Articles

Parenting is one of life’s greatest joys—but it can also feel overwhelming, exhausting, and, at times, discouraging.

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The story’s told of a wintry Sunday evening in a village (we might easily imagine it being in Scotland) when the river that ran alongside both the minister’s house and the church was completely frozen. To the great surprise of the congregation, the minister arrived clutching his skates, flushed from the exercise but otherwise ready to conduct the evening worship.

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In 1966, British rocker Ray Davies penned these lyrics to the Kinks’ song “Dead End Street”:

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In 1876, the hymn writer Edgar Stites composed a poem that caught the eye of none other than Dwight L. Moody, who asked his friend Ira Sankey to put it to music. Thus we remember it today:

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Among the most misquoted passages of Scripture is 1 Timothy 6:10, which some may remember as reading, “Money is the root of all evil.”

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Memorably, and perhaps perplexingly, the account of the Last Supper in Luke 22 begins with a whole lot of rigmarole regarding where the Passover meal is to happen and how the disciples are to discover it. The circumstances are reminiscent of a Cold War spy novel, with signs, code phrases, and secret locations: “A man carrying a jar of water will meet you. … Tell the master of the house, ‘The Teacher says ….’” (vv. 10–11). We might wonder: Why all the subterfuge? Was Jesus acting out of fear?

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In 1 Thessalonians 5:19–21, we find a curious series of exhortations: “Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies, but test everything.”

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Strange as it may sound, there can be such a thing as an unsaved believer. Not a few people have come to the preaching of the Word, heard the Gospel, and said, “I know that’s true.” They believe that Jesus is the person He claimed to be, that He died for sinners, and that He thus saves sinners. Nevertheless, they are not saved.

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As the apostle Paul concludes Romans 8, he offers a sort of closing argument in the trial of the Christian believer. The doubtful Christian has wondered, “Will I be able to persevere to the end?” Paul, with all the finality of Perry Mason revealing the real killer, has affirmed the believer’s acquittal, showing that God is for us and will give us the fullness of our salvation by carrying us on to completion (vv. 31–32). Though the Evil One seeks to dissuade us with reminders of guilt and suffering, Paul shows that these are immaterial to the outcome of the case (vv. 33–35).

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As the apostle Paul concludes Romans 8, he offers a sort of closing argument in the trial of the Christian believer. The doubtful Christian has wondered, “Will I be able to persevere to the end?” Paul, with all the finality of Perry Mason revealing the real killer, has affirmed the believer’s acquittal, showing that God is for us and will give us the fullness of our salvation by carrying us on to completion (vv. 31–32).

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