“And immediately the Spirit brought Him out into the wilderness.” Mark 1:12 We sometimes think, “If only God would change the situation I’m in, then I could really live for Him.” But changing our circumstances wouldn’t remove all temptation because our own sinful desires would go with us. Adam[...]
Something has become painfully but particularly clear in recent days. We’re witnessing the rise of so-called churches under the influence of so-called Christians. What do I mean? Well, the apostle Paul describes the “so-called brother” as one who professes to follow Christ, yet displays no clear distinction in attitude or[...]
“Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led around by the Spirit in the wilderness for forty days, being tempted by the devil.” Luke 4:1–2a Fighting temptation when you’re alone can be difficult for any believer. That’s when some of our greatest struggles come.[...]
“And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests which we have asked from Him.” 1 John 5:15 One of the reasons people give for turning away from God is unanswered prayer. It usually comes down to a specific prayer that seemed[...]
“By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error.” 1 John 4:6 Living in the digital age puts all kinds of information at our fingertips. Anyone can voice their thoughts for mass consumption. Many are vying for more than our attention; they want us to subscribe to[...]
“This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us.” 1 John 3:16 (NIV) We have an innate desire for security and acceptance. As a result, many people live in the constant pursuit of love. But there’s a problem. The concept of love is[...]
As a Bible-believing Christian, I vote according to my faith. My preference, of course, is to cast my ballot for someone of noble character. But integrity, honor, and civility have gone by the wayside in the upcoming presidential election. Both parties seem to be focusing on personalities more than policies.[...]
“By this we know that we have come to know Him,” 1 John 2:3 Have you ever questioned whether you really know Jesus? If so, it’s important to deal with that doubt. God wants us to be certain of our salvation. The second chapter of 1 John walks us[...]
Talking about generosity during financial uncertainty may seem a little out of touch. Or does it? The topic caught my attention while reading through 2 Corinthians recently. In chapter 8, Paul talks about the Macedonians’ generosity in the midst of great poverty. Reading the passage slowly, I began to examine[...]