Just over a month ago, the drama director at our church approached me about participating in the upcoming presentation.  Despite my very best excuses, he convinced me to be involved with this year’s production.  He said, “All you’ll need to do is grow a beard.”  Now, I was suddenly intrigued.  What in the world would he need me for?  I didn’t have to memorize any lines, I didn’t have to come any practices—all he wanted me to do was grow a beard.  I consented and enjoyed not having to shave for several weeks.  There’s something that seems incredibly manly about not shaving and other people actually noticing.  He said, “I need you to be Jesus in the Easter drama.”  From that day even until today, the kids in our church have been calling me Jesus.

Now, I understand that no one, even at his best, could ever come close to being an appropriate representation of Jesus Christ.  But for the weeks leading up to our drama, I did everything I could to act just like Jesus.  I believe this is what Peter had in mind when he wrote, “For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps” (I Peter 2:21).

As Christians, it is our responsibility to become a “little Christ” while we live here on this earth.  We were not saved and then immediately called up into heaven, but rather Read more…

I don’t suppose it’s a New Year’s Resolution, but I have chosen to read through my Bible chronologically this year.  There is an app on my phone that makes this easier than trying to divide it up myself.  Naturally, the first couple of days I read in the book of Genesis, up until chapter eleven.  There was then a gap between Genesis eleven and twelve, which put me in the book of Job.  One advantage to reading this way is that I end up reading accounts side by side that are several books apart.

In Job 23:10, he writes, “But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.”  We all know the story of Job.  Everything, save his own life, was suddenly stripped away from him at once.  God allowed Job to suffer trials during a season of his life.  Also, this testing was not the result of any wrong doing on the part of Job.  Bible commentator Matthew Henry said, Read more…