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So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most. Hebrews 4:16 (NLT)
Throughout the ages, it was not customary for subjects of a king or other authority to approach with boldness. Notable exceptions would be the children of monarchs who could come up to the throne boldly and approach the king.
We are children of the King of kings, and he is extended an invitation to us to come before him with bol...
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For every time you eat this bread and drink this cup, you are announcing the Lord’s death until he comes again. 1 Corinthians 11:26 (NLT)
The Lord’s Supper, or Communion, is not without controversy. There have been debates over its meaning and significance for centuries. There have been various interpretations regarding the elements of Communion. Segments of the church believe them to be literal, while others see them as only symbolic.
The result is that there are churches that have deempha...
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Be alert, stand firm in the faith, be courageous, be strong. 1 Corinthians 16:13 (CSB)
Stories of courage and heroism inspire us. In the Bible, we read of Daniel facing the lion’s den, or Peter and the apostles, standing before the Council, declaring, “we must obey God rather than man.” Or we might recall Rosa Parks refusing to give up her seat on the bus. These are heroic moments, but what does it mean to live courageously every day?
What Is Courage?
The dictionary defines courage as:...
I am resolved to obey your statutes to the very end. Psalm 119:112 (CSB)
It is the time of year when people make New Year’s resolutions, or more accurately, New Year’s good intentions. We joke that we forget most declarations by the middle of January. Many New Year’s resolutions involve diet or exercise; even though we make commitments with the best intentions, the temptation is always present.
Making resolutions is easy; keeping them is hard. Sometimes, even immediate goals prove difficult...
But when the right time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, subject to the law. Galatians 4:4 (NLT)
The birth of Christ is the focal point of history. The Bible tells us that the saints who lived before His birth looked forward to that day when the Promised one would come, and those who love God who have lived since that time look back to Christ because He came to save us from our sins.
Additionally, every believer who loves God looks forward to the time when we will see Him face to fa...
Moses was 120 years old when he died, yet his eyesight was clear, and he was as strong as ever. Deuteronomy 34:7 (NLT)
Last week, I went to see the optometrist. As I expected, I needed a stronger prescription. When we were young, many of us most likely took our eyesight for granted. I don’t think I spent much time appreciating the gift of sight. But as I grow older and now need assistance reading the text or the computer screen, I value the gift of seeing even more.
However, even if we have...
And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. 2 Corinthians 3:18 (NIV)
Transformers is a multibillion-dollar franchise of toys, comic books, video games, and movies. The premise is that two alien robot factions at war can transform into other forms, such as vehicles and animals, and then back again to their original state.
As Christ-followers, we are to be t...
I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. Philippians 4:11 (NLT)
Contentment can be elusive. Despite the tenth commandment, or maybe because of it, contentment can be challenging to achieve. Even if we are content right now, we will soon be put to the test. Contentment is not natural. Paul said that he learned how to be content.
Discontent is a prevalent human trait, but if that weren’t enough, there are forces at work to ensure that we do not stay content for very long. Capita...
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Joyful are people of integrity, who follow the instructions of the Lord. Joyful are those who obey his laws and search for him with all their hearts. They do not compromise with evil, and they walk only in his paths. Psalm 119:1–3 (NLT)
The introductory verses in Psalm 119 describe a path of success for anyone following God. Simply put, it is wholehearted obedience and allowing no compromise with evil. The way is not always easy; it can be challenging to find traveling companions.
Being ful...
Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, so it is with Christ’s body. We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other. Romans 12:4–5 (NLT)
When we asked Jesus to forgive our sins and we accepted his gift of salvation, we became a member of the great and glorious body of Christ. There is also an expression of the body of Christ at the local level; we are many members with many different backgrounds, gifts, interests, and abilities. It is a mystery...
Oh, that we might know the Lord! Let us press on to know him. He will respond to us as surely as the arrival of dawn or the coming of rains in early spring.” Hosea 6:3 (NLT)
For you need endurance, so that after you have done God’s will, you may receive what was promised. Hebrews 10:36 (CSB)
In the great hymn Amazing Grace, John Newton gave us these words: “Through many dangers, toils and snares, I have already come; ’Tis grace hath brought me safe thus far, and grace will lead me home.”...
Then he asked me, “Son of man, can these bones become living people again?” “O Sovereign Lord,” I replied, “you alone know the answer to that.” Then he said to me, “Speak a prophetic message to these bones and say, ‘Dry bones, listen to the word of the Lord! Ezekiel 37:3–4 (NLT)
Dem bones Dem bones Dem dry bones
Dem bones Dem bones Dem dry bones
Dem bones Dem bones Dem dry bones,
Hear the word of the Lord.
A Situation Beyond Hope?
We know that God is our healer. We believe tha...
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