Above all, maintain constant love for one another, for love covers a multitude of sins. (1 Pt. 4:8) He was a difficult man. Everywhere he went he was disruptive and disrespectful. People tried to avoid him. One day he burst into my office and said, “Today I’m going to tell you my story.” I didn’t …
Pursue peace with everyone, and the holiness without which no one will see the Lord. (Heb. 12:14) I use to believe we could become holy by saying many prayers, making many sacrifices, and through being perpetually good. Holiness was about doing certain things and not doing other things. I have moved a long way from …
And the Spirit drove him out into the wilderness. He was in the wilderness forty days, tempted by Satan… (Mk. 1:12-13) During the summer of 2015, my wife and I went to Israel. It was my first visit to the Holy Land. I saw, heard, and felt many things I’ll never forget. One such …
Let us hold fast to the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who has promised is faithful. (Heb. 10:23) How can we deepen our faith? How can we share it? How can we nurture it in our family and express it at work? Because there is nothing more essential than our faith, it …
Now in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate there is a pool, called in Hebrew Bethzatha, which has five porticoes. In these lay many invalids—blind, lame, and paralyzed. One man was there who had been ill for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had been there a long time, he said …
“Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.” (1 Cor. 11:1) Who do we imitate in life? We imitate our parents, siblings, or friends. We imitate certain television stars, movie characters, or athletes. We imitate the attitudes or behaviors we respect or admire in others. Before I went to school I wanted to imitate …
The Father loves the Son and has placed all things in his hands. Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life… (John 3:35) Just as hell can be here and now, so can heaven. Jesus says that when we believe in Him, we are given eternal life. Heaven isn’t simply the place where we hope …
…if you say, "You fool," you will be liable to the hell of fire. (Mt. 5:22) Hell is hard to think about. Is it a place we choose, or a place we’re sent? Do we have a chance to repent after this life? Is it a crowded place, or nearly empty? Although I don’t know …
I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. (Gen. 12:2) At nearly every meeting, bible study, or conversation, John would find a way to say, “Blessed to be a blessing.” Whenever I thought of John, I thought …
I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that lived first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, lives in you. (2 Tim. 1:5) When Paul reminds Timothy of the faith of his grandmother and mother he’s encouraging him to stay strong. It appears Timothy was tempted …