What the Father Gives, We Must Receive

At different times in their lives, the children of a particular family were summoned to their father’s office. He called them in and sat them down and told them that he was going to give them something precious. What he gave them might be different from what he had given their siblings, but it would be no less valuable to him, no less cherished. He would give them something and ask them to care for it, to treasure it, and …

Much Will Be Required

You know the old adage, I’m sure: To whom much is given much will be required. Or, to express it in the words of Jesus, “Everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required, and from him to whom they entrusted much, they will demand the more.” The point is clear: God holds us responsible for all that we have. Said otherwise, God holds us responsible for all that he bestows upon us. We tend to think …

Become a Patron

On Hoarding Wealth and Fostering Gifts

I recently read an article about the countless billions of dollars that have been saved and stored up outside the mainstream financial system. The author explained that many people have lost their confidence in banks and other institutions and have responded by finding alternative ways to protect their wealth. Some have kept it in the form of cash and hidden great stacks of bills in the walls of their homes or in the backs of their closets. Others have converted …

Is It Worth a Trip to The Holy Land?

You want to walk where Jesus walked. You want to see what Jesus saw. Is it a good use of your time and resources to visit the Holy Land? I was asked the question and took a crack at an answer. Transcript Today I want to take on a question that was sent to me by someone who’s seen one of my videos, and here’s the context. She’s arranging a holy land trip and she was wondering, is it really …

Draw Me Nearer

Today I’ve got a far better quote than what I’ve been sharing the past couple of days. This is a song we love to sing at Grace Fellowship Church. It is called “Draw Me Nearer.” Written by Fanny Crosby, it has been updated by Caedmon’s Call in their album In the Company of Angels II. I am thine, oh Lord I have heard Your voice And it told Your love to me But I long to rise in the arms …

Should I Desire a Reward?

Sometimes I struggle with motives. I struggle with the idea that we are to be motivated to obedience in this world by the promise of reward in the next. This is particularly true when it comes to money. We are to store up treasures in heaven instead of on earth; we are to obey God not just out of a desire to obey him, but out of a desire to increase our reward in heaven. That has always struck me …