PASTOR'S PEN

And Judah was the father of Perez and Zerah by Tamar. Matthew 1:3 Have you ever wondered why certain stories are included in the Bible? When you read the story of Judah and Tamar (Genesis 38), you might question how this can be beneficial to God's plan of salvation for His elect. The tragic story of Tamar and Judah highlights that God does not base His redemptive plans on human virtue, which is fragile, but on the solid foundation of sovereign grace. In Genesis 38, we see sin

Then they will deliver you to tribulation, and will kill you, and you will be hated by all nations because of My name. Matthew 24:9 There has never been a more pronounced divide (outside of the Civil War) in our country between good and evil. There is one party that demands that women have the right to murder their babies in the womb up to birth. That same party promotes the physical and chemical mutilation of children. They refer to this as “gender affirming care.” In our go

And He said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men. Matthew 4:19 Have you ever wondered why Jesus called Peter, Andrew, James, and John fishers of men? It could be because Peter, Andrew, James, and John were professional fishermen. It could be a metaphor. Just as fishermen catch fish, the disciples would now “catch” people—bringing them into the Kingdom of God through preaching, teaching, and making disciples (Matthew 28:19–20). I believe all three explanatio

A yoke is a wooden crosspiece fastened over the necks of two animals and attached to a plow or cart. A yoke allows two animals to share a load and pull together. Yokes were used in Bible times primarily with bulls or oxen to plow fields and pull wagons. The animals yoked together needed to be close in size and weight for the cart or plow to pull evenly. In the Old Testament, the word "yoke" is often used metaphorically to represent a burden, obligation, or slavery. Jesus has

Therefore when you see the abomination of desolation which was spoken of through Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand), 16 then those who are in Judea must flee to the mountains . Matthew 24:15-16 Jesus, in the Olivet Discourse, warned of a future event that Daniel had also prophesied. The prophet wrote his book around 540 B.C., over 500 years before Christ. Jesus' warning refers to the moment when the last half of the tribulation period w

Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness. ’ Matthew 7:21-23 This passage of scripture is one of the most sobering in all of the Bible.

But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Mathew 6:33 Do you worry? Are you content with your life or are you always seeking things to make you happy? Jesus said, “ Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’  For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and you heavenly Father knows that you need them all .”  Kenneth S. Wuest wrote, “We commit sin when

Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. 16 You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17 So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. 18 A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Thus you will recognize them