I tell my sons to do a lot of things (clean their rooms, mow the lawn, turn the computer off, go outside, etc.). I’ll admit that some of these commands come from a selfish place because I don’t want to mow the lawn and they are old enough to do it. But there’s something else... Continue Reading →

Viewpoints are not inherently wrong. Fact is, each of us has his/her unique viewpoint that has been shaped by our backgrounds and experiences. The viewpoint of the Pharisees was not inherently wrong, after all their viewpoint highly esteemed the Lord and urged them to carefully follow His Law. However, their viewpoint had become an idol... Continue Reading →

“And the scribes who came down from Jerusalem were saying, ‘He is possessed by Beelzebul,’ and ‘by the prince of demons he casts out the demons.’” (Mark 3:22, ESV) If you’re familiar with the gospels at all then you know that the scribes and Pharisees were bitter opponents of Jesus. Thus, their accusation that Jesus’... Continue Reading →

We likely have no problem recognizing material success as an idol that will vie for our affection. After all, the Lord declared that “you cannot serve God and money” (Luke 16.13). However, that is not the only type of success that can become an idol. As hard as it may be to fathom, spiritual success... Continue Reading →

A good way of measuring success is by potential. For instance, by the time a child starts middle school the parents of that child have some idea of his/her scholastic potential. They may know that their child excels in math, but reading or science isn’t their best subject. So when report cards come home the... Continue Reading →

Giving gifts can be tricky. You give something because you want the other person to enjoy the gift; you want to make them happy. Ideally, a gift will not only bring joy to the recipient, but will also prompt appreciation for the giver each time it is brought out. In writing this lesson I am... Continue Reading →

In Exodus 32 we saw how Israel broke the second commandment by trying to make a likeness of God, a futile attempt to bring Him down to their level. However, Israel’s idolatry would not be limited to making likenesses of the Lord; God’s people would give their allegiance to other gods throughout their history. And... Continue Reading →

If you’re familiar with the text of the Old Testament you might assume that Baal was the Lord’s chief rival; perhaps even a great part of the reason for the first two commandments of God’s covenant with Israel (Exodus 20.1-6). After all, the people forsook Jehovah for Baal once they entered the promised land (see... Continue Reading →

Isaiah 40 marks a pivotal point in this remarkable book of prophecy. Chapter 39 concluded with the Lord’s message to Hezekiah that not only would Babylon plunder Judah of all her riches, but would also take the people captive (vss. 6-7). However, that message of doom was followed by a message of hope: “Comfort, comfort... Continue Reading →

Growing up I could, and did, get in trouble for any number of infractions. There were spankings and then groundings for telling lies, fighting with my sister, failure to do my chores, watching TV shows I knew I wasn’t supposed to watch, etc. But there was one transgression that was guaranteed to would elicit the... Continue Reading →