Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls. (1 Pet. 1:8) The gospel must be reflected in the attitudes as well…

You have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. (Col. 3:3-4) When all her older siblings had left home, my youngest daughter only had me to play with at the dinner table. One of our favorite…

I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. (Phil. 1:6) When an architect designs a building, he plans all the details. He draws in the spiral staircase, the dormer windows, and even the attic and basement. But while…

Do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance (Rom. 2:4) One night in high school, I stayed out well past my curfew. I was having fun, and the time had gotten away from me. I was wrong, and…

Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father, who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace, comfort your hearts and establish them in every good work and word.” (2 Thess. 2:16-17) If you were only measured by the attitudes and actions of your life, would you be…

The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing. (Zeph. 3:17) A small statue at our door displays a Middle Eastern father with robe and turban, on his…

There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. (Rom. 8:1-2) This beautiful phrase at the beginning of Romans 8 changes everything: “There is therefore now no condemnation for…

For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. (Heb. 12:11) In his book, The Great Divorce, C. S. Lewis describes a man troubled by a red lizard sitting on his shoulder.  This lizard, representing sin and…

Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. (1 John 4:7-8) We all want to experience intimacy with God. We speak to him in prayer, and we listen for his…

We know that God works all things together for the good of those who love Him, who are called according to His purpose. For those God foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son (Rom. 8:28-29 BSB) We can throw the words of this verse around with casual ease, and…