Isaiah proclaimed a message not only of judgment against those who persisted in their rebellion against God, but of hope to the faithful remnant living in deep darkness. He delivered the God-given promise of a coming great light that would dawn on the world. Now while the hope of this world is only preferred possibility, […]
Feelings of fear, anxiety, uncertainty, and insecurity abound in our world today. It seems as though everywhere we look there is another tragic news headline reminding us just how dark this world really is. Along with the many tragedies and acts of violence we experience come conspiracy theories, finger-pointing, and growing animosity between neighbors, political […]
While the prophets are often characterized by their messages of judgment and woe, there are few places in Scripture where the light of salvation and hope shines so brightly. When the world speaks of ‘hope,’ it usually means nothing more than wishful thinking. But for the believer, our hope is a confident expectation in the […]
Though the name ‘Zion’ is often used in Scripture to refer to the capital city of Jerusalem and the mount where the temple was located, it becomes a rich symbol for the dwelling place of God and his holy people from every nation. Ultimately, it refers to the new Jerusalem—God’s glorious temple-city that will fill […]
Before Jesus ascended to heaven, he promised his followers they would be empowered by the Spirit to be his witnesses. And as the story of Acts begins to unfold, we see this promise coming true in marvelous ways! Yet while we are given several portraits of the joyous life of the early church, soon persecution […]
One of the most fundamental truths of life is that no one escapes death. Scripture tells us that death came into the world because of sin, and death spread to all men because all have sinned (Rom. 5:12). But Jesus of Nazareth made an astounding claim: “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes […]
Psalm 86 is a prayer of David, the anointed king and judge of God’s chosen people, whose life was being threatened by the enemies of Israel (Ps. 86:14). In these final verses, he cries out to be delivered from the hands of the ungodly men who, by opposing him, stand opposed to the God of […]
Advent is the annual celebration of the coming of the Lord Jesus. Yet it’s not just a time for remembering his first advent—his coming in humility to die; it is also a time of waiting for his second advent—his coming in glory to reign. In a world full of darkness, the believer eagerly awaits the dawn […]
The good news, which we marveled at in Ephesians 2:1-10, profoundly alters the way we understand who the people of God truly are. The Ephesians were uncircumcised Gentiles, not circumcised Jews. They were not the physical descendants of Abraham. In fact, they were “alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, […]
