A Light in the Darkness

            There was once a man who decided to build a tower to the glory of God. It was going to be taller than any other building around, standing out from the landscape. It would be masterfully designed and constructed using the finest materials. At night it would light up in spectacular fashion. It was going to enhance the vista. Everyone would notice it, and people would even travel from miles around to come and see this grand tower. To be sure everyone knew that the tower was for the Lord, the Name of Jesus would be writ large across its face for all the world to see.             It was a great undertaking, and the man was eager to get started. He was so excited for everyone to see this tower completed. So, when the architects and foremen, and the financiers came to him to lay out the plans, and discuss how to build the tower he told them just to get started right away. They did. At first things went well. The whole community took note as the site was prepared and beams bega

The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks. Luke 6:45 ESV             Sticks and stones may break my bones, but it is words that really hurt me. James 3:1-12 warns us of the awful power of our tongue and its words. It can be a power for good, or a force of great evil. It must be controlled James instructs us. We ought to see this need in our lives as well, but how can it be done? How can we keep watch over every word we pour forth?             The answer is that we must go to the source, the spring where those words first originate in us, the heart of our being. Here we can work to purify most effectively by applying the word of God to all we find therein. We can see what impurities are likely to appear in our words and be on guard against them. And as we are working before the mouth has even been opened we have some hope of catching the err

But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. James 1:14 ESV                 There is a balance required in the Christian life. One such, perhaps the most difficult, at least for some souls, is the balance of introspection. It is great folly to blame each temptation on some external force, and to find the locus of control for sin somewhere beyond you. This leads to irresponsibility and hopeless slavery to sin. This denies the effect of Christ’s work of Salvation, and ignores His numerous commands to work out that salvation.   On the other hand we can become so intent on our wretchedness that we fall into despair. Martin Luther knew this latter struggle well. He would exhaust his confessors while he was in the monastery, even to the point that he was advised to go and commit a real sin before entering to confess again.                 We must be aware of our wretchedness, and loathsomeness less we undervalue the grace of God, or be found slacking in th

And I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to me, says the Lord Almighty.” 2 Corinthians 6:18 ESV Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name…” Matthew 6:9 ESV                 Some of us are blessed to have earthly fathers who love us, and have done right by us according to the expectations of God. Some of us are blessed to be fathers and to raise up our children in the way they should go to the glory of God. All of us would do well to remember that we have a greater Father in Heaven. We who have earthly fathers will be reminded to honor them, even in their imperfection, for the love and honor of the perfect Father. Those who are fathers will be reminded what an awesome responsibility we bear towards our children to show them something of their truer Father who is in Heaven.   All of us will be encouraged, and comforted, and edified in this remembrance. Some will find their fathers afflicted with disease of body or of mind, unable