Sin
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Judas: Divine Sovereignty or Human Responsibility?
Leaning back against Jesus, he asked him, “Lord, who is it?”Jesus answered, “It is the one to whom I will give this piece of bread when I have dipped it in the dish.” Then, dipping the piece of bread, he gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot. As soon as Judas took the… Continue reading
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Remember Your Chains
“I, Paul, write this greeting in my own hand. Remember my chains. Grace be with you.” – Colossians 4:18 At the end of his letter to the church in Colossae, Paul calls his faithful brothers and sisters in Christ to “remember my chains.” He wasn’t seeking their pity; he was trying to encourage those who… Continue reading
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The Echo of a King’s Failure: Thoughts on 2 Samuel 11-18
I’ve been revisiting 2 Samuel this week (namely chapters 11-18). And man… talk about how one terrible decision can lead to so much heartache and destruction! Two passages of Scripture stand out to me. The first is at the very end of chapter 11 (v.27). After David commits adultery with Bathsheba, she becomes pregnant, and… Continue reading
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The Darkness We Must Confront in Genesis 19
Lot went outside to meet them and shut the door behind him and said, “No, my friends. Don’t do this wicked thing. Look, I have two daughters who have never slept with a man. Let me bring them out to you, and you can do what you like with them. But don’t do anything to… Continue reading
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The Most Dangerous Judgments We Make
When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is—that she is a sinner.”– Luke 7:39 Luke places this moment inside an ordinary dinner and exposes something that’s anything but ordinary. Jesus… Continue reading
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Genesis 4: Eve’s First Words After the Fall
A few days ago I started a new Bible in One Year reading plan for 2026, and yesterday I was reading in Genesis chapter 4. And the very first verse in chapter 4 (where Eve gives birth to Cain) got my attention: “I have gotten a man with the help of the Lord.” Now, the… Continue reading
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Does God View All Sin the Same?
It’s a question that a new Christian might ask, perhaps out of confusion, or maybe even fear: Does God really see all sin the same? We sense the weight of the question because we know, instinctively, that not every wrong feels equal. Yet Scripture leads us to a deeper, more careful answer – one that invites… Continue reading
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Beware of Falling Objects
Joab sent David a full account of the battle. He instructed the messenger: “When you have finished giving the king this account of the battle, the king’s anger may flare up, and he may ask you, ‘Why did you get so close to the city to fight? Didn’t you know they would shoot arrows from… Continue reading
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No More Guilt and Shame
Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. – Romans 8:1 If anyone knew what it felt like to live with regret, it was the Apostle Paul. He did everything in his power to destroy the early church. Imagine the memories that must have haunted him – the faces of… Continue reading
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Why “Just Follow Your Heart” is Horrible Advice
“I the LORD search the heart and examine the mind, to reward each person according to their conduct, according to what their deeds deserve.” – Jer. 17:10 In Jeremiah chapter 17, the Lord’s prophet draws a sharp line between those who trust in human strength and those who trust in the Lord. Judah’s sin was… Continue reading
About Me
Welcome! I’m Scott (aka Former Blackout Artist), and I’m so happy you decided to drop in! I hope you find the content here spiritually enlightening and uplifting. Most of all, I hope that my love of Christ is revealed through my writing and that it encourages you in some way today. Thanks for stopping by!