Martin Wickens
Speaking the Truth in Love
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Genesis 10-11; Psalm 4
Genesis 10-11 Chapter 10 may seem to be one of those chapters to get through in order to get on with the rest of the story. After all, how does a list of names and nations compare to the devastating rebellion and judgment at Babel? But looked at another way, chapter 10 serves as one…
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Genesis 6-9; Psalm 3
Genesis 6-9 Several words stand out to me in this passage. Words that describe humanity include, wickedness (6:5) evil (6:5) violence (6:10) corrupt (6:12) Yet, Noah found grace in the eyes of God. Words associated with Noah include, Just Perfect (not sinless, but upright) Walked with God Righteous We could add obedient and faithful to…
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Genesis 3-5; Psalm 2
Genesis 3-5 “Yea, hath God said…” Satan’s opening salvo against God began with these words. He followed this initial question with simple, yet effective, tactics to deceive Eve and Adam. But to say Satan deceived them is not to remove any blame from them. Had they embraced the truth, the deception would not have worked.…
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Genesis 1-2; Psalm 1
The consistent themes that run through God’s Word point to a single author. Genesis 1 opens with a clear division between light and darkness. Genesis 1 also describes the natural order of each creature or plant reproducing after its own kind. Genesis 2 speaks specifically of the creation of humanity in God’s image. Genesis 2…
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2010's – ✔ A Time for Reflection
People seem hardwired to reflect on the past. It doesn’t take much for an individual or group to reminisce on the old days. As we approach the 2020’s I feel like we only just began the new millennium! A new year. A new decade. In what feels like what is still a new century and…
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God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen
“… at the first sound of ‘God bless you, merry gentlemen! May nothing you dismay!’, Scrooge seized the ruler with such energy of action that the singer fled in terror, leaving the keyhole to the fog and even more congenial frost.” A Christmas Carol, 1843 The carol that caused such terror in Ebenezer Scrooge dates…
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"I Heard the Bells…" A Carol of Hope with Roots in Political Division
On Christmas morning of 1863, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow sat and listened to the bells of churches ring out in the traditional celebration of the day. Some 1800 years had passed since the time of Christ and the Gospel had spread far and wide across the globe. Much had been accomplished. In some places, you could…
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How to Pray for One Another – Peace and Unity (3/4)
Part 1 – https://martinwickens.com//2019/07/how-to-pray-for-one-another-thankfulness-1-4 Part 2 – https://martinwickens.com//2019/10/how-to-pray-for-one-another-wisdom-knowledge-2-4/ Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus: 6 That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Romans 15:5-6 Many years ago I remember my pastor…
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Hymn Focus: "Weary of Earth, and Laden with My Sin"
In 1866 Samuel J. Stone penned a hymn that he later described as the one most dear to him. Samuel was born in 1839 and during his 61 years of life wrote some 57 hymns. The most famous being “The Church’s One Foundation”. His poems, such as The Knight of Intercession and Lays of Iona…
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Book Review: Does God Desire All to Be Saved – #4
Part 1 – Introduction Part 2 – Piper’s Aim Part 3 – Two Wills How extensive is the sovereign will of God? This is the chapter title of chapter 3 in John Piper’s small book. The author asserts, Behind the complex relationship of the two wills in God is the foundational biblical premise that God…