“For indeed when we were with you, we kept telling you in advance that we were going to suffer affliction; and so it came to pass” 1 Thessalonians 3:4   The Bible never says that life gets easier after salvation. In fact, it says quite the opposite. Paul told the Thessalonian Christians to[...]

“You are witnesses, and so is God, how devoutly and uprightly and blamelessly we behaved toward you believers” 1 Thessalonians 2:10   Few of us today think the way Paul did. Here, he invited other believers to judge his life—to be witnesses of whether or not he was living with integrity. We’re[...]

“See to it that no one comes short of the grace of God; that no root of bitterness springing up causes trouble, and by it many be defiled.” Hebrews 12:15   No one ever says, “I hope to grow old and bitter.” Yet, we see it all the time. That’s[...]

“If anyone comes to Me, and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be My disciple.” Luke 14:26   Does Jesus really want us to hate our family members? This is one of those[...]

“But Moses said to God, ‘Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh, and that I should bring the sons of Israel out of Egypt?’” Exodus 3:11   Every Christian is called to serve God in some way. But like Moses, we tend to get caught up in our[...]

“Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife; for the Child who has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit.” Matthew 1:20   Joseph was in a true dilemma. He must have felt hurt and betrayed to discover Mary was pregnant. You can feel[...]

“If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you…” John 15:7   How do you know that you’re abiding in Christ? Jesus linked our abiding in Him with His Word abiding in us. The more you engage the Bible with your mind, the more it will guide your[...]

“Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me.” John 15:4   The major difference between being an unfruitful or fruitful Christian is whether or not we abide in Christ. We tend[...]

“every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it so that it may bear more fruit.” John 15:2   Pruning is the most crucial thing that happens in a vineyard. Healthy grapes cannot grow without it. In fact, a lack of sufficient pruning can cause a vineyard to fail completely. The pruning process is no[...]