When Elijah confronted the prophets of Baal, he didn't just address the prophets but the people: "How long will you go limping between two different opinions? If the LORD is God, follow him; but if Baal then follow him" (1 Kings 18:21). That's instructive, because it tells us that the people of Israel had not stopped worshipping the LORD; they hadn't abandoned him for Baa...
Keep ReadingThe contrast between Peter in the Garden of Gethsemane and Peter in the courtyard of the high priest is a stark one. At Jesus' arrest Peter is full of bravado. He has already pledged that he will never abandon Jesus, even if it costs him his life, and he's made that promise in public. When the arrest party comes, Peter is quick to take up arms and use them. But then, it's...
Keep ReadingMartin Lloyd Jones, the great British preacher, said that 'the middle period' is the time when we may be most prone to Sloth. The question then - if we want to be on guard against Sloth - is 'what's the middle period?' Whenever we start something new - a new job or relationship or educational program, or church, we experience a honeymoon period. We're excited by this n...
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