If we find that God is withholding something we need, it’s wise to ask ourselves if we’ve gotten in the way by sinning or failing to act. Psalm 84 The Lord has promised to provide, so why doesn’t He always meet our needs when we ask? In today’s passage, His promise of provision has a … Continue reading The Problem of Unmet Needs
SEEK GOD FIRST
Matt. 6:33 Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. How dependent are you upon God? Stop and really think about it for a moment. As Christians, we like to think that we rely fully on Him, and on Sunday mornings we might even—with all … Continue reading SEEK GOD FIRST
The Blessing of Grace
Ephesians 2:4-10 Why did God save you? Was it because of His love for you, His mercy for your helpless condition, His desire to rescue you from hell, or His providential choice? All of these answers—along with many others—are correct. But do you know what God’s ultimate reason for salvation is? According to today’s passage, … Continue reading The Blessing of Grace
Evaluating Your Faith
Mark 11:20-24 It’s a good idea to pause every now and then to evaluate our spiritual development. Although we will experience different phases of faith throughout life, our goal should be to continue growing. Which phase sounds like you? Hesitant faith is characterized by struggling to believe God: We hope He’ll answer our prayer, but we’re … Continue reading Evaluating Your Faith
Our Firm Foundation
Psalm 62 At certain moments throughout history, God literally shook the earth. The ground quaked as His Son died on the cross (Matt. 27:51), and there will be an even greater upheaval in the future when Christ returns (Zech. 14:4). But even in our present day, the Lord often lets the various foundations of our … Continue reading Our Firm Foundation
THE CROSS: GOD’S PLAN
The cross has become a symbol of Christianity, but it’s so much more than a mere piece of jewelry hanging around someone’s neck. The crucifixion of Christ is such an important doctrine because understanding it correctly determines whether or not we have eternal life. This was not simply the execution of a Jewish man by … Continue reading THE CROSS: GOD’S PLAN
Don’t Fall for Satan’s Lies
Genesis 3:1-7 We’ve all occasionally fallen for a lie, whether it was something as trivial as false advertising or as serious as a scam that emptied a bank account. Whatever the trickery was, it can be traced back to the Father of Lies—Satan (John 8:44). And his most devastating deceptions are those that lead us … Continue reading Don’t Fall for Satan’s Lies
Can People Get Away With Sin?
Psalm 73 Doesn’t it sometimes seem that certain people never face consequences for their sin? Perhaps you know folks whose ungodly choices have caused them great trouble and suffering, yet there are also those who are prosperous and apparently happy despite their sinful lifestyle. Like the writer of today’s psalm, have you wondered why it … Continue reading Can People Get Away With Sin?
The Kingdom’s Open Door
Matthew 24:1-14 John the Baptist and Jesus Both preached, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matt. 3:2; Matt. 4:17). And though the nation of Israel rejected Christ as their king, His kingdom was not thwarted. When an idea recurs in Scripture, we are wise to study it well—and the Bible contains more than … Continue reading The Kingdom’s Open Door
God’s Perfect Love
1 John 4:7-10 God’s love can be hard to understand because it’s not like ours. We tend to love those whose character, attributes, and interests are appealing to us. But in God’s eyes, there is nothing attractive in us that makes us worthy of His affection. We are all sinners who have rebelled against Him. … Continue reading God’s Perfect Love