Author: Gary Combs

“Though I am free and belong to no man, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. To the Jews I became like a Jew…To those not having the law I became like one not having the law …To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become

“The women said to Naomi: ‘Praise be to the LORD, who this day has not left you without a kinsman-redeemer’” (Ruth 4:14). Have you ever noticed that you really don’t appreciate something until it’s gone? We have this terrible tendency to take things for granted. We start off taking our parents for granted. “I must

“So she went down to the threshing floor and did everything her mother-in-law told her to do” (Ruth 3:6). “His winnowing fork is in his hand to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire” (Luke 3:17). The threshing floor was

“Why have I found such favor in your eyes” (Ruth 2:10 NIV)? Have you ever been someone’s favorite? Favorite son, employee, player, student… have you ever been the “apple” of someone’s eye? I recently read about an experiment with underperforming elementary age students that they divided into two groups. They took the first group of

“In the days when the judges ruled, there was a famine in the land, and a man from Bethlehem in Judah, together with his wife and two sons, went to live for a while in the country of Moab” (Ruth 1:1). I once passed through the land of Moab, but I didn’t try to live

“You must deny yourselves and not do any work because on this day atonement will be made for you, to cleanse you. Then, before the LORD, you will be clean from all your sins” (Leviticus 16:29-30). Do you ever feel like a hamster running on a wheel? You strive and drive and bear down harder, but you

Then he got into the boat and his disciples followed him. Without warning, a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!” He replied, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” Then

“Risk your life and get more than you ever dreamed of. Play it safe and end up holding the bag” (Matthew 19:26, Message). I think Americans are becoming too safety conscious. We’ve become the most risk-adverse generation in history. We’ve made everything so safe, that the only danger we’re in is of taking all the

“Your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God” (2 Corinthians 9:11). Have you noticed how gratitude and generosity are connected? People who see their possessions as a gift from God show gratitude. They are full of thanks. Since they recognize God as their source, they worship Him as Owner and Provider. They see themselves as