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THE PRISONER OF THE LORD

It could well be said that the apostle Paul knew the inside of a prison very well.  Commentators generally agree that he spent two years in prison in Caesarea between 58 - 60 AD, was imprisoned in Rome between 61 - 63 AD, spent time in a maritime dungeon in 68 AD, and was jailed in Rome again that same year.  He also saw the inside of a Philippian jail.  Altogether, Paul spent seven years of his life in various prisons.  Rather than being bitter about his lot, he instead seemed to take pride in being the "prisoner of the Lord."  He firmly believed that whatever his lot, God had a plan and a purpose for everything that came into his life as a Christian.  In Romans 8:28, he acknowledges that, "…all things work together for good to them that love God, to them that are the called according to His purpose."   Paul expanded on the theme of God's providence in all things in his 2nd letter to the Corinthians when he wrote, "Blessed be God, even the Father...
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RUNNING THE RACE

Anticipating the seemingly super-human effort of the athletes at the upcoming 2028 Summer Olympics, I have to think about the preparation and training that these men and women go through for such accomplishments to be possible.  They all start their training at an early age, and all commit their lives to becoming the best at his/her sport.  The hours and years that they each spend perfecting their technique and strengthening their body, as well as the personal sacrifices that each has made, have paid off in making them the best athletes in the world.    Thinking about the dedication and sacrifice of all the great athletes that will compete, I’m reminded of Saint Paul’s words in his letter to the Philippians where he writes, “ Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for Whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ.” (Philippians 3:8).   Fur...
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THE STONE WHICH THE BUILDERS REFUSED

"The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner.  This is the LORD’S doing; it is marvellous in our eyes." (Psalms 118:22).   "Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed?  For He shall grow up before Him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: He hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see Him, there is no beauty that we should desire Him.  He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from Him; He was despised, and we esteemed Him not." (Isaiah 53:1-3).   It is incredible to think that the very children of God, the Israelites, who searched the scriptures continually and who looked for the signs of the coming of their Messiah, could miss His appearing altogether.  Even when they were told plainly that Jesus was the Christ, the Son of God, they not only were blind to the facts and the prophecies, but the...
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