Introducing Jesus (Matthew 1:1)

By | December 11, 2025
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One of the many wonders of a newborn child is wondering who he will be. What is his personality? Will he be more like his father or his mother? What will he look like? What will be his vocation? Who will he marry? How many kids will he have? Who will he grow up to be?

Matthew doesn’t leave us wondering about who the infant Jesus will be. We don’t begin with Him as a baby, catching hints and clues along the way. Matthew begins with a full-fledged genealogy in the first seventeen verses (Matthew 1:1–17) to establish Jesus for who He was when Matthew wrote his book and who He is right now—the Messiah, the Davidic King, and the One who brings God’s wonderful promises to the world. In fact, even before getting into the genealogy, Matthew introduces Jesus this way in his very first verse (Matthew 1:1).

First, we see that Jesus is the Messiah.

This title comes from the Hebrew and is equivalent to the Greek Christ, both meaning “the Anointed One.” Exploring this title’s meaning, we remember that Matthew wrote primarily for a Jewish audience and often quoted the prophet Isaiah.

  • Perhaps his readers recalled that the Messiah was to be “anointed” with the Spirit of God (Isaiah 61:1), “anointed” being a Hebrew verb that sounds like the title Messiah.
  • Perhaps they could have recalled also from Isaiah that this Messiah would be the all-knowing, all-powerful King to rule the world (Isaiah 2, 9, 11, 42, 49, 61, 65–66).
  • Perhaps they recalled Isaiah’s words of the Messiah’s suffering—an obedient Servant who was pierced, crushed, scourged, and chastened for sins not His own, a guilt offering for us all (Isaiah 52–53).
  • Perhaps some readers were keen enough to notice that, in spite of His sufferings, He would see His people for eternity (Isaiah 53:10). This prophecy meant that He would be raised from the dead!
  • As Matthew goes on to record the life of Jesus, we know with certainty that He came and lived obediently, died sinlessly, arose victoriously, and now sits gloriously in heaven above. Our Great Commission is to tell others about Him, teach them to be like Him, and look for His return one day (Matthew 28:18–20).

Second, we see that Jesus is the Son of David.

Matthew also identifies Jesus as the Son of David. In fact, Matthew recorded how Jesus Himself brought special attention to this title in order to help others understand it correctly (Matthew 22:41–46). Even though Jesus was a descendant of David, David called this Son “Lord” and prophesied that He would sit at the Father’s right hand in heaven (Psalm 110:1). The point is that Jesus is the Son of God and God the Son, infinitely greater than David.

This title also means that God promised David an eternal dynasty (2 Samuel 7:8–16)—not merely by a never-ending succession of kings, but through the eternal King Jesus who was successful over death, arose, and will come again to rule in perfection. Speaking of Himself as “the Son of Man,” Jesus told us that He would return to rule Israel and all the world: “in His glory… He will sit on His glorious throne” when “all the nations will be gathered before Him” (Matthew 25:31–32; cf. Psalm 2). May it be that we all gladly bow the knee to King Jesus when He comes again!

Third, we see that Jesus is the Son of Abraham.

As with David, we see that a son in the Bible can be descendant of someone many generations later. Jesus was Son to Abraham in this way.

Abraham looms large in Israel’s history. It was Abraham who received God’s promises of blessing, a people (Israel), and land (Genesis 12:1–7). Abraham is key to the history of the Jews.

In fact, he is key to the message of salvation for the world. God promised Abraham, “In you all the families of the earth will be blessed” (Genesis 12:3). And through Jesus, Abraham’s divine Descendant, “all the nations of the earth shall be blessed” (Genesis 22:18; Galatians 3:16) as each one places his or her faith in Him (Galatians 3:26).

Conclusion

Jesus is the Messiah. He died for our sins, He was raised from the dead, and He is coming again.

As David’s Son, He is Israel’s King, He sits on the Father’s throne, and He will return to claim the world for Himself.

As Abraham’s Son, salvation blessing is to us by faith in Him.

This is just a little bit about Jesus in order to introduce us to Him. But, as we believe, it is enough for our salvation and to have an eternal relationship with Him.

May God bless us this Christmas season as we know Jesus for who He really is—the Messiah, the Son of David, the Son of Abraham, and the One from Whom all blessings flow!

—

Photo by Jon Carlson on Unsplash

Evangelistic Prayer

By | December 4, 2025
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Along with a friend in my church, I am teaching a ladies’ class on prayer on Wednesday nights. The general theme is “What to Pray for as We Ought.” So we’ve been looking at the patterns of prayer in both the Old and New Testaments.

The verse that was the foundation for this study is not a prayer per se, but rather Paul’s statement for what he desires and prays:

Brothers, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for them [Israel] is that they may be saved.” (Romans 10:1, ESV)

I then looked for examples of prayer for the salvation of others.

Old Testament Examples

Moses for Israel:

“Please pardon the iniquity of this people, according to the greatness of your steadfast love, just as you have forgiven this people, from Egypt until now.” (Numbers 14:19 ESV)

Samuel for Israel:

“Moreover, as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord by ceasing to pray for you. . . . Only fear the Lord and serve him faithfully with all your heart.” (1 Samuel 12:23-24 ESV)

Daniel for Israel:

“Listen to the prayer of your servant and to his pleas for mercy . . . . Hear; O Lord, forgive. O Lord, pay attention and act. Delay not, for your own sake, O my God.” (Daniel 9:17,19 ESV)

New Testament Examples

Jesus:

“Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” (Luke 23:34 ESV)

Stephen:

“Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” (Acts 7:60 ESV)

Paul, speaking prayerfully:

“King Agrippa. . . . I would to God that not only you but also all who hear me this day might become such as I am.” (Acts 26:28-29 ESV)

With these examples in mind, we then moved on to examine Paul’s instruction on praying evangelistically in 1 Timothy 2:1-8. Paul had left Timothy in Ephesus to deal with major problems in the church, and the first thing he addressed was evangelistic prayer for the salvation of all:

“First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time. For this I was appointed a preacher and an apostle (I am telling the truth, I am not lying), a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth. I desire then that in every place the men should pray, lifting holy hands without anger or quarreling.” (ESV)

The Words Paul Uses

Supplication: There is a need and a plea to meet the need to the One who can meet it

Prayer: a term only used with God as the one addressed. We go to God in prayer. He is glorified in our worship to him in prayer for the lost.

Intercession: to plead on behalf of another; related Greek words imply a coming together, joining with another to advocate for them

Thanksgiving: we give thanks to God for his grace in salvation and for however he answers our prayers

The Extent of Our Prayers for the Lost

This prayer for salvation is a prayer for all people, not just the Jews or Gentiles. Paul narrows in and includes within this prayer for salvation for “all” kings and all in high positions probably because there was the tendency not to pray for their salvation. The emperor at the time of Paul’s writing was the wicked Nero.

The Side Benefits for Believers in Praying for the Lost

When people are saved, specifically our government leaders, their salvation increases a Christian’s ability to lead a peaceful, quiet, godly, and dignified life.

Assumed then is the fact that Christians should thus be viewed as peaceful, quiet, godly, dignified people who pray for the unbelieving, including our government leaders. If persecution comes, it should come solely from our gospel message, not from our being ungodly, unpeaceful, or undignified.

The Reasons to Pray for the Lost1

  1. “This” (praying for the lost) is good.
  2. It is pleasing to God our Savior. Praying for the salvation of the lost pleases God because this is who he is. He IS the Savior. We pray to ask God to do what he does, consistent with who he is and what he has already done for us.

“But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.” (Titus 3:4-7 ESV)

  1. It mirrors the desire of God: that all men be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth.

 “Say to them, As I live, declares the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live; turn back, turn back from your evil ways, for why will you die, O house of Israel?” (Ezekiel 33:11 ESV)

  1. It reflects the very nature of who God is–there is one God.

 “Or is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles also? Yes, of Gentiles also, since God is one—who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith.” (Romans 3:29-30 ESV)

  1. It reflects the nature of who Jesus Christ is–one mediator between God and man.

 “This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone. And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:11-12 ESV)

  1. It reflects the nature of what Jesus came to do––Jesus Christ, who gave himself as a ransom for all.

“I lay down my life that I may take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord.” (John 10:17-18 ESV)

  1. It reflects Paul’s mission: For this–the salvation of all–he was appointed a preacher, an apostle, a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.

The Attitude of Praying for the Lost

Paul begins verse 8 with therefore. For all of these reasons listed above, Paul commanded that men should pray with holiness and without wrath or dissension. Paul directs his command to the men who were to lead in public prayer. (Some women in the church were usurping male leadership, as Paul later addresses.) What Paul emphasized was the purity of the heart and the outworking of that pure heart in the actions of one’s hands.

Takeaways

God commands that we pray for the salvation of all people, regardless of their age, gender, nationality, social class, political party, personal likeability, etc. We will be better motivated to do so when we understand why we should do so: God is the One God and Savior who desires that all be saved. Jesus is the One who mediates between man and God and gave himself as a ransom for all. We should have pure, holy hearts that desire the same thing as God, that all would be saved.

In his book, The Soul-Winner, Charles Spurgeon eloquently appealed to believers the same:

“The soul winner must be a master of the art of prayer. You cannot bring souls to God if you do not go to God yourself. You must get your battle ax and your weapons of war from the armory of sacred communication with Christ. If you are much alone with Jesus, you will catch His Spirit. You will be fired with the flame that burned in His breast and consumed His life. You will weep with the tears that fell upon Jerusalem when He saw it perishing. And if you cannot speak so eloquently as He did, yet shall there be about what you say somewhat of the same power which in Him thrilled the hearts and awoke the consciences of men. My dear hearers, especially you members of the church, I am always so anxious lest any of you should begin to lie upon your oars and take things easy in the matters of God’s kingdom. There are some of you, I bless you and I bless God at the remembrance of you, who are in season and out of season in earnest for winning souls, and you are the truly wise. But I fear there are others whose hands are slack, who are satisfied to let me preach but do not themselves preach, who take these seats and occupy these pews and hope the cause goes well, but that is all they do.”2

May we not be slack in our prayers, but may our desires match our Savior’s and may we fervently pray for the salvation of all. For this is good and pleasing to Him.

____________________________

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  1. John MacArthur’s sermons on this passage were very helpful in my entire study, but especially this section of my lesson: https://www.gty.org/sermons/54-13/evangelistic-praying-part-3 [↩]
  2. Spurgeon, Charles. The Soul- Winner. Fleming H. Revell Company: Chicago, 1895, 245. [↩]

Three Thanksgivings in Heaven

By | November 19, 2025
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While we celebrate Thanksgiving on earth below, what’s going on in heaven?

We could answer this question in part by examining the three instances of the word “thanks” in the book of Revelation (Rev 4:9; 7:12; 11:17). This brief study can be one of the many ways whereby we are blessed to read and heed “the revelation of Jesus Christ” (Rev 1:1–3; 22:7).

To get a sense of the book of Revelation as a whole, we remember that Christ had John “write the things which you have seen, and the things which are” (Rev 1:19a), a message from Jesus Christ for the seven churches then (Rev 1–3). He also wrote prophecy, the bulk of this book, about “the things which will take place” (Rev 1:19b), the future judgment of the world (Rev 4–19), kingdom of Christ (Rev 20), and new creation (Rev 21–22). It is a record of John’s four visions, each introduced by the phrase “in the Spirit” (Rev 1:10; 4:2; 17:3; 21:10). Like any part of Scripture, Revelation is timeless truth for us today, how to give thanks included.

So, as we consider the three instances of the word “thanks” in Revelation, we could better ask, What will go on in heaven? These thanks are in the future. Nonetheless, this study is meant to encourage us to give thanks to God in the present, whether now or at any time of the year.

First, we give thanks to God for His creation (Rev 4:9). 

At the outset of his second vision, John saw the preliminaries to judgment in the heavenly throne room (Rev 4–5). He saw the Throne, the twenty-four elders, the Spirit, and the four living creatures (Rev 4:1–6). The four creatures are described for their appearance and words (Rev 4:7–8), and these words include the four creatures giving “thanks” to God (Rev 4:9).

But here’s a question—if the words in Rev 4:8 ascribe holiness to God and acknowledge His eternality, how can these words be later described as giving thanks?

Perhaps a clue lies in the response of the twenty-four elders in Rev 4:11. They likewise ascribe “glory and honor” to God, but “thanks” gives way to “power” and its expression in God’s creation. This being the case, perhaps the “thanks” was for God’s creation and all its gifts therein.

We, too, can certainly thank God for His wonderful creation, our existence included! In the context of Revelation, we can thank God that He will reclaim this world, rid it of evil, and renew it to perfection. 

Second, we give thanks to God for His salvation (Rev 7:12).

After six of seven seals are broken (Rev 6), John saw an “interlude” in which four angels halted the world’s judgment in order to allow for the salvation of 144,000 Jews (Rev 7:1–8; cf. 14:1–5). Then he saw a great, global multitude of the redeemed loudly ascribe, “Salvation to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb” (Rev 7:9–10).

In response, all the angels prostrated themselves to give a doxology of seven items to God, “thanksgiving” being in the middle (Rev 7:11–12), our second instance of thanksgiving.

As the multitude acknowledged God’s salvation, and as the angels worshiped God for the same (cf. Luke 15:7, 10; 1 Pet 1:10–12), so also we can do both. Thanks be to God for our wonderful salvation!

Third, we give thanks to God for His subjugation (Rev 11:17).

In the middle of Revelation’s seven future years of judgment (cf. Rev 11:2–3), John heard “loud voices in heaven,” perhaps all the voices in heaven at this time (Rev 11:15). Anticipating how further judgment would lead to the inauguration of the kingdom of Christ, these voices announced, “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ; and He will reign forever and ever” (Rev 11:15).

In response, the twenty-four elders “worshiped God, saying, ‘We give You thanks, O Lord God, the Almighty, who are and who were, because You have taken Your great power and have begun to reign’” (Rev 11:16–17). This third instance of thanksgiving is clearly to God for His subjugation of the world, which includes His reward to the saints (Rev 11:18).

We, too, can give thanks to God for His future subjugation of the world. Retribution will come to His enemies, and reward will come to us as saints. Thy kingdom come, we pray, and we thank God that it is coming!

Conclusion

We certainly give thanks for all of our earthly blessings and all things that we have in Christ, creation and salvation. As we look to the future, we can join the heavenly chorus to thank God for His coming subjugation of the world. Thanks be to God for all that He has made, all that we have in Christ, and all the glory that will be!

—

David Huffstutler is the senior pastor of First Baptist Church in Troy, MI. He blogs here, where this article also appeared. It is published here by permission.

Photo by Jovan Vasiljević on Unsplash

10 Ways to Pray for Your Pastor

By | November 4, 2025
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I was asked recently to give a list of 10 ways folks could pray for their pastor, which meant to me, “How can I pray for you?” I’ve tried to give this some careful thought, and the list below is the result. I’m sure a million requests could be added, but here are at least 10 ways that you can pray for your pastor.

  1. Pray that your pastor would find daily delight in his relationship with God (Psalm 42:1; Matthew 5:6; 22:37; John 6:35).
  2. Pray that your pastor would diligently seek to grow in the grace and knowledge of Christ, resulting in a godly life that is a ministry to God in heaven (Psalm 101:6; 1 Timothy 4:8; 2 Peter 3:18) and an example to people on earth (1 Peter 5:3b).
  3. Pray that your pastor would sacrificially love his wife and raise his children in the discipline and instruction of the Lord (1 Timothy 3:4–5; Ephesians 5:25–30; 6:4).
  4. Pray that your pastor would zealously and sacrificially love the lost and serve the church that God purchased with His own blood (Acts 20:28; Matt 22:39; 1 Timothy 3:1; 2 Timothy 4:5).
  5. Pray that your pastor would not see the joy of earthly ministry as an end in itself but as the firstfruits of a future joy together forever with Christ (Philippians 1:21–26; 1 Thessalonians 4:17).
  6. Pray that your pastor would live out the power of God to endure the seen and unseen suffering that God will use for good (2 Corinthians 12:9–10; 2 Timothy 1:8; 2:3; James 1:2–4).
  7. Pray that your pastor would prioritize prayer and the study of the Word, knowing that his perseverance in these things will ensure the salvation of himself and those who hear him (Acts 6:4; 1 Timothy 4:15–16).
  8. Pray that your pastor would preach the Word boldly and clearly, whatever the occasion may be and however it may be received (Colossians 4:2–4; 2 Timothy 4:1–4).
  9. Pray that your pastor would disciple others as he is able and especially faithful men who will be able to teach others also (2 Timothy 2:2).
  10. Pray that your pastor would prosper in all respects and be in good health, just as his soul prospers (3 John 2).

—

Image by Ri Butov from Pixabay

Praying for Help when You are Helpless, Part 2: The Example of Jehoshaphat

By | October 31, 2025
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Last time, we looked at enslaved Israel in Egypt, their cry to God for deliverance, and God’s hearing, seeing, and knowing their troubles. He responded with care because he remembered his promises to them, and he delivered them.

Hundreds of years later, we see Judah, the more faithful of the divided nation of Israel, once again in need of deliverance. This time, though, we have a recorded prayer to look at offered by the nation’s king, Jehoshaphat.

2 Chronicles 20 tells the story of how the Moabites, Ammonites, and Meunites came up against Jehoshaphat for battle. When Jehoshaphat was told that a “great multitude” was at Engedi (only about 25 miles from Jerusalem) he was afraid. What did Jehoshaphat do in his fear? He prayed.

Then Jehoshaphat was afraid and set his face to seek the Lord, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah. And Judah assembled to seek help from the Lord; from all the cities of Judah they came to seek the Lord. (2 Chronicles 20:3-4)

We are going to examine his prayer, which sets an example for how we can pray when we are in a helpless situation.

He recognized God’s character.

O Lord, God of our fathers, are you not God in heaven? You rule over all the kingdoms of the nations. In your hand are power and might, so that none is able to withstand you. (2 Chronicles 20:6)

God is sovereign, and he is powerful. He rules over every kingdom; none can oppose him.

He remembered God’s past actions on Israel’s behalf.

Did you not, our God, drive out the inhabitants of this land before your people Israel, and give it forever to the descendants of Abraham your friend? And they have lived in it and have built for you in it a sanctuary for your name, saying, “If disaster comes upon us, the sword, judgment, or pestilence, or famine, we will stand before this house and before you—for your name is in this house—and cry out to you in our affliction, and you will hear and save.” (2 Chronicles 20:7-9)

Jehoshaphat remembered God’s driving out the Canaanites from Israel’s promised land. Perhaps also in Jehoshaphat’s mind was the story of Israel, enslaved in Egypt, when they earlier “cried to the Lord, the God of our fathers, and the Lord heard our voice and saw our affliction. . . and the Lord brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand” (Deuteronomy 26:7-8). God had saved them in similar situations multiple times in the past.

He recognized the reality of his present situation.

And now behold, the men of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir, whom you would not let Israel invade when they came from the land of Egypt, and whom they avoided and did not destroy— behold, they reward us by coming to drive us out of your possession, which you have given us to inherit. O our God, will you not execute judgment on them? For we are powerless against this great horde that is coming against us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.” (2 Chronicles 20:10-12)

Jehoshaphat didn’t sugarcoat his situation to make it seem not quite so bad. He told God: Behold! This is how bad it is! We obeyed you by not destroying them, and–behold!—this is how they reward us, by driving us out from the possession you’ve given us. We are powerless, and we don’t know what to do!

He requested help from God.

O our God, will you not execute judgment on them? For we are powerless against this great horde that is coming against us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.

Jehoshaphat asked God to execute judgment against them. He knew he couldn’t do it, but his eyes were on the God whom he knew could do whatever it was that God knew to do.

God’s Response

While Jehoshaphat prayed all of Judah stood before the LORD, with their wives, babies, and children. Then the Spirit of the LORD came upon Jahaziel, a Levite, who spoke God’s answer to their prayer:

“Listen, all Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem and King Jehoshaphat: Thus says the Lord to you, ‘Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed at this great horde, for the battle is not yours but God’s. Tomorrow go down against them. Behold, they will come up by the ascent of Ziz. You will find them at the end of the valley, east of the wilderness of Jeruel. You will not need to fight in this battle. Stand firm, hold your position, and see the salvation of the Lord on your behalf, O Judah and Jerusalem.’ Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed. Tomorrow go out against them, and the Lord will be with you.” (2 Chronicles 20:15-17)

In response, Jehoshaphat and all Judah bowed down before the LORD and worshiped him. The next morning, Jehoshaphat encouraged his men to believe in the LORD, promising them success if they did. While some walked before the army singing praises to God, the LORD set an ambush against their enemies.

For the men of Ammon and Moab rose against the inhabitants of Mount Seir, devoting them to destruction, and when they had made an end of the inhabitants of Seir, they all helped to destroy one another. When Judah came to the watchtower of the wilderness, they looked toward the horde, and behold, there were dead bodies lying on the ground; none had escaped. (2 Chronicles 20:23-24)

In the midst of a completely helpless situation, Jehoshaphat led his people to trust God and wait for him to work. God delivered him in keeping with his promises to deliver Israel from its enemies when they called on him for help.

What about us? Does God Hear, See, and Answer My Prayers Too?

We’ve seen examples of God answering Israel’s general cries for deliverance from Egypt, as well as a specific prayer by Jehoshaphat for help. But how can we know God will hear and answer our prayers today?

God knows what we need and will answer our prayers to meet our needs.

But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. . . . Your Father knows what you need before you ask him. (Matthew 6:6, 8)

All 3 Members of the Trinity Help Us.

God helps us:

So we can confidently say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?” (Hebrews 13:6)

Jesus helps us as he sympathizes and intercedes before God for us:

Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. (Hebrews 4:14-16)

The Spirit helps us when we don’t know what to pray for as we ought:

Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. (Romans 8:26-27)

How Can We Follow These OT Examples of Prayer?

  • Verbalize God’s character in your prayer.
  • Remember and verbalize God’s actions and promises he has kept, both in the Bible and in your own life.
  • Recognize and verbalize your own helplessness.
  • Appeal to God for help and keep your eyes on him.
  • Remember that God is your Helper, Jesus is your sympathetic Intercessor, and the Spirit helps you when you don’t know what to pray for as you should.

 _____________________________

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Italian Beef Sandwiches: It’s What’s for Dinner!

By | October 20, 2025
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I recently had a friend mention that I only had 4 recipe posts on the blog, so, Tom, this one’s for you! 🙂

We have been having more people over for Sunday lunch after the morning service, so I’ve been working at expanding my Sunday lunch repertoire. Normally, if it’s just us, we keep it simple–cheese, meat, crackers, veggies. But when we have guests, we try to have something a bit more filling that will also be ready shortly after our return home from church. Yesterday’s lunch fit the bill, and it was really good!

I made crockpot Italian beef. I prepped all the spices, onion, etc. the night before, so on Sunday morning all I had to do was cut the meat in chunks and throw it and the rest of the ingredients in the crockpot. I bought sliced banana peppers instead of whole pepperoncini. I used half the jar in the crockpot, and I served the rest for topping the sandwiches. It was perfectly tender when I got home after cooking on high for about 5 hours.

I decided to make Italian roasted peppers as well as marinated red onions the night before. These were absolutely delicious additions to the sandwiches! Definitely worth the little bit of extra effort. I had sliced provolone and mozzarella cheese available for the sandwiches. We used petite hoagie rolls from Sam’s Club. I offered for people to microwave their sandwich to melt the cheese, but no one did. The next day, I put my sandwich under the broiler to melt the cheese, and it was very good–melted cheese and toasty bun!

For the sides, I had a garden salad (with carrot sticks available instead for the little kids). I also made instant pot mac and cheese. This was a great filler, and the kids especially were a fan. Plus, it was quick and easy to make while I shredded the beef. I had the spices and cheese all ready to throw in when I got home. No mac and cheese is as good as my mom’s baked mac and cheese (recipe to come later!), but this was a good quick, non-box version.

Let me know if you try this meal! I will definitely be making it again.

Enjoy!

Analogous to Agrippa: President Trump’s Recent Comments on Heaven

By | October 16, 2025
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Probably with some sarcasm, King Agrippa once told Paul, “In a short time you persuade me to become a Christian” (Acts 26:28). Perhaps a question mark should be at the end of that verse, and maybe he had a wry smile of disbelief. Agrippa politely declined Christianity before Paul and the rest of the court.

Agrippa’s apathy to the gospel was not uninformed. Paul evaluated Agrippa as “an expert in all customs and questions among the Jews” (Acts 26:3). He heard Paul’s message of turning “from darkness to light and from the dominion of Satan to God” (Acts 26:18). He heard about how one could “receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who have been sanctified by faith in” Christ (Acts 26:18). He knew that he “should repent and turn to God, performing deeds appropriate to repentance” (Acts 26:20). He heard about the suffering and resurrection of Christ (Acts 26:23). He even heard Paul double-down when challenged about the matter: “I utter words of sober truth” (Acts 26:25).

And yet, the reply—a sarcastic dismissal of our Lord, one that would only lead to the lake of fire.

As Solomon would say, there is nothing new under the sun.

A couple of months ago, in a phone call with “Fox & Friends” on August 19, President Trump stated, “If I can save 7,000 people a week from being killed, I think that’s a pretty—I want to try to get to heaven if possible. I hear I’m not doing well. I am really at the bottom of the totem pole. But if I can get to heaven, this will be one of the reasons.”

In light of his recent success in bringing about a peace deal between Israel and Hamas, he was asked about these comments by the press on Air Force One on Sunday, October 12. He replied, “I mean, you know, I’m being… a little cute. I don’t think there’s anything that’s gonna get me in heaven. I really don’t. I think I’m not, maybe, heaven-bound…. I may be in heaven right now as we fly in Air Force One. I’m not sure I’m gonna be able to make heaven. But I’ve made life better for a lot of people.”

President Trump’s analysis of his potential for heaven is disheartening. As Christians, we know that salvation is all of grace, not by works, and to the glory of God. Salvation comes by faith in Christ as revealed to us in Scripture. Our works, as good and appreciated as they may be by other men, even on a global scale, are not what get us into heaven.

What is also disheartening is his self-reflection on the matter. When asked about his comments in August, he acknowledged that he was being “cute.” Implied, then, is that his next comments were serious—that he was not heaven-bound but knew that he had made life better for a lot of people. Like Agrippa, he was presented with an eternal moment, gave it a chuckle, and, if these words truly reflect what he believes, the gospel passed him by.

We are certainly grateful for a president who can make life better for a lot of people, whether here in America or across the sea. In fact, the Bible commands us to pray for our president and other leaders that they would do exactly that (1 Timothy 2:1–2). May God give our president success in bringing about peace.

But, for our president’s sake, if these words genuinely reveal his heart, I pray also that he will find peace with God and have a true hope for heaven by placing his faith in Jesus Christ. May God give him success in bringing about peace in the world. But may he also find peace with God by finding salvation in Him. Only then will heaven be his.

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Painting of Paul before Agrippa (1875; public domain)

By Nikolai Bodarevsky (1850–1921)

The Glorious Humility of Jesus (Philippians 2:5–8)

By | October 9, 2025
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How does one sing about the incarnation, crucifixion, and Trinitarian truths in just nine lines?

This question stems from Philippians 2:6–8, a passage many see as part of an ancient hymn. Some continue the hymn through Philippians 2:9–11. Seeing Paul’s usual grammar and logic in Philippians 2:9–11 (“For this reason… so that”), some stop short of hymnody to identify these lines as “exalted prose,” masterfully describing the humiliation and exaltation of the Lord Jesus Christ. Paul gives three primary verbs (did not regard, emptied, humbled) and attaches two verbal phrases to each (existed, to be; taking, being made; and being found, becoming). He upholds Christ as God in Philippians 2:6 and powerfully contrasts this divinity with His humanity and humiliation in Philippians 2:7–8.

Whether hymn or not, this passage reveals the Father’s thoughts about Christ, given by the Spirit through the pen of Paul, truth for us today. And, the passage is not so much meant to captivate us by its ornate structure or its Trinitarian implications as it is to function as a command with an illustration (though its structure and especially its theology are worth extra attention in themselves). In context, Paul reinforces his earlier command for the church to be of the same mind in Philippians 2:2–4.

  • The command in Philippians 2:5 is to have a mind like Jesus.
  • The actions of Christ Jesus in Philippians 2:6–8 illustrate this mindset.

So, let’s consider the command and illustration that Philippians 2:5–8 provides through the four headings below.

Christ’s Humility in Us (2:5)

The command in Philippians in Philippians 2:5 literally reads something like, “This, think in you.”1 “This” refers back to the command in Philippians 2:2, to be of the same mind, of the same love, together thinking as one. Paul sees obedience to his “mind” commands in Philippians 2:2 and 2:5 as the fruit of a shared encouragement, love, fellowship, and affection and compassion for one another (Philippians 2:1). This command is not selfish or proud but expressed in humility (Philippians 2:3). It looks out not for one’s own things but the things of others (Philippians 2:4).

What is new in Philippians 2:5 is not so much the command itself as the illustration of this mindset that Paul gives in Christ Jesus. The way we are commanded to think in Philippians 2:1–4—Christ illustrates how to live this mindset out, as we see in Philippians 2:6–8.

Christ’s Humility in Heaven (2:6)

The Son “existed in the form of God,” meaning that Christ is essentially God. All things that God is, He is because He is God. Within this verse, a similar thought is that Christ has an inherent “equality with God.” This equality and existence as God is who the Son eternally is. And yet, His humility is that “He… did not regard” His “equality” with all of its privileges a thing to be “grasped” and selfishly held. Even in eternity past, He was willing to be sent by the Father to take on human flesh and die for us.

Christ’s Humility on Earth (2:7)

Christ “emptied Himself” of much in heaven to come to earth below. The blessings of heaven—His glory, His riches, His fellowship, the full exertion and manifestation of who He was as the Son of God (cf. John 17:5, 24; 2 Cor 8:9)—these He voluntarily chose not to fully enjoy and express. He submitted Himself to the Father’s will and ministered in the power of the Spirit (John 6:38; Acts 10:38–39).

He emptied Himself by “taking the form of a bond-servant” and “being made in the likeness of men.” He was fully man and yet unlike man in His sinlessness and divinity. And yet though God, He humbly emptied Himself by adding humanity to Himself to live as a man to die for us.

Christ’s Humility on the Cross (2:8)

Christ Jesus was “found in appearance as a man” who could be observed to walk and talk and breathe and sleep. Fully man, Jesus further “humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death,” and a gruesome death at that—“even death on a cross.” He gladly obeyed His Father’s will (Hebrews 10:7; cf. Psalm 40:8), learned obedience in His humanity (Hebrews 5:8–9), and died righteously for all (Romans 5:19).

The Glorious Humility of Jesus

As a reward for His perfect life and sinless death, Jesus received His reward. He returned to the glory and riches of heaven above and received the name Lord, to which every knee will bow (Philippians 2:9–11). Implied is that believers, too, as they humbly serve one another, will be exalted by God one day.

Summarizing our passage, we must have a mind like Jesus. He had a mind to humble Himself when He gladly chose to leave heaven above. As He did, He emptied Himself to become a slave, fully human, here on earth below. What is more, as a man, He humbled Himself to die for you and me, a death that only the worst of men would die, even death on a cross.

May we be forever grateful for that the Son of God came and died for us. And may we serve one another as He served us—with humility for the glory of God.

—

All Scriptural quotations are from the NASB95.

Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay

  1. “Have this attitude” in Philippians 2:5 translates from phroneō, the same word translated “being of.. mind” and “intent” in Philippians 2:2. “Humility of mind” in Philippians 2:3 is a similar “thinking word” (tapeinophrosunē), a combination of “to humble” (tapeinoō) and “mind” (phrēn). We must think as Christ thinks (phroneō), and “He humbled himself” (tapeinoō) for us (Philippians 2:5, 8). [↩]

Praying for Help when You are Helpless, Part 1: A God who Hears, Remembers, Sees, and Knows

By | September 25, 2025
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Israel’s Cry for Deliverance

After almost 400 years of slavery in Egypt, Israel is recorded to have groaned and cried out for help.

During those many days the king of Egypt died, and the people of Israel groaned because of their slavery and cried out for help. Their cry for rescue from slavery came up to God. (Exodus 2:23)

Although there is no specific mention here as to whether the people are crying out to God, elsewhere Israel claims that the Lord heard their cry to Him.

Then we cried to the Lord, the God of our fathers, and the Lord heard our voice and saw our affliction, our toil, and our oppression. (Deuteronomy 26:7; cf. Numbers 20:16)

God’s Response to Israel’s Cry for Deliverance

Israel’s cry for rescue “came up to God.” How did God respond?

And God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob. God saw the people of Israel—and God knew. (Ex 2:24-25)

Moses records 4 verbs that explain God’s response to Israel’s groaning, their cry for help.

God heard their groaning.

Israel’s prayers did not go ignored. And this narrative is not the first in which God is recorded to hear distress. After Isaac was born and weaned, Hagar and Ishmael were sent away by Abraham into the wilderness with bread and water. After their water was gone, Hagar put Ishmael under bushes far away from her so she wouldn’t watch him die. She wept, and it seems that Ishmael did too, for this is what God said:

And God heard the voice of the boy, and the angel of God called to Hagar from heaven and said to her, “What troubles you, Hagar? Fear not, for God has heard the voice of the boy where he is. (Genesis 21:17)

Even before Ishmael was born, God had earlier told Hagar to call him Ishmael, which means, “God hears.” He told her to name him this “because the Lord has listened to your affliction” (Genesis 16:11).

God is a God who hears when people are distressed.

God remembered his covenant.

Beginning in Genesis 12 (and repeated and expanded throughout Genesis), God promised Abraham land, blessing, and great number of descendants. Israel had certainly grown into a greater number, but they had no land and were experiencing oppression rather than blessing. But God had not forgotten his covenant.

“For God to remember is not to recollect accidentally, but to take action deliberately on what is recalled. . . . Even if they had not cried out, even if life in Goshen had been serene and idyllic, God still would have delivered them. He cannot be faithful to his covenant and do otherwise.”1

God is a God who remembers and is faithful to keep his promises.

God saw the people of Israel.

As noted earlier in Deuteronomy 26:7, God not only saw Israel, he saw their toil, their affliction, and their oppression. God himself told Moses:

“I have surely seen the affliction of my people who are in Egypt and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters. I know their sufferings.” (Exodus 3:7)

Again, this is not the first time God saw people in their distress. When Hagar fled from Sarai the first time and God gave Ishmael his name (as we noted above), he told her to return to her mistress and gave her a promise that he would multiply Ishmael’s descendants into an innumerable multitude. Hagar responded:

“Then she called the name of the LORD who spoke to her, You-Are-the-God-Who-Sees; for she said, “Have I also here seen Him who sees me?” (Genesis 16:13, NKJV)

God is a God who sees people.

God knew.

Although there is no direct object in that sentence, one can assume that what God knew was their sufferings, as he said to Moses in Exodus 3:7: “I know their sufferings.” Not only did he know, but he cared. He also told Moses to tell this to the elders of Israel:

“I am indeed concerned about you and what has been done to you in Egypt” (Exodus 3:16, NASB).

God is a God who knows what is going on in peoples’ lives.

We recall that God did indeed deliver Israel from Egypt. He promised that he would.

“I promise that I will bring you up out of the affliction of Egypt to the land of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites, a land flowing with milk and honey.” (Exodus 3:17)

And he delivered on that promise.

And the Lord brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm, with great deeds of terror, with signs and wonders. And he brought us into this place and gave us this land, a land flowing with milk and honey. (Deuteronomy 26:8-9)

What an encouragement it is to see examples of people in distress crying out to God and being heard, remembered, seen, and known. We know that God is a God who is faithful. We’ve seen him over and over keep his promises throughout the Old Testament, culminating with the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ in the New Testament. We know that he will always be faithful to continue to keep them.

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Image created by ChatGPT

 

 

  1. Victor Hamilton, Exodus: An Exegetical Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2011), p. 3). [↩]

The Results of Rejecting Complementarianism

By | September 18, 2025
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This post is a brief follow-up to my recent post, “A Brief Look at Complementarianism.”

What happens when someone rejects complementarianism?

The opposite of complementarianism is egalitarianism, understanding that men and women are not only created as equal in the image of God, but also in role and function. This belief holds that men and women can function in the home and church without a specified role.

First, it wrongly understands and wrongly applies the clear truth of God.

I believe this issue is patently clear in Scripture. It’s not like trying to figure out who are the two witnesses of God in Revelation 11 or the identity of the sons of God in Genesis 6. It’s not even like trying to figure out the method and meaning of baptism (though, for me, I’m convinced on the matter). Complementarianism stems from clear commands and teaching from biblical authors in multiple passages in the Bible. To deny the clear teaching of Scripture is a pretty serious matter. Which leads to my second point…

Second, a wrong understanding and application of this issue typically leads to further wrong understandings and applications in other passages of the Bible.

It has been my experience with egalitarians that, as they fail to understand what I believe is a clearly taught issue in Scripture, so also they misunderstand other matters in Scripture as well. I know this may sound like something of a generalization and a caricature, but, in my view, it is not. Perhaps I could ask it like this: if someone so misunderstands and denies the teaching of the passages mentioned above, what are other passages in Scripture that they also misunderstand and misapply?

Third, it reverses the roles of men and women in the home and the church and effectively institutionalizes sin.

Perhaps saying “no one is the head of the home” or “we head this home together” is not quite the opposite of “the husband is the head of the home.” But it’s still not scriptural. For a woman to lead the home is indeed opposite of what God intends. Worse, though, is when a woman leads a church as its pastor—also the opposite of what God commands, providing a public example for what is supposedly okay in the home as well. If Paul’s instructions for the leadership of the church find their basis in the created order and the home, then to set up a woman as pastor is to say that she can lead the home as well.

This reversal institutionalizes disobedience in the church by violating God’s command on the matter and encourages this reversal in the home.

Closing Thoughts

For those who have already studied this matter to some degree, I acknowledge again that I’ve said nothing new. I’ve not even delved into any fine-tuned questions that many might have. A post like this can only be so long. But I hope the above is still helpful to anyone who took the time to give it a read.

The push against complementarianism is nothing new. God made clear to Adam and Eve that their sin resulted in a perpetual struggle for men and women to live out their intended roles.

However, by the grace of God, we can overcome sin’s effects on the roles of men and women and glorify Him as He made us to serve. Men lead in the home, and as they are qualified and called by the church, they can lead in the church as well. Women can glorify God just the same in the role that He has designed for them. Both are equally made in His image, equal in dignity and worth. May God help us each to reflect who He is for His glory in our respective roles.

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Image by 철민 박 from Pixabay