I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life. (1 Tim. 1:16) If God shows mercy to people who have messed up as badly as the Apostle Paul (and David, and…

Your testimonies are wonderful; therefore my soul keeps them. The unfolding of your words gives light; it imparts understanding to the simple. (Psalm 119:129-30) If our reason for reading our Bibles is to keep God from being mad at us, then we’re reading to earn points that we can use to barter with God for…

Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. (Psalm 37:4) In the Lord’s Prayer, Jesus teaches us to pray, “Give us this day our daily bread.” It’s important to note that the Lord does not tell us to request strawberry shortcake or filet mignon, though he is certainly…

Though youths grow weary and tired, and vigorous young men stumble badly, yet those who wait for the Lord will gain new strength; They will mount up with wings like eagles, They will run and not get tired, They will walk and not become weary (Isaiah 40:30-31, NASB) This verse has never meant more to…

I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you. Be not like a horse or a mule, without understanding, which must be curbed with bit and bridle, or it will not stay near you. (Psalm 32:8-9) God’s precautions often come as practical…

God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ — by grace you have been saved — and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus….

As he was setting out on his journey, a man ran up and knelt before him and asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” (Mark 10:17) Duty and doctrine dispensed without grace can create only two possible human responses — human pride or despair. People will either think that they…

You have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God. (Rom. 8:15-16) Long ago I read the account of a Christian who did not fully grasp the meaning of this verse until visiting a busy market…

One will scarcely die for a righteous person —though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die — but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Rom. 5:7-8) Are you okay with God? Do you know God loves you? When we ask…