His master said to him, “Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.” (Matt. 25:23) My wife, Kathy, ran across a news story about a woman from her childhood named Ruth. According to the article, Ruth was…

“I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (Jer. 29:11 NIV) We can be extremely grateful for the sacrifice of Jesus that paid for our sins, and still be extremely burdened by the guilt that…

The Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the…

In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. (1 John 4:9) God’s love for us is the soil in which our love for him grows. So, identifying his grace in all of Scripture is not simply…

Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. (1 Pet. 4:12-13) If every day of the Christian…

Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things….

He drew me up from the pit of destruction, out of the miry bog; and he set my feet upon a rock making my steps secure. He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God. Many will see and fear, and put their trust in the LORD. (Ps. 40:1-2)…

In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us. (Eph. 1:7-8) God forgives us for our trespasses by the blood of his Son. This great provision is a very precious truth to remember when we sense the magnitude of…

Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” (1 Pet. 5:5) How can humility be a conduit of grace for us – and others? That depends on how you define humility. Humility is often not prized in our culture because it is…

We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. (1 Thess. 4:13-14) The most…