Insight for Today

Read Exodus 3:2–6

Most folks I know like things to stay as they are.

Being creatures of habit, we resist change; we protect our comfort zone; we are uneasy with the unexpected. We admire pioneers...so long as we can just read about them, not participate in their journeys. We applaud explorers...but not if it means we must load up and climb and crawl with them. Creative ideas are fine...but “don’t get carried away,” we warn. Plans that involve risks prompt worst-case scenarios from the lips of most who stand back in the shadows.

Read  1 Timothy 6:17

Wealth is said to be the parent of luxury.

Perhaps you’re reluctant to entertain any dreams since daily reality turns them into nightmares of unfulfilled desire. It is possible that you are even labouring under the whip of that eternal taskmaster, Fear, who buffets your fondest fantasy with three brutal blows from his lash—public criticism, personal guilt, and perverted humility.

Read Galatians 6:1–3

“Self-praise,” says an ancient adage, “smells bad.” In other words, it stinks up the works.

God says He hates “haughty eyes” (Proverbs 6:17). He calls a proud heart “sin” (Proverbs 21:4). He says if praise is going to be directed your way, “Let someone else praise you, not your own mouth” (Proverbs 27:2). The apostle Paul, who had much to brag about, drove home the message with these words:

Read Philippians 2:12–13

Whoever reads the writings of Christians from earlier centuries is struck with the frequent references to God’s providence. Why don’t we hear more about it today? What imp sneaked in and stole this good word from our twenty-first century vocabulary? The spirit of naturalism that views all events in nature as ruled by independent natural forces has left its mark on our generation. Too bad. We would do well to reintroduce this grand word to our tongues as well as to our young.