The Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. (John 10:17-18) Christ came to earth with his death in mind. The cross wasn’t a surprise ending. His heart of all-consuming love did…

Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure. (1 John 3:2-3) A sign recently appeared…

Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives, and do not be harsh with them. (Col. 3:18-19) Scripture never justifies dictatorial rule by one spouse, nor does it require the abandonment of personal dignity by another. Despite the controversies of our age over Scripture’s instruction, the Bible’s marital…

You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy. You will again have compassion on us; you will tread our sins underfoot and hurl all our iniquities into the depths of the sea. (Micah 7:18-19) Minister and church leader, Alexander Whyte, told the story of an older saint who was nearly destroyed by…

My son, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments, for length of days and years of life and peace they will add to you. (Prov. 3:1-2) When we love God, pleasing him pleases us. Loving God and loving ourselves are not competing motivations. When we please the One we love…

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, and if children, then heirs — heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ…. (Rom. 8:15-17) Here the apostle Paul puts us into the middle of…

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. (James 1:2-4) You may remember Brit Hume as a national news anchor, but not know that he became…

My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. (Psalm 139:15-16 NIV) No matter…

God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but…

By this we shall know that we are of the truth and reassure our heart before him; for whenever our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and he knows everything. (1 John 3:19-20) If our hearts continue to condemn us after genuine confession, this is not of God. Holding onto guilt denies…