“Some men were tortured, not accepting release, so that they might gain a better resurrection, and others experienced mockings and scourgings, as well as bonds and imprisonment. … The world was not worthy of them.” Hebrews 11:35-36, 38 (NIV) I mentioned in a prior installment that the Hebrews 11 Hall of Faith follows the pattern […]

“And what more can I say? Time is too short for me to tell about…David…who by faith…became mighty in battle, and put foreign armies to flight.” Hebrews 11:32-34 (excerpts) (NIV) David has a rightful place in the Hebrews 11 Hall of Faith, alongside the highly regarded ancients Abraham, Noah, and Moses. Each of these men,

“And what more can I say? Time is too short for me to tell about Gideon…who by faith conquered kingdoms…” Hebrews 11:32-33 (excerpts) (NIV) Welcome back to the Hebrews 11 Hall of Faith. We have learned much about God-pleasing faith from some rather famous Hebrew patriarchs – Abraham, Moses, and Noah among them. Thankfully, one

“By faith [Moses] left Egypt behind, not being afraid of the king’s anger, for he persevered, as one who sees Him who is invisible.” Hebrews 11:27 (NIV) As do most Halls of Fame, the Hebrews 11 Hall of Faith commends exemplary individuals.  Those who lived their faith well include Noah, Abram, Abraham, and Isaac and

“By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter and chose to suffer with the people of God rather than to enjoy the short-lived pleasure of sin.” Hebrews 11:24-25 (NIV) For our faith to please the Lord (Hebrews 11:6), it must go beyond mental belief to include

“By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come. By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph…” Hebrews 11:20-21 (NIV) The author of Hebrews 11 thoroughly explores the concept of faith, by definition (Introduction) and illustration through the actions of several commendable Hebrew ancestors. Thus far, we’ve

“By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac; he who had received the promises was offering up his unique son..” Hebrews 11:17 (NIV) Our Hall of Faith museum tour continues. We have visited the Faith Foyer (Introduction) and the rooms commending Noah’s faith to do the unprecedented and Abram’s faith to go where/when

“By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed and went out to a place he was going to receive as an inheritance; he went out, not knowing where he was going.” Hebrews 11:8 Welcome back to the Hebrews 11 Hall of Faith. I am happy to continue being your docent as we tour this much-visited

“By faith Noah, after being warned about what was not yet seen, in reverence built an ark to deliver his family. By this he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.” Hebrews 11:7 Thank you for returning to our lawyer’s “tour” through the Hebrews 11 Hall of Faith.

Faith is an Impetus for Action. (Part 1 of 10)   “Now, faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” Hebrews 11:1 (NIV) Bible scholars and commentators have called Hebrews 11 the “Hall of Faith”, for good reason. The central message of Hebrews is the gospel of

  The Importance of Sabbath Rest for Busy Lawyers   In the intense environment of the legal profession, the concept of rest can feel like an unattainable luxury. Yet, for Christian lawyers, Sabbath rest is not merely a suggestion; it is a divine mandate crucial for spiritual, emotional, and professional health. Setting aside a dedicated

But even if He does not rescue us, we want you as king to know that we will not serve your gods or worship the gold statue you set up. Daniel 3:18. Thank you for joining me in this review from the book of Daniel. I hope you see the parallels between those historical accounts

“I [King Darius] issue a decree that in all my royal dominion, people must tremble in fear before the God of Daniel…” Daniel 6:26a. The writer of Ecclesiastes (presumably King Solomon) wisely stated that there is “nothing new under the sun”. We think our society is increasingly hostile to Christian faith. Indeed, it is, but

When Daniel learned that the document had been signed, he went into his house. The windows in his upper room opened toward Jerusalem, and three times a day he got down on his knees, prayed, and gave thanks to his God, just as he had done before. Daniel 6:10. We are examining the book of

At the end of the 10 days they looked better and healthier than all the young men who were eating the king’s food. So the guard continued to remove their food and the wine they were to drink and gave them vegetables. Daniel 1:15-16. As Christian lawyers, we often find ourselves in situations similar to

So Daniel said to the guard whom the chief official had assigned to Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. “Please test your servants for 10 days. Let us be given vegetables to eat and water to drink.” Daniel 1:11-12. The accounts in the book of Daniel should help inspire us to remain aligned with Jesus despite

“There are some Jews you have appointed to manage the province of Babylon: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. These men have ignored you, the king: They do not serve your gods or worship the gold statue you have set up.” Daniel 3:12. As discussed in this series’ Introduction, the world seems eager to separate itself from

But even if He does not rescue us, we want you as king to know that we will not serve your gods or worship the gold statue you set up. Daniel 3:18. I recently taught well-known stories from the book of Daniel to the adults in my church family – Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego’s stroll

  As a Christian lawyer, your faith is not just an aspect of your life that you can compartmentalize. It is a part of your being, influencing every decision you make and every action you take – including those in your professional life. It’s about living a life that reflects Jesus’ teachings, even in the

Consider it a great joy, my brothers, whenever you experience various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. But endurance must do its complete work, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking nothing. James 1:2-4. Circling back to the scriptural genesis of this series, I felt compelled to also include

“I swear that none of you will enter the land I promised to settle you in, except Caleb son of Jephunneh and Joshua son of Nun. . . . Your children will be shepherds in the wilderness for 40 years and bear the penalty for your acts of unfaithfulness until all your corpses lie scattered

“God sent me ahead of you to establish you as a remnant within the land and to keep you alive by a great deliverance. Therefore it was not you who sent me here, but God. . . . You planned evil against me: God planned it for good to bring about the present result –

Then the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job? No one else on earth is like him, a man of perfect integrity, who fears God and turns away from evil. He still retains his integrity, even though you incited Me against him, to destroy him without just cause.” Job 2:3. The Introduction

However, Jonah got up to flee to Tarshish from the Lord’s presence. Jonah 1:3a. In my Introduction to this devotional series, I described the literal trials I faced during a stretch of my career. I contemplated whether they were the result of being out of God’s will, and consulted with scripture to find guidance. In