The Goodness of God
God is essentially good: He is not only good, but goodness itself! Psalm 119:68 declares, “You are good, and what you do is good…”
Bitterness: The Root That Destroys
Bitterness can be a very real issue in many of our lives. It remains one of the greatest problems in the church today. It is deeply destructive—capable of ruining our testimony for Christ and damaging our relationships with others.
The God of Patience
This is one of those attributes of God that you hardly ever hear people speak about, but I have been both encouraged and challenged by the patience of God. Encouraged when I look back and see just how patient He has been with me—and challenged, because I know how impatient I often am! But when […]
Separation: A Biblical Perspective
Question: Can you explain how one practices separation from evil in these three areas: one’s personal life, interpersonal relationships (family, friends, coworkers), and also in the setting of the local assembly? Response: Your question about separation is an excellent one—and a very important topic to consider. You identified three areas of separation: in one’s personal […]
Malachi – Seven Lessons From The Perplexed Prophet
We’re not told where Malachi was from or even when God called him into service. But his message was clear and needed by God’s people. We are no different today! In fact, many of the same conditions of Malachi’s day exist today. We can learn seven lessons from his message to help us be real for God in our day.
Resources for a Triumphant Christian Life
The Lord Jesus didn’t just die to forgive us—He rose again to empower us. When He said, “I have overcome the world” (John 16:33), He wasn’t just proclaiming victory for Himself—He was securing victory for us. And the aged apostle John, writing with the tenderness of a shepherd and the clarity of a seasoned servant, reminds us in his letters that Christ’s victory is meant to be seen in us and through us, every single day.
Jesus – The Great Overcomer
The victory of Jesus was not just something to admire—it was something to live in. As He said in John 16:33, “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”
The Christian and Mental Illness
Mental illnesses can distort our view of God and of those in our lives. Sometimes, mental illnesses contribute to our sinful behavior. But the good news is that God is a compassionate God who sees our struggles and is able to help us learn to manage mental illness and even bring help, healing, and hope!
Three Examples of Motherhood
Whether we speak of mothers by birth, adoption, or advocacy, it is important to realize that all mothers — and all women who love children — share a God-given love and instinct to care for those entrusted to them. This flows from the heart of God because this very nature is seen in God Himself.
Christ Our Substitute
Salvation was in the mind of God in eternity past and the method of that salvation is in the person and work of His beloved Son, the Lord Jesus. When we consider the work of salvation, one of the truths we learn is that Christ was our substitute. By this we mean that the Lord Jesus Christ died in the place of sinners.
The Risen Christ: Living, Victorious, and Caring
It is wonderful to remember and appreciate the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. The resurrection of the Lord Jesus is the foundation stone upon which our faith and hope is secured. Christianity is based on a relationship with a risen Savior.
Our Savior is not in the tomb. Our Savior is not in the grave. “He is not here. He has risen!”
Baptism
The subject of baptism is extremely important. It is one of the basic ordinances the Lord Jesus Christ gave His followers. As we turn to the Scripture, we will seek to answer several questions: What is Baptism? What does it mean to be baptized? What does it do for the follower of Christ?
The Jehovah of Joy
Joy is mentioned in the book of Philippians over and over. In the book of joy, we find references to several unique names for the Lord.
The Joy of Your Salvation
Believers experience spiritual joy through walking in harmony with the Lord, producing fruits of the Spirit. However, sin can grieve the Holy Spirit, diminishing joy but not affecting salvation, which is secure through Christ’s work. Restoring joy requires self-judgment and confession. Eternal security in salvation and the fluctuating experience of joy must not be confused; salvation stands immutable, while joy depends on the believer’s spiritual conduct.
The Assurance of Salvation
People often doubt their salvation, relying on feelings rather than God’s assurance. It’s not about the amount or strength of our faith, but the truth that our faith is in Christ and His work. We must believe God’s word over our feelings.
The Way Of Salvation
In Old Testament times, a donkey had to be redeemed by the sacrifice of a lamb according to the Law of God. This act points us to the Lord Jesus, the “Lamb of God,” who gave His life to redeem sinners, taking their punishment upon himself to grant them forgiveness and eternal life, demonstrating God’s love and justice.
Pursuing Peace With The Lord’s People
The Bible does not teach that disunity among believers is a difficulty or a problem but rather it is seen to be sin and weakness. In pursuing peace on a practical level with the Lord’s people, we must first confess our sin and then seek the Lord’s mind for it is His testimony!
Fellowship That Produces Contentment
Psalm 23 emphasizes that true contentment stems from a deep, personal relationship with the Lordrather than fleeting material blessings. David’s portrayal as a content sheep under the Lord’s guidance illustrates that provision and protection are secondary to the connection with the divine Shepherd. This relationship begins through recognizing Christ’s sacrifice and continues as one listens to His voice and follows His lead—where real satisfaction and joy are found, irrespective of life’s situations.
Oh, Magnify The Lord With Me!
The call to magnify the Lord is one of the greatest invitations to all the people to join together in praise. The life of the Lord Jesus exemplified this by glorifying God and bringing Him near to us. Paul the Apostle exemplified this through his desire to honor God in life and death, emphasizing that both our living and our passing can magnify and glorify Christ to those around us.
Biblical Principles for Giving
In the passages from 2 Corinthians 8 and 9, giving is highlighted as an expression of God’s grace, a means of fellowship, and a testament of self-giving and love. It’s a voluntary act that should be joyful, and is both an act of worship and a public demonstration of faith that brings glory to God.
Thoughts From Philippians 1
Philippians advocates for joy and unity amongst believers, with Paul emphasizing confidence in Christ, who will complete His good work in us. The church in Philippi, based on prayer, power, and praise, is exhorted to live worthy of the gospel, striving together and not succumbing to fear amidst adversities, recognizing suffering as a part of Christian calling.
The Lamb of God
The subject of the Lamb is one of the most beautiful themes in the Word of God. It’s threaded throughout Scripture, from Genesis to Revelation. As the Lamb of God, the Lord Jesus was gentle, sinless, and the perfect sacrifice that could take away the sin of the world.
Disciplines of A Disciple
Spiritual discipline is essential for spiritual maturity. We must allow the Spirit of God to use the Word of God to strengthen us and grow us to spiritual maturity, which is the by-product of a spiritually disciplined life dependent on the Lord.
Caught In A Cave
The Cave of Adullam became a training ground for David and his mighty men. Everyone experiences cave like circumstances in life. Your cave can be a dark, cold, and lonely place or it can become a classroom in the school of God where we learn that He is our refuge and He is all we need!
What Is Truth?
The Background This question was asked by Pilot. He asked it while interrogating the Lord Jesus in John 18. There we find the setting laid out for us, it almost looks like a court room drama. In verses 28-32 we have the indictment against the Lord Jesus. He is brought to the Praetorium early in […]
The Christ of Resurrection
The are many religions in the world, but only Christianity is based on a relationship with a risen Savior! The Lord Jesus Christ is not a dead Savior. He is a living, victorious, caring, mighty, loving, physical and ever-present Christ.
The Truth of The Resurrection
The Resurrection of Christ is the very cornerstone of Christianity. From this truth grows everything else!
For God So Loved
In one of the most well-known verses in the Bible, we see the greatest love ever manifested. Of all the gifts ever given, none compares to when God gave His only begotten Son!
Right Thinking Towards God
When we are occupied with who our God is and what He is like as He is revealed on the pages of Scripture, it renews our strength, helps us see things from His perspective, and gives us spiritual energy to walk by faith!
The Wonderful Name of Jesus
Names were often used to communicate God’s message, establish a connection with God, establish authority over another, or indicate a new beginning or direction in a person’s life. For many unsaved, the name of Jesus is simply a curse word, but to those who believe, that blessed name is very precious.
The Lamb That God Provided
The subject of the Lamb is one of the most beautiful themes in the Word of God. It’s threaded throughout Scripture, from Genesis to Revelation.
The Way. The Truth. The Life.
When our Lord Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” He was saying salvation, fellowship with the Father, enjoyment of the truth, and genuine life full of joy and peace can only be found in and through Him!