Weekly Devotionals – Fox Lake Community Church

BEFORE “IN THE BEGINNING” (2) - BEFORE “IN THE BEGINNING” (2) A Meditation on Exodus 3:14-15 and other Selected Scriptures From all eternity—before “In the beginning”—the Triune God lived in perpetual joy and love, basking in the glory of one another. In Jesus’ High Priestly prayer toward the end of His life, He said, “I glorified you on earth, having accomplished… Read More »
THE CURSE ON THE SERPENT (2) - THE CURSE ON THE SERPENT (2) A Meditation on Genesis 3:14-15 The second part of the curse fell on the devil himself, who was behind the animal. God said, “I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his… Read More »
THE CURSE ON THE SERPENT (1) - THE CURSE ON THE SERPENT (1) A Meditation on Genesis 3:14-15 The tree of the knowledge of good and evil was not what it appeared to be. Instead of being the door into Paradise, it actually became the door leading out of Paradise, and into misery. The serpent led Eve, with Adam passively following, to… Read More »
A CRESCENDO OF PRAISE - A Crescendo of Praise A meditation on Psalm 150 Those of you, who are familiar with Handel’s Messiah, know about the Hallelujah Chorus. The Hallelujah Chorus is an excellent prelude to what we will be singing (actually shouting) in heaven, namely, the “Hallelujah Roar.” The fourfold Hallelujah Roar is found in Revelation 19:1-6: “After this… Read More »
UNCONDITIONAL ELECTION - UNCONDITIONAL ELECTION A Meditation on Romans 9:11-13 and other Selected Scriptures Bill Hybels related the following story in a sermon on Romans 9. He was sitting in a class taught by R. C. Sproul on election. Hybels asked a question for clarification, “So what you’re saying is that God arbitrarily elects some to salvation,… Read More »
PRAYER’S ULTIMATE PURPOSE - PRAYER’S ULTIMATE PURPOSE A Meditation on Psalm 79:9 and other Selected Scriptures It was not simply for the sake of pious rhetoric that Paul frequently added to the end of his prayers phrases like “to the glory and praise of God” (Phil. 1:11; Eph. 3:2-21). Paul’s heart burned with zeal for the furtherance of God’s… Read More »
THE TIME OF JESUS’ DEATH - THE TIME OF JESUS’ DEATH A Meditation on Matthew 26:2-5 and other Selected Scriptures It’s been said that timing is everything. Sure, timing is important, but it’s a little hyperbolic to say that timing is everything. Nevertheless, “For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: a time to be… Read More »
DON’T MISS CHRISTMAS - DON’T MISS CHRISTMAS A Meditation on Matthew 2:1-11 I believe most people will actually miss Christmas. I know this sounds ludicrous in our American culture that is drowning in a sea of Christmas marketing and sales, which begins before Thanksgiving ends, yet I still believe it. Oh, they’ll have a Christmas tree, maybe put up… Read More »
JESUS THE PROPHET - JESUS THE PROPHET A Meditation on John 8:21-30 Prophet, Priest, and King are the three Old Testament offices which converge in Jesus. The prophetic office of Christ is highlighted in John 8:21-30. Two basic functions are associated with prophets. First, prophets were forth-tellers. The prophets delivered a message from God: “Thus saith the LORD…” This… Read More »
AN OFFENSIVE DEFENSE - AN OFFENSIVE DEFENSE A Meditation on 1 Peter 3:15 The apostle Peter instructs God’s people to “always [be] prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you” (1 Pet. 3:15). The Greek word for “defense” is apologia, from which we get the… Read More »