So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples” (John 8:31, esv). You probably can’t remember the last time you used the word abide in a conversation. Most of us don’t tell our kids, “If you abide in my house, you live […]
Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed fervently that it would not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth. Then he prayed again, and heaven gave rain, and the earth bore its fruit (James 5:17–18, esv). The greatest complaint I hear about […]
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. He doesn’t cause them, but He doesn’t […]
This saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners”—and I am the worst of them (1 Timothy 1:15, hcsb). “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?” (Mark 2:16, esv). That was the reaction of the religious when seeing Jesus interacting with the common rabble […]
Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is (Ephesians 5:17, esv). Can God’s Word get your attention? The verse above should have you reaching for your Bible. Ephesians 5:17 is basically saying, “Hey! Pay attention and don’t be foolish! Understand the Lord’s will.” We can be sure of this: […]
Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him. An athlete is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules. It is the hard-working farmer who ought to have the first share of the crops. Think […]
This commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother (1 John 4:21, esv). When you’re having a problem in any relationship, you can grab a number of tools from your toolbox in an attempt to fix it. Perhaps one of the tools you’ve been in the habit of picking up […]
Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. I have sworn an oath and confirmed it, to keep your righteous rules. I am severely afflicted; give me life, O Lord, according to your word (Psalm 119:105–107, ESV)! What is God’s will for my life? Am I even on the […]
Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant (1 Corinthians 13:4, esv). The bulk of 1 Corinthians 13, the renowned love chapter, can be summarized in three statements: On the majors—action. On the minors—acceptance. In all things—love. Let’s start with the majors. There come times in close relationships […]
Now Thomas, one of the Twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place […]