God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ — by grace you have been saved — and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus….

As he was setting out on his journey, a man ran up and knelt before him and asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” (Mark 10:17) Duty and doctrine dispensed without grace can create only two possible human responses — human pride or despair. People will either think that they…

You have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God. (Rom. 8:15-16) Long ago I read the account of a Christian who did not fully grasp the meaning of this verse until visiting a busy market…

One will scarcely die for a righteous person —though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die — but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Rom. 5:7-8) Are you okay with God? Do you know God loves you? When we ask…

We know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. (Rom. 8:28) Paul tells us in Romans 8:28 that God works all things together for the good of those who love him. Paul knows we live in a fallen world. We’re going…

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. (Matt. 6:9-13) Have…

The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin. (Exodus 34:6-7) Sometimes we use catch phrases to describe the grace we require for a relationship with our holy God: We describe grace as a…

I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world. (John 16:33) When English missionary Ann Judson accompanied her husband, Adoniram, to Burma, she could not have predicted how important she would be in reaching millions…

The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working. Elijah was a person with a nature like ours, and he prayed fervently that it might 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…

For even if I made you grieve with my letter, I do not regret it . . . because you were grieved into repenting. For you felt a godly grief. (2 Cor. 7:8-9) The Apostle Paul tells us in Second Corinthians 7:10 that “godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas…