The Greek word nikao, meaning “to conquer,” appears twenty-eight times in the New Testament. Luke uses the word once, Paul twice; John accounts for the other twenty-five. The first and only use in his Gospel comes near the end of Jesus’ Upper Room Discourse, His final words of instruction and comfort to the disciples before … Continue reading Victory in Jesus
Author: Cindy Matson
God’s Great Love—Not Just for Spiritual Giants
Alex Trebek hosted Jeopardy! for 37 years. His successor did it for one week. After Trebek passed away nearly a year ago, the Jeopardy! world waited eagerly for the show to reveal their choice for a new host. That announcement finally came on August 11, 2021. To many people’s surprise, a relative unknown (at least … Continue reading God’s Great Love—Not Just for Spiritual Giants
3 Dangerous Responses to God’s Word
“I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees; I am on trial for the hope and resurrection of the dead!” With these words, Paul begins his long journey toward Rome to make a defense before Caesar, the epilogue to the book of Acts not preserved for us in Scripture. Luke keeps the story moving through … Continue reading 3 Dangerous Responses to God’s Word
3 Unthievable Treasures
I love a good heist movie, in which, without firing a shot or even carrying a gun, thieves break into some supposedly impenetrable vault and get away with millions of dollars. It’s not that I celebrate grand larceny, but I do appreciate the genius behind the capers. In every case, the thieves successfully pocket a … Continue reading 3 Unthievable Treasures
Avoid the “Us vs. Them” Trap
Everywhere you turn today, people are split into to two groups: us vs. them. Good guys vs. bad guys. Conservatives vs. Liberals. Vaxxers vs. Anti-vaxxers. Tolerant vs. Intolerant. CNN vs. Fox News. You’re either with us or against us; there is no third option. The Bible separates people into just two categories as well: those … Continue reading Avoid the “Us vs. Them” Trap
The Horn of My Salvation
“The great beasts clash horns, each trying to assert his dominance over the other.” I imagine this read by an English or Australian voiceover actor, while the picture shows two mountain goats or rams interlocked in a battle for supremacy. However, it could just as easily summarize the action in one of Daniel’s visions. In … Continue reading The Horn of My Salvation
Be Faithful
In their city stood a temple dedicated to the Roman Emperor Tiberius, a constant reminder to the believers in Smyrna of the spiritual battleground on which they lived. Likely because of this temple, the Romans made Smyrna the seat of their “Caesar-cult” and did everything possible to squelch the testimony of Christ in the city.[1] … Continue reading Be Faithful
Waiting Like a Watchman
The Andy Griffith Show received a lot of air-time in my house growing up. To this day, I can quote lines and remember episodes that I haven’t seen for twenty years. One episode involved an elderly security guard at the ironically named Mayberry Security Bank. Fans of the show will probably recall Asa, snoozing in … Continue reading Waiting Like a Watchman
A Song for All My Days
I live with a toddler who is currently obsessed with one particular song from one particular movie. I’m convinced that he would listen to this song on repeat for days at a time if his father and I would let him. Requests for “Mack Song” (aka "Life Is a Highway" from Cars) come in the … Continue reading A Song for All My Days
Endurance Is a Team Sport
Running, biking, swimming, skiing—the sports that require the most physical endurance are individual. Though they may include a team element, the actual competitions require one person to undergo a grueling test of their own personal stamina. When it’s race time, the athlete must find the grit within himself to persevere. He may be able to … Continue reading Endurance Is a Team Sport