As another year is quickly drawing to a close, we often use this time to take stock of our lives. We look back at where we’ve been and evaluate where we are now. We also tend to look forward to the new year and what might lie ahead, thinking about what we ought to do [...]
Taking Stock
Posted on December 28, 2009 at 11:37 pm by Andy Sochor
Submit to God, Resist the Devil
Posted on December 23, 2009 at 12:47 am by Andy Sochor
“Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you” (James 4:7).
The two words that James uses to admonish Christians in their walk — submit and resist — both involve action. This should not be surprising. Earlier James commended an active faith to us while condemning a passive faith.
Regarding the active faith, [...]
How Much Does God Hate Sin?
Posted on December 21, 2009 at 12:26 am by Andy Sochor
Sin is not taken very seriously by many in our society. People ignore it, make excuses for it, and joke about it. This casual attitude towards sin is in stark contrast with the way God views sin.
There are three examples from the book of Genesis that clearly demonstrate to us just how much God hates [...]
Harvest is Past
Posted on December 18, 2009 at 1:26 am by Andy Sochor
In Jeremiah 8, the prophet condemns the people of Jerusalem for their sins. The condemnation was not for an occasional misstep, but for the persistent practice of sin and their stubborn refusal to repudiate it. “Why then has this people, Jerusalem, turned away in apostasy? They hold fast to deceit, they refuse to return” (v. [...]
Balm of Gilead
Posted on December 5, 2009 at 2:15 am by Andy Sochor
We sometimes sing the song, “Did You Think to Pray?” In one of the verses, it mentions the “Balm of Gilead.” This is a term we may or may not be familiar with. What exactly is the Balm of Gilead? In order to have a better understanding and appreciation for the words we’re singing, let [...]
All Spiritual Blessings in Christ
Posted on November 21, 2009 at 3:55 pm by Andy Sochor
Paul begins his letter to the Ephesians by offering praise to God. “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Ephesians 1:3). There are many reasons why God is worthy of all praise and honor. But in this passage, Paul directs our attention to the spiritual blessings we have from Him. We [...]
The Fertile Fields of Sin in Sodom
Posted on November 16, 2009 at 12:04 am by Andy Sochor
Shortly after receiving the promises from God, Abram (Abraham) journeyed out of Egypt with his nephew Lot (Genesis 13:1). A problem soon arose between Abram’s herdsmen and Lot’s herdsmen because the land was unable to support all of their livestock (Genesis 13:6-7). Abram proposed that they separate in order to resolve the conflict and allowed [...]
