We've all been in hopeless situations. Maybe you've gotten lost, or lost a child. Or you've been told you, or someone you love, has a terrible disease. Sometimes bad decisions leave us thinking we have lost our way. We can feel unwanted, uncertain, or washed-up. We try to make things work, but nothing we do fixes the problem. What we most need in t…

We've all been in hopeless situations. Maybe you've gotten lost, or lost a child. Or you've been told you, or someone you love, has a terrible disease. Sometimes bad decisions leave us thinking we have lost our way. We can feel unwanted, uncertain, or washed-up. We try to make things work, but nothing we do fixes the problem. What we most need in t…

The doctrine of creation is a watershed truth. Rain that falls even slightly to one side of a divide will be channeled away from rain that falls on the other side. So belief in either creation or non-creation will lead to entirely different worldviews. If God created the world then it belongs to him. It was made according to a thoughtful design wit…

Like everyone else, your history is complicated. Darkness is mixed in with brightness. You have made poor decisions that caused many tears. Some things have been done to you that changed the course of your life. Some memories are unpleasant. But they are part of you. You can't know yourself without them.-This principle also applies to humanity at l…

The Bible's story moves briskly from the heights of the glory of creation to the depths of the despair of sin and corruption. When Adam exercised his free will contrary to God's will, his descendants fell -into perdition and ruin.--But even at this low point in mankind's brief history God was at work. He had eternally and unchangeably committed to …

The Bible's story moves briskly from the heights of the glory of creation to the depths of the despair of sin and corruption. When Adam exercised his free will contrary to God's will, his descendants fell "into perdition and ruin."But even at this low point in mankind's brief history God was at work. He had eternally and unchangeably committed to s…

Our modern age is confused about sin. We want to both affirm the inherent goodness of people and vilify our opponents. We want to believe that our race is climbing an evolutionary moral ladder. But human evil challenges that theory. The terrible atrocities of others shock and anger us. But even we do things that we hate -Rom. 7-15-. How can people …

The baptism of an infant gives us an opportunity to reflect with thankfulness on God's covenant promise. He is the God of believers and their children.-Covenantal baptisms should also encourage us to thank God for little children. They are, in literal fact, evidence of God's covenant promises.-Sadly, the beauty of children is no longer a given. We …

Our modern age is confused about sin. We want to both affirm the inherent goodness of people and vilify our opponents. We want to believe that our race is climbing an evolutionary moral ladder. But human evil challenges that theory. The terrible atrocities of others shock and anger us. But even we do things that we hate (Rom. 7:15). How can people …

The baptism of an infant gives us an opportunity to reflect with thankfulness on God's covenant promise. He is the God of believers and their children.Covenantal baptisms should also encourage us to thank God for little children. They are, in literal fact, evidence of God's covenant promises.Sadly, the beauty of children is no longer a given. We ar…

One of Scripture's central teachings is a truth about God that many people seem to appreciate least- He is a God of judgment. To be cynical about God's judgment won't change the fact that judgment belongs to God -Ezek. 21-27-. Instead of despising God's judgments we should ensure that through humble faith we are on the Lord's side. Because although…

Grace doesn't always look the way we want it to. Often we want grace to be a free pass. We want to be ourselves and living as we please and face no consequences. We confuse grace for God's unconditional approval of our choices. But that isn't how grace works. Grace is, in fact, the opposite of unconditional approval. Grace is the gift of change. It…

I was recently asked an important question- How can church members fulfill their dual responsibility to -a- submit to their overseers and -b- be Bereans, testing what is taught against the Scripture-- How can we test what we are taught while respecting those who teach and govern us-- These two principles are hard for us to harmonize in real experie…

The Belgic Confession says that the doctrine of providence -affords us unspeakable consolation.- To gain this consolation let's understand and then apply what Scripture says about God's leading and governing according to his holy will everything that happens in this world.

I was recently asked an important question: How can church members fulfill their dual responsibility to (a) submit to their overseers and (b) be Bereans, testing what is taught against the Scripture? How can we test what we are taught while respecting those who teach and govern us? These two principles are hard for us to harmonize in real experienc…

Grace doesn't always look the way we want it to. Often we want grace to be a free pass. We want to be ourselves and living as we please and face no consequences. We confuse grace for God's unconditional approval of our choices. But that isn't how grace works. Grace is, in fact, the opposite of unconditional approval. Grace is the gift of change. It…

Like everyone else, your history is complicated. Darkness is mixed in with brightness. You have made poor decisions that caused many tears. Some things have been done to you that changed the course of your life. Some memories are unpleasant. But they are part of you. You can't know yourself without them.This principle also applies to humanity at la…

One of Scripture's central teachings is a truth about God that many people seem to appreciate least: He is a God of judgment. To be cynical about God's judgment won't change the fact that judgment belongs to God (Ezek. 21:27). Instead of despising God's judgments we should ensure that through humble faith we are on the Lord's side. Because although…

The Belgic Confession says that the doctrine of providence "affords us unspeakable consolation." To gain this consolation let's understand and then apply what Scripture says about God's leading and governing according to his holy will everything that happens in this world.By William Boekestein

The prophecy of Ezekiel is set in the context Judah's exile in Babylon roughly 600 years before the incarnation of Christ. God's chosen people had squandered their privilege and rejected his Lordship over them. As a loyal Father God had disciplined them by appointing king Nebuchadnezzar to invade their land and deport them to Babylon, far from home…

As we enter what has been designated -pride month- it is good to see how God understands pride and what God's children can do in response to the troublesome actions of the proud.-Psalm 94 denounces the proud. It doesn't name gay pride. But every diverse form of pride is related. And whatever its manifestation -The Lord detests all the proud of hear…

On Mother's Day our culture tends to honor mothers. Good women are told that they are appreciated. But something different often happens on Father's Day. Instead of thanking God for them we are more likely to scold fathers for their failures. One popular satire website reported congress -renaming the holiday 'Toxic Masculinity Awareness Day' and re…

You are sometimes lonely and scared. You have felt frustrated, making the same mistake over and over-- You have been stuck at a crossroads, unsure what to do next. Your prayer life is probably weak and uninspiring, at least sometimes. More critically, you know that you aren't half as good as you make people think. So you might wonder how you can li…

The doctrine of creation is a watershed truth. Rain that falls even slightly to one side of a divide will be channeled away from rain that falls on the other side. So belief in either creation or non-creation will lead to entirely different worldviews. If God created the world then it belongs to him. It was made according to a thoughtful design wit…

The prophecy of Ezekiel is set in the context Judah's exile in Babylon roughly 600 years before the incarnation of Christ. God's chosen people had squandered their privilege and rejected his Lordship over them. As a loyal Father God had disciplined them by appointing king Nebuchadnezzar to invade their land and deport them to Babylon, far from home…

You are sometimes lonely and scared. You have felt frustrated, making the same mistake over and over? You have been stuck at a crossroads, unsure what to do next. Your prayer life is probably weak and uninspiring, at least sometimes. More critically, you know that you aren't half as good as you make people think. So you might wonder how you can liv…

On Mother's Day our culture tends to honor mothers. Good women are told that they are appreciated. But something different often happens on Father's Day. Instead of thanking God for them we are more likely to scold fathers for their failures. One popular satire website reported congress "renaming the holiday 'Toxic Masculinity Awareness Day' and re…

Jesus once asked a question of his apostles that we too must answer- -Who do you say that I am--- -Matt. 16-15-. Is he a great prophet-- Is he the highest of all creatures who became divine through a life of loving sacrifice-- Or is he the only-begotten Son of God who is co-eternal and co-essential with the Father-- A true understanding of him is n…

As we enter what has been designated "pride month" it is good to see how God understands pride and what God's children can do in response to the troublesome actions of the proud.Psalm 94 denounces the proud. It doesn't name gay pride. But every diverse form of pride is related. And whatever its manifestation "The Lord detests all the proud of heart…