Savoring the Scripture

A Mother’s Longing “…in your faith you are standing firm.” 2 Corinthians 1:24 It is not surprising that 3 John 4 is so often quoted by Christian parents in their deep desire for their children, “I have no greater joy than this, to hear of my children walking in the truth” (NASB). This is the deep longing of my heart as a mother. I want my children to truly know Christ, to walk in His ways, to love His Word, and to be committed to His church. I desire to be able to say to them, “in your faith you are standing firm” (2 Corinthians. 1:24). Am I being a faithful steward of my role as a Christian mother? Are my actions reflecting this deep desire to see my dearly loved children walking in the truth?  As we head into this new year, it is wise to both look back and look forward. The new year offers us many possibilities to grow and change and also to continue to persevere in the things that God, by His grace, has enabled us to carry out faithfully. If one of my deepest longings is to see ...

The Wilderness Will Not Be the End of You As the saints are empowered to persevere through adversity, the genuineness of their profession is authenticated, and they are shown truly to belong to God. Greg Beale What comes to mind when you hear the word “wilderness”? Natural beauty? Solitude? Quiet? Untamed vastness? Rough terrain? What about when you think about a spiritual wilderness? I think of isolation, loneliness, feeling distant from the Lord, feeling dry and weary, unclear of what to do, lacking fervency for spiritual things, and looking all around seeing the wilderness stretching out in all directions. No end in sight. It’s a time of questioning. It’s a feeling of weakness. Perhaps even a time of doubt and deep discouragement. Thankfully, on the wilderness road, I am not alone; I am sealed by God and He has me on this path to establish and strengthen my faith. This is the truth Paul used to encourage the Corinthians. Paul reminds them of God’s faithful work in them. “Now He who ...