Kyle Rye (Page 5)
Prince of Peace
Peace is not the easiest state to achieve. At times we find ourselves caught in stressful and even painful situations that rid us of hope, compassion, or maybe even faith, and the Bible indicates that one reason Jesus came to this earth was to provide peace. In Isaiah 9:6, we read, For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor,…
Have you been Chosen?
Being chosen is a big deal. Think about when you were a kid, and teams were being picked at recess for a game. The one thing you did not want to be was the last one chosen because that meant nobody wanted you on his or her team. Think about when you got engaged. Whether you were the one proposing or the one being proposed to, the moment was special because someone chose you to be their spouse. Think about…
How to Make Peace
In Romans 12:18, Paul said, “If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.” In issuing this statement, Paul made it clear that Christians are expected to be peacemakers. While peacemaking is a quality valued in the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 5:9), it is not a quality valued in the kingdoms of men, and, as a result, knowing how to make peace is a skill many people lack. Thankfully, God did not establish an expectation of…
Faith and Works
Do you realize how often we give and receive contrasting pieces of wisdom? Several popular proverbs in our culture are diametrical. For example, some people say that “birds of a feather flock together,” but others claim that “opposites attract.” One saying contends that similarities bring people together, while the other alleges that differences bring people together. It has been said that “actions speak louder than words,” but it has also been said that “the pen is mightier than the sword.”…
At the Foot of the Cross
When you read about the crucifixion, you’ll discover that several different groups were present at the foot of the cross, and each of these groups related to Jesus differently. In this article, I want to challenge you to consider which of these groups you would have been associated with based on your current spiritual standing. The first group we encounter at the foot of the cross is the crowd “who passed by” and “derided” Jesus (Matthew 27:39). This group is…
Who should go?
In Luke 15, Jesus provided a trilogy of parables known as the “lost” parables. These parables share a common plot. They each depict something valuable (i.e., sheep, coin, son) being separated from its guardian (i.e., shepherd, woman, father) before eventually being reunited to great fanfare because that which was “lost” had been “found” (Luke 15:6, 9, 22-24). However, there is one distinct difference between the first two parables and the last one. In the Parable of the Lost Son, no…
Words Matter
According to research conducted at the University of Arizona and published in the July 6, 2007 issue of Science magazine, the average person, regardless of gender, speaks approximately 16,000 words per day. That results in 5.8 million words spoken annually and more than 400 billion words spoken over an average lifetime. Needless to say, that is a lot of words, and that number does not even include the words we write, type, text, or post! With so many words being used by…
Whose Side Are You On
Maybe you are familiar with the events that unfolded at the base of Mount Sinai in Exodus 32 when the Israelites worshipped a golden calf, and the original Tablets of the Testimony were shattered. As you reflect on that story, put yourself in it, and consider with which of the following three groups you would have been aligned. We’ll call the first group, the idolators. This group asked Aaron to make them an idol because they interpreted Moses’ absence as…
The Immutability of God
Last Tuesday was the first day of autumn. That means for the past couple of weeks, we have witnessed the changing of the seasons. Temperatures have cooled and leaves are beginning their color transformation. And when leaves change colors, I am reminded of one of the most important yet easily overlooked characteristics of God. Scripture asserts that God is immutable. Immutability means that God does not and will not change. This is the attribute to which one of the psalmists…
It Only Matters Who God Is
In Exodus 3, God presented Himself to Moses via a bush that was burning without being consumed and commissioned him to be the individual who would lead the nation of Israel out of Egypt. Many would be excited to be chosen by God for such a special assignment, but not Moses. Instead of humbly accepting the task, Moses tried to find a way to get out of it. His initial response was, “Who am I that I should go to…
What Is Hope?
There is a vast difference between the world’s definition of hope and the Bible’s definition of hope. The way the world tends to use the word “hope” comes across as if it is just a “wish” or a “desire,” something you want but lack the certainty of whether or not it will come to fruition. For example, a student might say, “I hope I pass my Calculus class.” What that student is actually saying is that he wants to receive…
The Choices You Make
I recently watched the Harry Potter franchise of movies because I had never seen them nor read the books, and I wanted to see what all the fuss was about. One line in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets stood out to me. Professor Dumbledore, speaking to Harry, said, “It is our choices…that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities.” When it comes to choices, I think it is important for us to realize that there are some…