(Un) Common thoughts of Christ

What do we do when we are misunderstood, falsely spoken against, or wounded by the words of others?

Psalm 109 gives us a deeply personal glimpse into David’s heart. Rather than answering every accusation or defending himself at every turn, David says, “But I give myself unto prayer.”

In this short meditation, we consider David’s pleading in Psalm 109:1–5 and 21–31—his wounded heart, his dependence upon God’s mercy, and his confidence that the Lord stands at the right hand of the poor and needy.

A quiet reminder that we do not have to answer every word spoken against us. We can bring the matter to God, ask Him to act, and rest in this simple prayer:

“Let them curse, but bless thou.”

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“By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused… choosing rather…” — Hebrews 11:24–25.

Moses had the treasures, education, position, and opportunities of Egypt before him. Yet faith gave him a different estimate of everything. He refused what Egypt offered, chose identification with the people of God, esteemed the reproach of Christ greater riches, endured as seeing Him who is invisible, and finally sheltered beneath the blood of the Passover lamb.

In this Podcast Meditation, we consider these remarkable movements of faith in Moses’ life and what they teach us about looking beyond the things that are seen to Christ and the things of eternity.

Scriptures: Hebrews 11:24–28; Exodus 2:1–10; Exodus 12:1–13; Acts 7:22–23; Luke 9:28–31; 2 Corinthians 4:18; John 1:29; 1 Peter 1:18–19; Psalm 16:11.

This meditation has been adapted from W. T. P. Wolston’s message, “Moses; or, Refusing and Choosing,” Lecture 5 in Young Men of Scripture, with the original work serving as the basis for the thoughts and progression of this meditation.

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What did the Lord Jesus mean when He said, “Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me”?

In this meditation from Matthew 11, two striking accounts of young oxen being trained under the yoke help bring the Lord’s words vividly before us.

One young ox fights the yoke—charging ahead, pulling back, and shaking its head—until at last it becomes exhausted and bows beneath it. Another develops painful sores, not because the yoke was poorly fitted, but because it would never fully settle beneath it and allow the older, experienced ox beside it to carry the load with him.

These simple scenes offer a searching picture of our own hearts.

How often do we resist the Lord’s direction, struggle for our own way, or remain only partly surrendered? Yet the Lord Jesus does not merely tell us to bear a yoke—He invites us to be yoked with Him and to learn of Him.

He is the One who is perfectly meek and lowly in heart.

And it is there—with our own will laid down, learning His meekness, His lowliness, His patience, and His strength—that we discover the rest He promised:

“Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me… and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light.”

Scripture: Matthew 11:28–30; Ephesians 4:1–3

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In this timeless 1992 address from Walla Walla, Washington, Chuck Hendricks opens the Scriptures to examine one of the most important questions facing the assembly of God: What is the difference between a mistaken judgment and known unrighteousness? Grounding his remarks in the holiness and righteousness of God, he explains why believers are called to submit to divinely delegated authority while never confusing human fallibility with willful wickedness. This thoughtful message provides biblical clarity on assembly authority, the unity of the one body, and the foundational principle that "Holiness becometh Thine house, O Lord, forever." Original recording courtesy of WhoseFaithFollow.org. 

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Joshua 9 records a striking failure in Israel’s early days in the land. The Gibeonites did not defeat Israel with armies or weapons. They came with worn clothing, mouldy bread, humble words, and a carefully constructed story that stirred Israel’s sympathy.

Their appeal was convincing. Their circumstances looked genuine. They even spoke respectfully of “the name of the LORD thy God.”

But Scripture records the decisive failure: “They asked not counsel at the mouth of the LORD.”

In this meditation, we consider the danger of allowing sympathy—even sincere Christian sympathy—to rise above scriptural principle and dependence upon the Lord. A tender heart is valuable, but a tender heart still needs discernment.

Philippians 1 gives us the New Testament balance: love should abound, but it must abound “in knowledge and in all judgment.”

Joshua 9 leaves us with a searching question: When our emotions are deeply moved, who governs the decision—our sympathy, or the Lord?

Because sympathy is a wonderful servant, but a dangerous master.

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Joseph’s brothers stood before him in Egypt and confidently declared, “We be true men.” But more than twenty years earlier, these same men had sold Joseph into slavery, deceived their father, and buried the matter in silence.

In this episode, we trace the remarkable way God brought an old sin back into the light—not merely to expose it, but to awaken conscience, produce repentance, and open the door to restoration.

We follow the progression from “We be true men,” to “We are verily guilty,” to Judah’s confession that “God hath found out the iniquity of thy servants.” Along the way, we also look closely at Joseph’s tears—when he turned away and wept, when he wept privately over Benjamin, and finally when he could no longer refrain himself and wept openly before revealing, “I am Joseph.”

This is a powerful meditation on truth in the inward parts, the patience of God, the proving of repentance, and the heart of restoration.

Sometimes God allows years to pass before bringing a matter back before us. But delay does not mean forgetfulness. In His own time, He may bring the hidden thing into the light so that what was buried can finally be judged, confessed, and restored.

The question is not simply, “Am I a true man?”

The deeper question is: When God proves me, will I be willing to walk in the light?

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In this episode we examine the subtle tactic of the “red herring”—a distraction used to shift attention away from the real issue. Though the term itself is not found in Scripture, the pattern appears repeatedly when truth presses on the conscience. From the Samaritan woman at the well changing the subject when confronted by the Lord, to the Pharisees attempting to trap Jesus with political questions, the Bible shows how easily the heart looks for diversion rather than repentance.

We also consider how this same principle appears in spiritual life today. When Scripture calls for holiness, obedience, or separation from evil, conversations can quickly turn to side issues that avoid the real matter before God. The Lord Jesus consistently brought people back to the heart of the issue. This episode encourages us to recognize distractions, return to the authority of God’s Word, and respond honestly to the truth He places before us.

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In Mark 2, four men carry a helpless man to the Lord Jesus, only to find the doorway blocked. Their faith refuses to stop at the obstacle, while the scribes sit nearby reasoning in their hearts and missing the glory of the Person before them. 

This meditation considers the privilege of Capernaum, the accessibility of Jesus, the faith that brings need into His presence, and the solemn danger of possessing truth without truly seeing Christ. 

Above all, it reminds us that faith may not know what the Lord will do—but it knows who He is.

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In a world filled with responsibilities, pressures, distractions, and “many things,” the Lord Jesus speaks a simple and searching word to Martha: “One thing is needful.” In this 2007 address from St. Louis, Don Rule considers Luke 10 and Mary’s choice to sit at Jesus’ feet and hear His Word—a choice the Lord Himself calls “that good part.”

This meditation brings the Lord’s words directly into our own busy lives, reminding us that the Word of God is more than a book—it is God speaking to us. Whether young or old, burdened with responsibilities or troubled by circumstances, there remains one daily necessity for the spiritual life: to come away from the noise, sit at Jesus’ feet, hear His Word, and behold the beauty of the Lord.

The original address can be found on WhoseFaithFollow.org

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