a…
Fighting Life’s Dragons
Have you ever fought a dragon? If you answered, “No,” author Eugene Peterson disagrees with you. In A Long Obedience in the Same Direction, he wrote, “Dragons are projections of our fears, horrible constructions of all that might hurt us. . . . A peasant confronted by a magnificent dragon is completely outclassed.” Peterson’s point? Life is filled with dragons. The life-threatening health crisis, the sudden job loss, the failed marriage, the estranged prodigal child. These “dragons” are the supersized dangers and frailties of life that we are inadequate to fight.
But in those battles, we have a Champion. Not a fairy tale champion—the ultimate Champion who has fought on our behalf and conquered the dragons that seek to destroy us. Whether they are dragons of our own failures or the spiritual enemy who desires our destruction, our Champion is greater, allowing Paul to write of Christ, “Having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross” (Colossians 2:15). The destructive forces of this broken world are no match for Jesus.
The moment we realize that the dragons of life are too big for us is the moment we can begin to rest in Christ’s rescue. We can confidently say, “But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 15:57).
