Reading with M’Cheyne

One of the Old Testament texts that dominates the New Testament skyline is Psalm 110:1. It is the Old Testament text to which the New Testament most often alludes. There are no fewer that twenty one references, quotations and allusions to this verse in the Gospels (Matt. 22:44; 26:64; Mark 12:36;...

"O LORD, what are human beings that you should notice them,
 mere mortals that you should think about them?" (Ps. 144:3) Christian Humanism gets a bad rap. But I think it may have to do with a fundamental misunderstanding of what it actually is--from both a theological and methodological...

In light of today's passage and the parable of the unforgiving slave (Matt. 18:21-35), which of us has heard, sometimes from pulpit, that a Christian has no obligation to offer forgiveness to one who hasn't asked for it, to one who doesn't seek it? Such advice, however understandable the idea is...

I met a fellow the other day who claimed (in jest) to be a member of a recovery group for those addicted to rededications. Apparently, he had suffered from years of rededicating his life to God. By the time he was eighteen, he had rededicated his life ten times. The emotional support and strength...

The early sixteenth century witnessed a reformation regarding the role of Jesus' righteousness in redemption. But moments such as these--moments of clarity--rarely last that long. Within a generation, the righteousness of Christ was forced once again to share the stage with human effort. Such...

The concept of "covenant" is rightly deemed in our circles to be a central interpretive principle of Scripture and Israel's history. It also envelopes the believer's entire earthly pilgrimage (see Deut. 6:4-9). Nevertheless, the idea remains confusing for many. Simply put, with respect to...

The Memorial Stones v. 9. "Joshua set up twelve stones in the midst of the Jordan, in the place where the feet of the priests bearing the ark of he covenant had stood, and they are there to this day." Commemoration is an interesting exercise. If you travel around the ancient world, you will come...

John the Baptist v. 11. "Among those born of woman there has arisen no one greater than John the Baptist." Working for someone else is never easy. Playing second-fiddle to the great man up front can be a very frustrating experience. Holding down a job for a while, only to be replaced by someone of...

Our Help in in the Name of the Lord v. 7. "We have escaped like a bird from the snare of the fowlers; the snare is broken and we have escaped." The world is a dangerous place. Open a newspaper or turn on the television news, and you will soon find yourself immersed in some tragedy or other, which...

The Year of the Lord's Favor v. 2 "To proclaim the year of the Lord's favor and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn" The opening words of this chapter are familiar to us because this was the text that Jesus chose to preach on when he went back to minister in the synagogue at...