This article is the first part of a two-part series. The second part will take a look at when pastors abuse their congregations.
The following entries are excerpts from Chad Bird’s new book, Untamed Prayers: 365 Daily Devotions on Christ in the Book of the Psalms (1517 Publishing, 2025), pgs. 311 and 335
Why did the church dedicate a day to St. Michael anyway? Who is he, and what does he do?

All Articles

God has found a way to be God even for the likes of us. He has found a way to save sinners.
The Messiah is exiled from God on the cross as Israel was. Forsaken as Israel was forsaken. Cast away from Yahweh as Israel was. Why?
Today, Maundy Thursday, we receive the feast of Christ’s true body and blood for us, for the forgiveness of our sins. All of them.
How fitting that we have our feet washed by the very God from whom we once ran in terror and shame.
Christ has come to make every last aspect of your life the object of his eternal, never-ending, always transitive grace.
Easter must be seen in light of the cross. It must never overshadow Good Friday. They are a packaged deal!
Obviously, the LORD has no intention of slapping a bandage on creation. He will completely restore—it will be made new.
Jesus died for the people who put Him to death. Jesus rose for the people whose minds rejected the idea of a resurrection.
The sacrifice of Jesus stands completed, once for all, and we believe in the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come.
On Good Friday, poetic justice is satisfied. Poetic mercy is all which remains.
On this Maundy Thursday, in particular, let the “for you” of Christ’s gifts dominate.
Simon carried the cross, but Jesus was carried by the cross to death.