- 05/19/2013
Benefits of Having the Holy Spirit
The disciples were blessed to be in Jesus' inner circle—can you imagine the countless benefits they enjoyed from listening to His teaching and watching Him do supernatural wonders? Perhaps you've wished you, too, could have lived in those days and walked the dusty roads with Him. From our present perspective, we can't conceive of anything greater than seeing Jesus in person.
1 comments - 05/16/2013
The Advantages of Goal Setting
If you've ever been locked out of your house, you know how important keys are. For believers, goal setting is a key that opens the door to Christlike living and affects us in a number of ways. Let's think about five changes we can look for.
1 comments - 05/12/2013
Do You Honor Your Mother?
Respecting mothers and fathers is so important to the Lord that one of His Ten Commandments relates to parents. On this Mother's Day weekend, it seems fitting to outline ways to honor Mom.
1 comments - 05/09/2013
Faith vs. Reason
One of the first things people tend to do in times of hardship is to point a finger, trying to find someone or something to blame for their adversity. If we are hurting in life, certainly it must be someone else's fault, right?
1 comments - 05/05/2013
The Alternatives to Patience
Have you ever felt the Lord calling you to something really big—maybe some task that seemed impossible or a goal that would no doubt take years to achieve? Most likely, some aspiration or God-given promise just came to mind. As you think about it, let's consider three common courses of action.
- 04/30/2013
Telling It like It Is
The blind man was willing to answer questions about his healing, regardless of who was asking. Responses to his testimony varied. The neighbors argued over the genuineness of his story and demanded to know how he came to see. The man explained what had happened, with no embellishments: he'd met a man named Jesus, who gave him some instructions. When he obeyed, he was healed. Though the neighbors couldn't deny what had happened, they had trouble accepting the account, because they could not understand it. The world still does the same thing—what they can't explain, they try to deny.
2 comments - 04/28/2013
Telling Your Story
The Lord will use a Christian's personal testimony in powerful ways. As we speak about how God has rescued and changed us, the Holy Spirit can heighten people's interest in spiritual matters and use our words to help them seek Christ as their Savior.
- 04/25/2013
Personal Holiness
If you were to randomly walk up to a man on the street and ask him if he is going to heaven, he would very likely tell you yes. If you asked why, he would probably list the good things he has done. Unbelievers and even many churchgoers cannot understand why their works are insufficient for redemption. In fact, many people do not recognize their need for redemption at all.
- 04/22/2013
Encouragement for All Seasons
Spring, summer, fall, and winter—these are the seasons of the year. Life also has its seasons. Some are filled with joy, while others are characterized by difficulty. Take comfort because there is a principle from the Bible that can encourage and sustain you through every season: Our God is faithful.
- 04/21/2013
God Calls in Various Ways
When you hear the phrase "call of God," what comes to mind? Many people assume it refers only to God's call upon the lives of professional ministers. This could not be further from truth. The Lord issues no fewer than four specific calls to every single believer.
1 comments - 04/17/2013
Looking Beyond Disappointment
When disappointments come your way in life, it is easy to blame yourself or others—or even both. Frequently it is difficult to know what to say or do because you cannot quite identify the real cause or purpose of the letdown.
- 04/14/2013
Faith vs. Reason
Hebrews 11:1 describes faith as "the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen." Another way of saying that is "knowing that God will honor His Word."
1 comments - 04/12/2013
Triumph through Failure
We've all made tracks through the valley of failure. What matters is how we respond: do we give up and live a defeated life, or do we believe God can restore us?
- 04/09/2013
Our Choices Matter
Most people who choose to walk through the wide gate don't stop to consider the pros and cons of taking the path leading to destruction. Instead, they drift onto that roadway without thinking of the consequences. The narrow gate is different—we must deliberately choose to pass through it and take the sparsely populated way to heaven.
1 comments - 04/07/2013
Expressions of God's Goodness
We often think of God's goodness in terms of our tangible blessings and upbeat events. While these surely are expressions of divine goodness, we should not interpret God's love only by how He demonstrates it in positive circumstances. We often experience His goodness best in our darkest hours—in those situations, He shows Himself to be good in deeper ways, as He alone can (2 Cor. 12:9).
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