"And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all. See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone. Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give...
When I was a young boy in the Netherlands in the early 1940s, twice every Sunday, we went to a church in the Reformed tradition. On occasion, there would be some German soldiers in attendance. The occupying forces were mostly older men who were stationed in the...
"I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one-as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent me." John 17:21 NLT For the church to be the church, it must move into uncomfortable territory.I've...
Unity. It must have been a subject very near to Jesus’ heart, for it was the primary focus of His great pastoral prayer, the prayer He gave just before going to the cross, as recorded in John 17.Today’s devotional will be a bit different. As an introduction to this...
Last week we started a new series about unity. Thank you for praying last week about unity among Christians.Do we have unity in the church?I’d like to think we do, but I’m afraid I am being too idealistic.Take, for example, the argument over which Bible translation...
"My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you." (John 15:12-13 NIV)Moss is quite prominent in Iceland. Although small, each tiny plant intertwines with its neighbours, providing incredible support as they work together to form a hummock. It hungers after...
I was standing in front of my oven looking out my kitchen window on a cold, frozen, and barren Winter’s day. The latest snowstorm in a long line of snowstorms had covered everything the day before and no thaw was in sight. I huddled close to the oven while our dinner...