Author: Dwight Clough

The chief priests and the teachers of the law … began looking for a way to kill [Jesus], for they feared Him. — Mark 11:18The chief priests and teachers of the law were educated, sophisticated, religious, successful and influential people in the mainstream of their mixed up world. They were not psychotic or schizophrenic. But they were crazy nonetheless. They were out of touch with Reality.If you’ve ever wondered why people do some of the wacky things they do or why men believe the outlandish things they believe, let me suggest that something like fear is probably to blame.Fear is…

The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men-robbers, evildoers, adulterers-or even like this tax collector." — Luke 18:11I have been doing a lot of thinking lately about the successful self-righteous, and it occurs to me that the enemy probably wants some people to be good. There are some people who are disciplined enough to pray regularly, avoid all kinds of sin, and live an exemplary life. Why would the enemy want self-made good Christians in our churches? Very simple. So they can offer the wrong prescription to everybody else.In…

This is the only thing I want to find out from you: did you receive the Spirit by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith? Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh? — Galatians 3:2-3 NASBLet me put this question to you: How did your new life begin? Was it by working your heads off to please God? Or was it by responding to God’s Message to you? Are you going to continue this craziness? For only crazy people would think they could complete by their own…

[The Lord Jesus Christ] gave Himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age, according to the will of God and Father … — Galatians 1:4This is an interesting twist. Did you catch it? The verse doesn’t say that Jesus came to rescue us from a future in hell. Rather it says that He came to rescue us from the present evil age. We’ve had over 6,000 years to construct our paradise here on earth. How are we doing?People who aren’t in trouble don’t need to be rescued. But the Father sees where we are, and says,…

Consider this, you who forget God, or I will tear you to pieces with none to rescue. He who sacrifices thank offerings honors Me and he prepares the way so that I may show him the salvation of God. — Psalm 50:22-23I love the 50th Psalm. It is so reassuring to know that God is fully in command of the universe. It is so reassuring to know that He loves justice and He hates evil. Some day we each stand before God. The good and the bad. The fake and the authentic. The great and the small. That is the…

No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. — Matthew 24:36This is one of the most incredible passages in all of scripture. In some way that I cannot explain, the Father knows something that no one else in the universe knows. Not even the Son.As I was contemplating this passage today, a thought came to me, and I want to share it with you. The Father is preparing a gift for His Son and for His Son’s bride. The Father, who knows your mind and mine, who…

… let the afflicted hear and rejoice. — Psalm 34:2There are three kinds of trials. Those that bring us directly into the everlasting presence of God (martyrdom, death). Those where we experience God’s intervention immediately. And those where we have to wait.Sometimes all we know in a trial is pain; we can’t find God anywhere. Only later do we come back to those painful places and discover that God was there all along. From God’s point of view, He would never allow pain in our lives if it didn’t accomplish some good that we will both agree is far greater…

Jesus said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you; go in peace." — Luke 7:50Why did Jesus say this? Why didn’t He say, "My love has saved you," or "My grace has saved you," or "My atoning sacrificial death on the cross will save you"?Clearly, without these things, she wouldn’t be saved. She would be forever an enemy of God. But Jesus calls attention not to these things, but rather to her faith.Several thoughts come into my mind. This may have been the first sincere compliment she had ever received. In the place of flattery that just wanted something…

When a woman who had lived a sinful life in that town learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee’s house, she brought an alabaster jar of perfume, and as she stood behind Him at His feet weeping, she began to wet His feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them. — Luke 7:37-38I don’t think this woman was stupid. I think she knew very well that she would be scorned by the Pharisee. She didn’t expect welcome, but something compelled her to break through the crowd, and risk being…

If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. — Luke 6:32Jesus brought a life changing gospel to this earth. He fully expected the gospel to make such a profound change in our lives that no one could point to human effort to account for the difference. If you set good goals, work hard, and remain disciplined you will achieve what the pagans achieve. You will live an admirable life.But Jesus isn’t about creating admirable lives. He is about creating supernatural lives. What gives the gospel its power? The…