What We Were Created For

There are several Scripture passages that liken God to a potter and us to clay. It’s the Creator’s right to transform and shape His children’s lives as He sees fit, and He is conforming us to the image of His Son (Rom. 8:29). In other words, He is helping us not conform to the world or give in to our former lusts (Rom. 12:2; 1 Pet. 1:14). The problem arises when we don’t like the molding process. Then we argue with our Potter and complain about the…

In 1478, Lorenzo de Medici, the ruler of Florence, Italy, escaped an attack on his life. His countrymen sparked a war when they tried to retaliate against the attack on their leader. As the situation worsened, the cruel King Ferrante I of Naples became Lorenzo’s enemy, but a courageous act by Lorenzo changed everything. He visited the king unarmed and alone. This bravery, paired with his charm and brilliance, won Ferrante’s admiration and ended the war. Daniel…

John Newton was a militant atheist, bully and blasphemer. He was a wild and angry young man. He was press-ganged into the Navy at the age of eighteen where he broke the rules so recklessly that he was publicly flogged for desertion. He was hated and feared by his crewmates and himself became a slave trader. At the age of twenty-three, Newton’s ship encountered a severe storm off the coast of Donegal and almost sank. He called out to God as the ship filled with water…

Over the years, it has struck me—in view of Paul’s warning that those who desire to be rich plunge into ruin and destruction—how strange it is how many Christian people still pursue wealth. But Paul means what he says—desiring to be rich is deadly. And there is more. The key that unlocks this text is in verse 6: “Godliness with contentment is great gain.” What is the protection against these deadly effects of money? Answer: a heart that…

I’m reading Dr. Ben Carson’s recent book entitled Created Equal. In it he shares insights into a number of issues prevalent in today’s culture around race relations. But I was fascinated by a subject he knows a little something about. As the former director of pediatric neurosurgery at Johns Hopkins he writes a few paragraphs about brain plasticity. Unlike many other organs of the body, the brain has not reached developmental maturation at birth. Babies…

When it comes to God’s healing, there is no “one size fits all.” Each of us is uniquely made, and though our circumstances might resemble someone else’s, what works for one person may not work in every case. We have different experiences, desires, obstacles, and emotional wounds. Yet the Lord provides some tools that belong in every Christian’s toolbox. Consider prayer and meditating on Scripture, both of which help you grow in your…

In 2013, British actor David Suchet was filming the final TV episodes as Agatha Christie’s beloved Belgian detective Hercule Poirot—and also starring in a stage play—when he took on “the biggest role in [his] life.” Between those projects he recorded an audio version of the entire Bible, from Genesis to Revelation—752,702 words—over two hundred hours. Suchet, who became a believer in Jesus after reading the book of Romans in a Bible…

Where would we be today if Abraham had carefully weighed the pros and cons of God’s invitation and decided that he’d rather hang on to his medical benefits, three weeks paid vacation, and retirement plan in Ur? What would have happened if Moses had listened to his mother’s advice to “never play with matches” and lived a careful, cautious life steering clear of all burning bushes? You wouldn’t have the gospel if Paul had concluded that the…

Australia’s regent honeyeater bird is in trouble—it’s losing its song. Though once an abundant species, just three hundred birds now remain; and with so few others to learn from, the males are forgetting their unique song and failing to attract mates. Thankfully, conservationists plan to rescue the honeyeaters by singing to them. Or, more precisely, play them recordings of other honeyeaters singing so they can relearn their heart song. As the males pick up…