Everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith (1 John 5:4, esv). “Trees don’t grow to the sky,” economists sometimes say. This expression suggests that things in life reach a maximum rate of return, above which they’re not able to achieve any […]
“Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit” (John 12:24, esv). In God’s economy, “fruit” is the evidence of a life changed by Jesus Christ. And when it comes to bearing fruit—bearing “much fruit,” in […]
The Lord appointed a great fish to swallow up Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights (Jonah 1:17, esv). The part that doesn’t often get noticed in Jonah’s well-known, underwater adventure is the connection between the moment when “the Lord spoke to the fish, and it vomited […]
Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him (Colossians 2:6, esv). Do you need a crisis of faith? “A crisis? No thanks!” we might be tempted to respond, lumping crisis in with root canal or bankruptcy. But in the life of a Christ-follower, a crisis can be a very good thing—in […]
Whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses (Mark 11:25, esv). Never allow yourself to rationalize that forgiveness is anything other than a choice. If you don’t do it, it’s not because you can’t do it. It’s because […]
Many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him. So Jesus said to the Twelve, “Do you want to go away as well” (John 6:66–67, esv)? In life and friendship, there are moments when your presence alone is enough. At difficult times, just being there may be all that’s required to convey […]
Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known (Jeremiah 33:3, esv). When you go to God in prayer, asking for something you need, entreating Him for an answer, what would you calculate your chances are of receiving a yes? Slim? None? Somewhere […]
Jesus called them to him and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant” (Matthew 20:25–26, esv). The mother of James and John once […]
The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple (Psalm 19:7b, esv). God speaks to us through all He has created and all He has written. Psalm 19:7 is a prompt to consider the faithfulness of Scripture in moving us from ignorance to wisdom. The word testimony depicts God as witnessing to Himself. […]
“May God give you of the dew of heaven and of the fatness of the earth and plenty of grain and wine. Let peoples serve you, and nations bow down to you. Be lord over your brothers, and may your mother’s sons bow down to you. Cursed be everyone who curses you, and blessed be […]