“So Sarai said to Abram, ‘Now behold, the Lord has prevented me from bearing children. Please go in to my maid; perhaps I will obtain children through her.’ And Abram listened to the voice of Sarai.” Genesis 16:2   Do the voices you listen to represent godly interests or good intentions? The first is a[...]

“Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials” James 1:2   Having joy in adversity is clearly taught in the Bible. Yet few Christians experience joy during the difficulties of life. We tend to look more for relief from our suffering than for how God is working in it.[...]

“Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, ‘Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?’ Then I said, ‘Here am I. Send me!’” Isaiah 6:8   Few Christians are willing to write God a blank check, as Isaiah did. When God speaks, we often weigh the[...]

“With [the tongue] we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the likeness of God;  from the same mouth come both blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be this way.” James 3:9-10   The Bible has a lot to say about what[...]

“She will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.” Matthew 1:21   Christians around the world celebrate the birth of Jesus every Christmas. But we can get so caught up in Christmastime activities that we forget exactly what we’re celebrating. Jesus left[...]

“Mary said to the angel, ‘How can this be, since I am a virgin?’” Luke 1:34   Mary’s question was motivated by reason and rationale, not doubt. Who wouldn’t ask about the practical workings of a virgin giving birth? When you think about it, many people approach salvation in a similar way. You[...]

“What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin so that grace may increase? May it never be! How shall we who died to sin still live in it?” Romans 6:1-2   God’s saving grace came at a significant cost—the life of His Son. So, it stands to reason that[...]

“The Lord is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love. The Lord is good to all; he has compassion on all he has made.” Psalm 145:8-9   We’ve all met people who seem to say and do the right thing at the right time and in the[...]

“in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” 1 Thessalonians 5:18   Most of us would admit that we struggle with giving thanks in everything. That’s why thankfulness in the midst of adversity is a sign of spiritual maturity. It’s not about being thankful for[...]