The Restoration Business
Adam Minter is in the junk business. The son of a junkyard owner, he circles the globe researching junk. In his book Junkyard Planet, he chronicles the multibillion-dollar industry of waste recycling. He notes that entrepreneurs around the world devote themselves to locating discarded materials such as copper wire, dirty rags, and plastics and repurposing them to make something new and useful.
After the apostle Paul turned his life over to the Savior, he realized his own achievements and abilities amounted to little more than trash. But Jesus transformed it all into something new and useful. Paul said, “Whatever were gains to…
Doing Right in God’s Sight
“Cowboy builders” is a term many British homeowners use for tradespeople who do shoddy construction work. The term is bandied about with fear or regret, often because of bad experiences.
No doubt there were rogue carpenters, masons, and stonecutters in biblical times, but tucked away in the story of King Joash repairing the temple is a line about the complete honesty of those who oversaw and did the work (2 Kings 12:15).
However, King Joash “did what was right in the eyes of the Lord” (v. 2) only when Jehoiada the priest instructed him. As we see in 2 Chronicles 24:17-27, after…
Grace restores
Today on “Discover the Word,” grace restores—that’s the final observation we’ll make as we look through the prism of grace. We will examine the story of David and Mephibosheth to illustrate that while grace is all about restoration, it doesn’t release people from the consequences of sin. Listen today on “Discover the Word”!
Mother's Day
Mother’s Day is a reminder to reflect on the love we’ve received since the day we were born, and to show our appreciation for the people who have never stopped loving us. It’s an opportunity to remind ourselves of all that our mothers and fathers have done for us.
It has special meaning to Grace and Joshua. When their mother suffered…
The Fragrance of Christ
Which of the five senses brings back your memories most sharply? For me it is definitely the sense of smell. A certain kind of sun oil takes me instantly to a French beach. The smell of chicken mash brings back childhood visits to my grandmother. A hint of pine says “Christmas,” and a certain kind of aftershave reminds me of my son’s teenage years.
Paul reminded the Corinthians that they were the aroma of Christ: “For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ” (2 Cor. 2:15). He may have been referring to Roman victory parades. The Romans made sure…
For grace to be given, it must be received!
Do you feel uncomfortable when people praise you? Do you tend to deflect compliments? Today on “Discover the Word,” we discover that an important part of grace is learning to receive it. In the case of Saul’s grandson, Mephibosheth, he felt unworthy of David’s kindness. But for grace to be given, it must be received! Join the group today on “Discover the Word”!
An Amazing Love
The final major historic acts of the Old Testament are described in Ezra and Nehemiah as God allowed the people of Israel to return from exile and resettle in Jerusalem. The City of David was repopulated with Hebrew families, a new temple was built, and the wall was repaired.
And that brings us to Malachi. This prophet, who was most likely a contemporary of Nehemiah, brings the written portion of the Old Testament to a close. Notice the first thing he said to the people of Israel: “ ‘I have loved you,’ says the Lord.” And look at their response: “How…
Mother’s Day
Mother’s Day is a reminder to reflect on the love we’ve received since the day we were born, and to show our appreciation for the person who has never stopped loving us.
Mother's Day
Mother’s Day is a reminder to reflect on the love we’ve received since the day we were born, and to show our appreciation for the person who has never stopped loving us. It’s a day to celebrate all that our mothers have done for us.
It has special meaning to Grace and Joshua. When their mother suffered a traumatic brain injury,…
