Joe Barnett

Rejoice in the Lord always.           —Philippians 4:4 Oxymoron: pessimistic Christian. Christians don’t ignore or deny adversities. But they possess an inner joy that overrides outer circumstances. Believers experience comfort even in the thick of distressing circumstances (Rom 8:28). We share Paul’s exuberance: “In all our troubles my joy knows no […]

Walk in the way of love.      —Ephesians 5:2 Love is the foundation for all the ingredients that follow, each describing a way in which love is expressed. As Paul says elsewhere, “Over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity” (Col 3:14). In our culture, we tend

Walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.             —Galatians 5:16 The flesh and the Spirit are in conflict, pulling in opposite directions. “There exists between the two an interminable, deadly feud” (Lightfoot). John Stott observed, “We shall still experience [lusts of the flesh],

[Forgive] each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.     —Ephesians 4:32 General James Oglethorpe was infuriated by an abrasive comment by one of his comrades. When the offender apologized and asked forgiveness, Oglethorpe snapped, I never forgive!” “Then I hope,” mulled his aide, “that you never sin.” Where would we stand with

I will trust and not be afraid.                —Isaiah 12:2 News outlets deliver a continuous stream of wild-eyed crazies massacring schoolchildren, shooting up theaters, planting bombs where people work and play. They display nutcase leaders flexing their muscles and annihilating their enemies. This endless recital of horror feeds fear.

Go into the king’s presence to beg for mercy.                                    —Esther 4:8 When we think of big happenings, we associate them with big people like Abraham, Moses, and David. And Esther, the strikingly beautiful Jewess who was chosen to

When morning came, there was Leah!                        —Genesis 29:25 If there is a Women’s Hall of Fame, Sarah is in it. So is Rebecca. Rachel, too. But Leah isn’t. Leah, the unremarkable, unloved, unwanted woman. Leah was the patsy in Laban’s wedlock deception of Jacob.

The Lord knows those who are his.                  —2 Timothy 2:19 God knows everything about you. But he doesn’t just know about you; he knows you: “Now that you know God—or rather are known by God” (Gal 4:9). There’s a difference between knowing about a person and really

Do not repay anyone evil for evil.                 —Romans 12:17 One of the hardest things you will ever do is forgive someone who has intentionally hurt you. The human impulse is to retaliate, even the score, get revenge. But revenge is too hot for humans to handle. Drop

In due season we will reap, if we do not give up.                                    —Galatians 6:9 In your King James Bible, there is this two-word description of a man: “he endured.” The New International Version has it: “he persevered.” The