Author: Dwight Clough

Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. — Ephesians 4:32In the book of Ephesians we learn who we are in Christ and what difference that makes in our daily lives. One of the amazing differences that our identity in Christ makes is this: We are enabled to forgive.Let me explain. I’m not a rich guy. By American standards, I’m at the other end of the spectrum. Thankfully, I am able to work and earn enough money to survive. But suppose I wasn’t able to work. And suppose, by some incredible…

[Moses] asked the LORD, "Why have you brought this trouble on your servant? …" — Numbers 11:11If God cares so much about our comfort, why does He take us out of our comfort zone?I smile as I write this because I think we all know the answer. We don’t grow until we’re stretched. No risk means no reward. Adventure is nine-tenths turmoil, and, only at the end, do we taste the sweet victory. If I never went on my first date, I wouldn’t be happily married with four children that I love. (If I ever work up the courage, maybe…

… so they plundered the Egyptians. — Exodus 12:36God did not want the Israelites to leave Egypt empty-handed. So He arranged for the Egyptians to become "favorably disposed" toward His people and wealth was transferred from the people of Egypt to the people of Israel. You can’t call it theft. The Egyptians gave it to them voluntarily.You can’t really call it a gift. The Egyptians had enslaved the people of Israel for four hundred years. They owed them.I prefer to call it back pay.Trading people like cattle, making one man the property of another is dehumanizing to put it mildly. …

Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings. — Psalm 63:7God has given me the great privilege and awesome responsibility to be a father to two sons and two daughters. One day my youngest, then seven, came into my office crying. Through her sobs I could make out that she and her brother were fighting, that it seemed to her that her mom had taken her brother’s side.As a father and as a man working out of my home office, I have several choices. I could have told her I was busy, that I had…

[God] comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. — 2 Corinthians 1:4Comfort is contagious when it begins with God. Note that we must first be comforted by God. Why is this? Because when we are in emotional distress, we cannot find the grace we need to offer God’s comfort to others. Their pain will only add to our pain, and that is the opposite of what God intended.However, when we are comforted by God, then an amazing thing happens. We wake up to…

"This," said the LORD, "is so that they may believe …" — Exodus 4:5Throughout Exodus chapter 3, God was commissioning Moses to lead His people to freedom. But, even though he is offered one of the greatest opportunities in history, Moses doesn’t really want it. He’s been watching sheep for forty years. No, it’s not quite like living in the palace where he grew up, but now Moses is used to it — he knows his routine, he’s solidly in his comfort zone and he wants to stay there.So when chapter 4 opens, Moses starts working through his list of…

… you have been raised with Christ … — Colossians 3:1Stop and think about our resurrected Lord. Is He depressed? Is He anxious? Is He intimidated by Pilate or Herod or Hitler or your boss or any bully you can think of? Is He cowering in the presence of the evil one? Is He a somber sourpuss? Does He sneak away to deaden His pain with a bottle of liquor? Is He struggling with impure thoughts? Does He eat too much? Does He look in the mirror and cringe?I don’t know what your struggle is, but whatever it is, substitute…

… open wide your hearts … — 2 Corinthians 6:13 One of the best, wisest, most spiritual things we can do is allow ourselves to be loved by God. None of us has reached the point where we no longer need God’s love. None of us ever will.You may be a powerful spiritual warrior, but you need God’s love. You may be wise and mature and godly, but you need God’s love. You may know your Bible better than any of us, but you need God’s love. You may be a veteran preacher or missionary, but you need God’s love.Opening…

… everything that does not come from faith is sin. — Romans 14:23For many years I operated under the principle: When in doubt, don’t. However, in recent days, I have come to re-examine this.Some things are clear. Adultery, theft, murder, witchcraft — all of these are wrong. But many other things are not clear. God’s will in these gray areas is not spelled out.Why? Why would God allow so many choices to be clouded with uncertainty?I believe these issues are building blocks in a relationship with God. Rather than run away from the issue, or hide behind somebody else’s convictions,…

"You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil … " — Genesis 2:16-17Many are quick to focus on what God prohibits. But consider for a moment what God permits. God filled the garden with trees and said, "Enjoy!" Likewise, God has filled our lives with good things. Every good and perfect gift is coming down from the Father of lights. Even in a fallen world, God satisfies our desires with good things. Even in a fallen world we can taste and see…