Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night (Psalm 1:1–2, esv). Let’s take an informal survey. Question: […]
We all stumble in many ways (James 3:2a, esv). Maybe you’ve noticed one or two flaws in a few of the Christians around you. (Just maybe.) But that’s not really so surprising, right? After all, we’ve got a few flaws ourselves. If the church is supposed to be a place where hope abounds—even with sin […]
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God (Philippians 4:6, esv). When Paul coaches us, “Do not be anxious about anything,” it’s easy to react with indignation. “Really, Paul?! Have you looked at my life lately? Don’t be anxious about […]
Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves (Philippians 2:3, nasb). Are you having a tough day today? Been a little down in the dumps lately? There’s a way to fix that—but not by “working on it.” The way to increase your joy […]
He came to the disciples and found them sleeping. And he said to Peter, “So, could you not watch with me one hour” (Matthew 26:40, esv)? Most likely, you’ve read and heard the story so often, you could almost quote the narrative by heart. You’ve spent time trying to picture what Jesus was enduring, both […]
Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, the offspring of David, as preached in my gospel, for which I am suffering, bound with chains as a criminal. But the word of God is not bound! (2 Timothy 2:8-9, esv). The ancient catacombs are six hundred miles of tunnels underneath Rome that were in use for […]
So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited (2 Corinthians 12:7, ESV). God allows bad things to happen to good people. The phrase “good people” is a […]
Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain (Psalm 127:1a, esv). There’s no pain like family pain. “Unless the Lord builds the house,” the house will be built in vain and filled with pain. Family life is delightful and dynamic if prioritized, but difficult and draining if neglected. If life […]
“The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks” (Luke 6:45, esv). According to one of Aesop’s fables, a man and his grandson were traveling to town. The old […]
He was telling them a parable to show that at all times they ought to pray and not to lose heart (Luke 18:1, nasb). “Once I get to feeling better,” you may sometimes think, “I’ll start praying again with more regularity.” “Once I’m not so upset, once my heart is not so overwhelmed, maybe I’ll […]