Jonah 1:17-2:10

God’s compassion for those outside of Christ is so different from ours.  He focuses our attention on this in one of the most sublime short stories in literature: the little book of Jonah.  

What does it mean to ask for daily bread?   

In Romans 5:1-11, the Apostle Paul preached the bad news of our sin and the good news of our free, once-for-all, justification and salvation. The heart of passage is that, in Christ, God loves sinners, justifies them, saves them, and as a consequence, sanctifies them by his love and Spirit. 

This devotional explores Jesus' parable about two people who pray. One is proud and confident of his  alleged avoidance of sin and good works; the other recognizes his sin and cries out to the Lord for mercy. Mercy is what he received.

All human boasting is subverted by the surprising grace of God's calling and election. The Christian's boasting is inverted, redirected away from ourselves toward the cruciform glory of Christ our Mediator.  

This devotional examines Jesus' request to avoid the cross, if possible; coupled with his wholehearted resolve to endure the cross for his people. This is not merely an example of radical obedience, but the foundation for the forgiveness, righteousness, and reconciliation of the Christian.

God has robbed the graves of his people

This devotional unpacks Jesus' praying for Peter that his faith would not fail and the implications for us that our faithful High Priest lives to intercede for us. 

 "To those who struggle with faith and life, Paul assures that nothing - absolutely nothing - that can keep us from the love of God in Christ Jesus."

Westminster Seminary California President Joel Kim delivers the spring 2020 President's Chapel

Westminster Seminary California Professor A. Craig Troxel gives a morning devotion from 1 Corinthians 13.

Westminster Seminary California Professor A. Craig Troxel gives a morning devotion from 1 Corinthians 13.

Westminster Seminary California President Joel Kim gives a morning devotion from Psalm 137.

Westminster Seminary California Professor A. Craig Troxel gives a morning devotion from 1 Corinthians 13.

Westminster Seminary California President Joel Kim gives a morning devotion from Psalm 3.

The psalmist sets forth the way of comprehensive, whole-hearted devotion to God’s law. And in light of his own sin and the evil of the world, he expresses a great uneasiness, mixed with an expectant faith in God for help.

Graduating senior, Ryan Thomas  gives a morning devotion from Hosea 5

Psalm 68 records the march of God across the desert from Sinai to Zion.  Probably composed for the installation of the ark of the covenant in the Jerusalem temple, this Psalm lies at the heart of Israel’s story—and ours as well.  

C.S. Lewis wrote that the first step to “acquire humility” is “to realize that one is proud. If you think you are not conceited, it means you are very conceited indeed.” Lewis is probably correct that pride shadows us more than we know. Thankfully the Word of God helps us to see how we can re-orient our lives, speech and motives more humbly. Moreover, the eternal Word become flesh helps us to see what humbling oneself looks like; especially when it is motivated by love.

Psalm 2 is an obvious Messianic Psalm and is referenced several times in the New Testament. We will look briefly at the Psalm and then in three interesting places where the New Testament shows its fulfillment.

When Paul says "Love does not envy" he is addressing the earnestness of our desire. A strong or intense desire is not necessarily a bad thing. In fact, Scripture tells us to "earnestly desire" higher spiritual gifts among other things (1Cor 12.31). But if we desire or love something in the wrong way and to the wrong degree, then we have entered into the realm of envy. The darkness of envy will not rest until it has snuffed out its rival, even if that rival is the "light of the world." 

The Lord cares for us in the midst of the suffering we face in this life as Christians. So let us revel in his love and gratefully love him in return.