There is no question that the story of Pentecost is central to the life of the early...
Ezekiel's theology of work would be incomplete if not placed in the full context of future restoration alluded to throughout the book...
Dem bones, dem bones, dem dry bones. ...
From the beginning, God intended human work as a form of creativity under or alongside God’s own creativity.
When trouble overcomes you, take a walk outside. The light that greets you is really God's wardrobe. The clouds that drift overhead...
Being “glorified” with Christ (Rom. 8:17) is our hope for the future. But according to Paul that...
Chapters 13 through 17, often called the Upper Room Discourse, contain so much profound theology that we can only touch on a...
Isaiah begins by insisting that religious rituals nauseate God when accompanied by sinful living: What to me is the multitude of your sacrifices? says the Lord; I have had enough of burnt-offerings of...
Isaiah 6:1-8 In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lofty; and the...
Psalm 29:2 summons us to “worship the LORD in the splendor of his holiness.” How do we do this? What does this...
In many churches today, there is a time in the worship service for the Passing of the Peace. The person leading worship says something like, "The peace of the Lord be with you."...
Believers are free from the law, but walking in newness of life is based on a firm...
Paul contrasts life in the Spirit with life under the Jewish law. Paul says believers have received...
Jesus’ discussions with Nicodemus and his disciples hold innumerable treasures. We will begin with a verse that has profound implications for human...
The LORD is like a father to his children, tender and compassionate to those who fear him. For he knows how weak...
I cannot read Psalm 103 without thinking of Bill Cody. Bill was the Director of Laity Lodge, the retreat center associated with The High Calling, from 1965 through 1979. As you may recall, I was a...
Paul begins this section of 2 Corinthians with two rhetorical questions, both of which expect a negative answer.[1] “Are we beginning to...
The calling of Levi is another incident that occurs as Jesus is moving (Mark 2:13-14). The passage stresses the public nature of...
From the closing words of the book of Judges and the opening chapters of 1 Samuel we know that the Israelites are...
The work of marriage, childbearing and caring for parents comes to the fore again in Psalms 127...
Psalm 139:7-12 Where can I go from your spirit? Or where can I flee from your presence? If I ascend to heaven...
Psalm 139 begins with David’s acknowledgement that God has “examined” his heart.
The Ten Commandments are great contributors to the theology of work. They describe the essential requirements of Israel’s covenant with God and...
Despite the attention to personal judgment we have seen in Psalm 73, in most of Book 3, it is the nation of...
Second Corinthians 4 brings together themes that are closely related in Paul’s work—transparency, humility, weakness, leadership, and service. Because we are seeing...
The Sabbath principle allows us time to focus on God in a different way than the working week allows.
Seeing the unsuitability of Samuel’s sons, the Israelites ask him to “appoint for us, then, a king to govern us, like other...
When life goes in directions we didn't expect, and when those directions include suffering and frustration, we can easily become discouraged.
Have you ever noticed that famous people tend to hang out with other famous people? If you're a "somebody," whether an athlete...
Adam's and Eve’s decisions stretch all the way to the modern workplace.
My friend Nick grew up in a church that was very eager to keep him from sinning.
The first line of Psalm 130 is one of the most frequently quoted of the Psalms: “Out of the depths have I cried unto thee, O LORD” (130:1, KJV).
Saul Chosen as Israel’s First King God's first choice to be king is Saul (c. 1050-1010 B.C.), someone who looked the part—he...
Psalm 20 teaches us to trust God rather than human power, such as military might. “Some take pride in chariots, and some...
Psalm 20 is a prayer for the king of Israel. In this prayer, the psalmist asks God to grant the desires of the king’s heart and to make all of his plans succeed...
Let us begin, as the Book of Ezekiel does, with God’s call to Ezekiel to become a prophet. When we meet Ezekiel...
...
In Psalm 92, the psalm writer begins by offering thanks for all the ways the Lord has blessed him.
It is good to proclaim your unfailing love in the morning, your faithfulness in the evening. Psalm 92:2 I wonder what would...
In 2 Corinthians 5 Paul, who constantly faced situations that could result in his death, reminds the Corinthians that at the final...
If it sounds as if Paul is calling us to grit our teeth and try harder to be good, then we are...
Mark contains only two parables that are not also found in the other Gospels. Both of them concern work, and both are...
Unlike Saul who had begun his reign soon after Samuel anointed him (1 Samuel 11:1), David has a long and difficult apprenticeship...
When my wife became pregnant with our second child, she and I were overjoyed.
Psalm 133 envisions pilgrims ascending to Jerusalem to celebrate a religious festival. Though they have come from diverse places throughout the Ancient Near East, the pilgrims experience profound...
God’s first question to Job sets the tone of their mostly one-way conversation, “Where were you when I laid the foundation of...
Psalm 107 relates human economic endeavors to the world of God’s creation. It is worth citing at length. Some went down to...
“LORD, help!” they cried in their trouble, and he rescued them from their distress. Psalm 107:6 Psalm 107 reminds us to “Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good!” (107:1). The bulk...
During the past several summers, I've had the privilege of being part of the leadership team of Laity Lodge Youth Camp, a sister program to The High Calling and Laity Lodge.
Transparency Is a Successful Strategy for Christian-Run Luxury Leather Brand .embed-container { position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0; overflow: hidden; max-width: 100%...
The Gospel of Mark, more than the other Gospels, highlights the ignorance, weakness, and selfishness of the disciples. This comes despite the...
Jesus doesn’t take away our fears, but he can transform them.
If I’m Suffering, Is God Punishing Me? (Click Here to Read) In this daily reflection from The High Calling, Mark Roberts considers...
The memory of my suffering and homelessness is bitterness and poison. I can’t help but remember and am depressed. I call all...
When I was prosperous, I said, “Nothing can stop me now!” Your favor, O LORD, made me as secure as a mountain...
As we noted in the introduction, 2 Corinthians 8 and 9 form a separate section of Paul’s letter in which he addresses...
Paul reminds the believers in Corinth that they had already signaled their intentions to participate in the collection for the churches in...
Paul reminds the Corinthians of the underlying principle behind the collection. “It is a question of a fair balance between your present...
Does it make any sense in today’s world to think of a city as somehow reflecting the character of God? Many of us, I expect, think of cities as places of commerce, commotion...
In the late 1970s, I first heard a praise song that greatly affected my understanding of worship. It began: “Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised.” Though I didn’t realize it...
Recently I found myself stuck in the "baby zone" of an airplane.
I have a confession to make. It won’t impress you with my godliness but perhaps with my cultural saturation. Here it goes: when I hear the word mercy, I sometimes think of the...
Why Women Volunteer for Tasks That Don’t Lead to Promotions If women are disproportionately saddled with work that has little visibility or...
This is the only passage in the Bible to directly state Jesus' trade.
The Psalter says a good deal about workplace ethics. Psalm 15:1 and 5 say, “O Lord, who may abide in your tent...
Open up, ancient gates! Open up, ancient doors, and let the King of glory enter. Who is the King of glory? The LORD of Heaven’s Armies— he is the King of glory. Psalm...
Guidance to a particular profession comes from many non-dramatic means.
What can the formerly faithful hope for? How will God respond to them?
God's restoring work involves human beings both as recipients of grace and as participants in the work.
We can't help showing we're loyal to a radically different understanding of what life is all about.
While we seek to honor God in our work, this does not mean the road will be easy.
The Lord is my pace-setter, I shall not rush.
One of the most common criticisms of contemporary Christianity in America is its excessive individualism.
If you've ever experienced being left out, you know how unpleasant this can be. Perhaps, when you were growing up, you didn't fit with the "cool kids" at school. Or, perhaps you feel...
Then the apostles gathered around Jesus and told him everything they had done and taught. He said to them, “Come with me...
Based on Mark 6:30–44 in the New Testament ...
Earlier in Mark 6, Jesus had sent his disciples out two-by-two, having given them authority to engage in the ministry of the kingdom of God (6:7).
People in power have been covering up instances of sexual abuse for millennia, but the Bible boldly exposes examples of abuse against...
Earlier this month, we noted the claim of the wicked that “There is no God.” Today we find this same boast in Psalm 14. Given the widespread belief in divine beings in the...
But no, all have turned away; all have become corrupt. No one does good, not a single one! Psalm 14:3 I remember when I first resolved to read through the whole Bible. I...
Psalm 145 celebrates the greatness and goodness of God.
Paul must have been sitting near an open window as he wrote to the Ephesians. Every word crackles with infinity.
John’s telling of the feeding of the five thousand (John 6:1-15) echoes many of the themes we saw in the wedding feast at Cana and the healing of the paralytic man. Again, Jesus...
When news of Uriah’s death reached David, he deceived himself into thinking he was beyond the reach of God’s judgment and the people’s disgust. So he took Bathsheba as his wife. He acted...
Moral chaos breeds chaos.
Psalm 51 is a heartfelt, aching prayer for forgiveness. In this prayer, David begins by crying out to God for mercy (v. 1). He asks to be cleansed of his guilt (v. 2), freely acknowledging his sin...
The foundational expression of God’s work came to dramatic fruition when God decisively led his people through the Red Sea, releasing them...
Psalm 78 focuses mainly on the sad history of Israel’s persistent rebellion against the Lord. Though he showed them mercy time and again, and though he disciplined them for their disobedience, the...
Every mischievous kid knows that freshly poured concrete is an opportunity to leave a mark.
Full Christianity: Doing, Thinking, and Being (Click Here to Read) In this daily reflection fromThe High Calling, Mark Roberts considers how the...
When we read Ephesians 4:1, we hear this verse as if it speaks to us personally. We feel personally, individually urged to live a life worthy of the calling we have each received...
Most people feel uncomfortable in situations of conflict, so we tend to avoid facing conflict, whether at...
Selections from 2 Samuel 13-18 2 Samuel 18:33 The king was shaken. He went up to the...
Absalom’s name meant "son of peace," but his life was anything but that.
Psalm 34:8 invites us to “taste and see that the LORD is good.” This leads me to wonder how I can take the psalmist up on his offer. How can I taste God...
My last few reflections focused on Ephesians 4:22-24. The main point of this passage is that we...
There are lots of excellent reasons to speak the truth. For starters, we could say that the Ten Commandments tell us not to bear false witness (Exod. 20:16). Then, we have Ephesians 4:25 that...
If you've been reading these reflections for a while, you may remember that a couple of months ago I was examining Ephesians...
Upon succeeding David as king, Solomon faces the vastness of his duties (1 Kings 3:5-15). He is acutely aware that he is...
If you don’t have fear, you can’t have wisdom. It is that simple.
Solomon’s first major task is to build the Temple of the Lord. To achieve this architectural feat, Solomon employs professionals from all...
Psalm 84 celebrates the temple of God in Jerusalem. It begins “How lovely is your dwelling place...
What joy for those who can live in your house, always singing your praises. Psalm 84:4 I recently sent my son, Nathan, off to college. He’s a freshman at New York University. (That’s...
The renewal of God’s covenant with Israel concludes the book of Joshua. The high point occurs in the very last chapter, when...
It is cruel for a master to force a slave to choose between obedience to the master and obedience to Christ. Therefore...
In Song 1:9-2:7, the man and woman sing of their devotion to each other. He speaks of how beautiful she is, and...
When we pray for our leaders, as Scripture urges us to do, we should ask the Lord to lead them in the ways of truth, humility, and justice.
The prologue to Psalm 45 identifies it as "A love song to be sung to the tune 'Lilies.' " The text of the psalm lavishly praises the human king of Israel and his...
James continues his practical guidance with words about listening. Christians need to listen well both to people (James 1:19) and to God...
Click here to go to a table of verses included in this article, with links to the sections in which they are discussed. Throughout the ancient near east, rulers often commissioned sages to...
“You’re surrounded!” This phrase brings back memories of my childhood. On Saturday afternoons, I’d watch cop-and-robber movies on our black-and-white Motorola television. Inevitably, at some point...
More than any other writing prophet, Isaiah takes us repeatedly to a vision of God that, once grasped, will cause us to...
God executes justice for the oppressed (Ps. 146:7a). So do we, when we work according to God’s commandments, by God’s grace. God gives food to the hungry (Ps 146:7b). So do we. God...
There is a sense in which "God is no respecter of persons" (Acts 10:34, KJV). He cares about each individual. He knows the heart of each human being. His guidance is sovereign over...
James applies both of his underlying principles as a warning against favoritism toward the rich and powerful...
In a season focused anew on old symbols of ethnic pain, Jesus’ example reframes discrimination as a short-sighted and closed-hearted sin.
May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to you, O LORD, my rock and my...
Faith is not just a matter of belief but a life of wholehearted and full-bodied worship. Every part of me and every part of you is required for discipleship.
Isaiah paints a picture of the values that must characterize the people of God.
Isaiah 50 begins with God’s word to the prophet. He responds by saying, “The Sovereign LORD has spoken to me, and I have listened.” This captures the meaning of the original Hebrew, which...
Recently, I’ve been thinking about what it means to live all of the time in God’s presence.
James follows up his practical guidance about listening (see James 1:19–21) with similar advice about speaking. Here he employs some of the fiercest language in the book. “The tongue is a fire. The...
Time and again throughout the Gospel of Mark, Jesus healed people with a simple word or touch. These healings were instantaneous, sure evidence of the power of God working through Jesus. But in...
A remarkable connection between the book of Proverbs and the world of work occurs at the end of the book. Lady Wisdom...
Proverbs 31 shows how God's character strengthens you for everyday work.
in this video series, Proverbs 31 inspires working Christians to examine their character.
Proverbs is a book of wise sayings, and this passage is a call to action for all who read it.
We live in a society of mockers. People who mock consider themselves better than others. They do not enter into serious engagement...
We see in Jeremiah 5 that the people did not acknowledge God’s provision. If the people did not acknowledge God as the...
Psalm 54, like many others in the Psalter, was written in a time when the psalmist, here identified as David, feared for...
Selfish Ambition Is the Impediment to Peacemaking (James 3:16–4:11) Selfish ambition is the opposite of serving the needs of others. The passage...
In the intimate setting of the secret Galilean trail and the privacy of the home, Jesus uses very direct language. There are...
Every time I placed my foot, I prayed that it would hold, and, honestly, I was frightened.
Leaders need rescue, too. Those in positions of responsibility don’t have all the answers.
James concludes his letter with a variety of exhortations on patience, truthfulness, prayer, confession, and healing. As always, these appeal either to...
Jesus challenged his followers to be “good salt,” seasoning their lives and their relationships with a rich gospel flavor.
The problem of pain comes when times are hard. When we are passed over for promotion or lose a job, when we...
At the beginning of the Book of Job we are introduced to an exceptionally prosperous farmer/rancher named Job. He is described as...
My heart softens when I recall that Mrs. Job has suffered the same losses as her husband.
Now I stand on solid ground, and I will publicly praise the LORD. Psalm 26:12 We don't know the exact context for Psalm 26. It could be that David was impressed with the...
Since God made us inherently relational, relationships are not just incidental to work; they are essential.
Why are we called to "be fruitful and multiply"?
God's power and provision helps us in our work.
Psalm 8 is an exception in Book 1, as it does not pertain specifically to David. Its concern is with all human authority, not only David’s rule. Although God created the entire universe...
You gave them charge of everything you made, putting all things under their authority. Psalm 8:4 At this time of year, many churches focus on stewardship. For sixteen years as pastor of Irvine...
Critical to the theology in Hebrews is that Christ created and sustains the world. He is the Son “through whom [God] also...
Regrettably, Job’s friends are not able to endure the mystery of his suffering, so they jump to conclusions about its source. The...
We all know the demons that plague us after failure. We second-guess ourselves during sleepless nights of self-torment. It even feels like...
Today I want to base my reflection on two verses from Psalm 22. In the first verse, the psalmist laments God’s lack...
To this entrepreneur, Isaiah 65 means people from different backgrounds can share in good work together.
Book 4 begins with the somber Psalm 90. “You turn us back to dust…our years come to an end like a sigh”...
Psalm 90 is a perfect psalm for the end of the year. For one thing, this psalm includes the word "year" more...
Satisfy us each morning with your unfailing love, so we may sing for joy to the end of our lives. Psalm 90:1...
If we’re sinful people, how is it possible for us to come into the presence of a sinless, perfect God? And if...
Shout to the LORD, all the earth; break out in praise and sing for joy! Sing your praise to the LORD with the harp, with the harp and melodious song, with trumpets and...
Paul reminds the congregation in Corinth that most of them do not come from the ranks of...
Sean McDonough introduces key topics in the Theology of Work, focusing on the good news. Our labor is a good thing that...
When we read this passage from Isaiah 53, we immediately think of the crucifixion of Jesus. He was literally pierced, crushed, beaten, and whipped. Even more painful was the alienation he...
When I was a boy, I loved playing “Hide and Seek.” Little made me happier than when I found the perfect hiding place, a secure enclave where no “seeker” would ever find me...
The central section of Hebrews is dominated by the theme of Jesus as our great high priest. Taking Psalm 110 as his...
For twenty-three years, Jeremiah prophesied the coming destruction of Jerusalem (from God’s case against Judah in chapter 2 through chapter 28).[1] Then...
Jeremiah 31 is a vision of the future day when the Lord restores his people, bringing them back to Israel. Not one of God’s people will be excluded from this return from exile...
Psalm 126 begins with a joyful remembrance of a time when God "brought back his exiles to Jerusalem" (126:1).
Lech Walesa Lech Walesa’s path to becoming the president of Poland reached its pivotal moment on August 14, 1980 when he jumped...
In contrast to the arrogant pride and self-sufficiency that will bring us down or the exploitation of the poor in order to...
Often schools and churches sponsor international banquets, festive meals in which people bring foods representing diverse cultures. At such a feast you...
Psalm 24 begins by proclaiming that the earth belongs to God, including everything and every person in the world. His ultimate ownership...
A city that renounces God is condemned, but paradise bustles with meaningful work.
What does this all mean for everyday life in the workplace? Revelation does not provide detailed instructions for best workplace practices, but...
Learning to Save My Students Instead of Judging Them (Click Here to Read) An encounter with the words of Jesus in John 12 encourages a teacher to change his approach to his relationship...
Today is All Saints Day, a holy day recognized by the Catholic Church and, in various ways, by various Protestant denominations. Eastern Orthodox Christians celebrate the Sunday of All Saints on...
The story begins with a famine “in the days when the judges ruled” (Ruth 1:1). This was a time when the people...
The Lord is asking us here to do something that is very difficult: love yourself as God loves you.
No one else is allowed inside the Tabernacle when Aaron enters it for the purification ceremony in the Most Holy Place. No one may enter until he comes out again after purifying himself...
Our work can be a way of loving others if we work as God would have us do it.
Text: Our third sermon in this series returns us to the Scripture from the first sermon, though...
In instigating the courtship between Boaz and Ruth, necessity once again leads Naomi to move beyond the bounds of convention. She sends...
As Psalm 107 speaks of large-scale economic activity, so Psalms 127 and 128 speak of the household, the basic unit of economic...
What does it look like to live as if everything, including our work, depends on God?
Psalm 16 begins with a cry for divine help: "Keep me safe, O God, for I have come to you for refuge"...
The hope we have lies not in making the best of the present situation, but in the...
Following Jesus is hard work, and only faith in the eventual fulfillment of his promises can keep us going. “Now faith is...
Some people are saying these are the end times. Jesus tells us these things aren’t the beginning of the end, they are merely the end of the beginning.
Psalm 132 focuses on David and his concern for God’s “house” in Jerusalem, the temple that David’s son Solomon would build. In this context, the psalmist prays for the priests who served in...
The Book of Psalms is part hymnbook, part prayer book, part wisdom literature, and part anthology of poems concerning Israel and God. Its subject matter is astonishingly broad. On one hand it proclaims...
The LORD is king! He is robed in majesty. Indeed, the LORD is robed in majesty and armed with strength. The world...
When I lived in Southern California, I occasionally enjoyed body surfing at the beach. It was a thrill to get out in the surf, to swim as fast as I could just as...
Before the book of Revelation is even a few verses old, John says something that might seem to undercut a robust theology...
Rather than risk reducing John’s passion narrative to a proof-text for work issues, we will address a single verse that is as...
Psalm 126 begins by celebrating the return of the Israelites from exile (126:1). It was a time of laughter as God’s people rejoiced in the “amazing things” God had done for them (126:2-3).But the...
Paul’s advice to Timothy is balanced: Live in peace and cooperation with those around us. Seek to...
1 Timothy 2:2 is one of the most regularly disobeyed verses in the Bible, and maybe that isn't too bad. Now, before...
Not only are we to ask God for our daily provision, but we also are warned against stockpiling material wealth and other...
Professional artists discuss their inspiration. Plus: a case for the value of art from Matthew 6:25-33.
Text: Matthew 6:25-34: Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will...
Jesus had a way with words. He spoke with authority and the "crowds were amazed" (Matt. 7:28-29). He talked a lot about himself, his mission, and God's kingdom, offering challenging, quotable...
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