Devotions
No Turning Back (2 Peter 2:17–22)
One of the most enduring children’s Sunday school songs is “I Have Decided to Follow Jesus.” There are different versions of the song’s history but its theme is clear: It proclaims the singer’s commitment (decision) to follow Christ regardless of the cost. The refrain...
Slow and Steady (2 Peter 2:10b–16)
In Aesop’s famed fable, the arrogant hare loses a foot race to the humble tortoise because, confident of his superior speed, he takes a mid-race nap. The moral of the story? “Slow and steady wins the race.” Persistent, consistent, and diligent progress, even if it is...
Canaries in a Coal Mine (2 Peter 2:4–10a)
Prior to the widespread availability of electronic carbon monoxide detectors, coal miners carried canaries with them into the mines. Canaries are far more sensitive than humans to poisonous gases and were employed as early detection systems. If a canary died, it...
Heresy Hunters (2 Peter 2:1–3)
Several years ago, while talking to the pastor of another church, I made passing reference to a Christian teacher who promotes theistic evolution: the idea that evolutionary theory is consistent with the creation account in Genesis and that God, in fact, used the...
Devoted to BBC (2 Peter 1:16–21)
Several months ago, a church member sent me a photograph of a book and asked if I recommended its author. The book was titled Conversations with God (Book 3): An Uncommon Dialogue by Neale Donald Walsch. Walsch claims that the Conversations with God books are inspired...
The Power of Memory (2 Peter 1:12–15)
Back in 2015, a three-year-old memory whizz appeared on Ellen and completely dazzled the host with her ability to retain information. She told Ellen that she had memorised all the states and capitals, all the US presidents, and even the entire periodic table of...