Radio Features

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1. A Willing Spirit, but a Weak Flesh!

My behavior was radically impacted when I was born again. But it wasn’t long before a difficult question confronted me: how do I remain strong in my commitment to live in a way that pleases God when Jesus Himself said, “the spirit is willing, but...

2. Trouble with Saying No to Sin

As I began to learn about God as a new Christian, I saw that sin is a big issue for believers. The Bible has dozens of warnings about sin, most which point to my personal responsibility to say “no” to it. But saying “no” was the very thing I was h...

3. God Losing Value in Our Eyes

Jesus said His kingdom is like someone who discovers hidden treasure, or a valuable pearl, and immediately recognizes the magnitude of his find. It’s about surrendering everything to gain this amazing salvation, but I think there’s even more to it ...

4. Thriving in a Sin-riddled World

What Christian doesn’t yearn to be free from the nagging presence of sin? To one degree or another, our humanity traps us in a repetitive cycle of failure—just the grinding reality of a redeemed life pitted against our self-serving flesh in a sin...

5. Problems with My Heart

I love Paul’s writings. So practical! So honest! In Romans 7 he exposes what we like to keep as a closely guarded secret. It’s this: “I’m not the model believer I appear to be. There are problems with my heart I don’t even want to admit, or that I...

6. The Power of Sin Is the Law

The freedom we have in Christ can be a bit confusing. The Bible says, “The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.” But don’t you find that a little surprising? We tend to think about freedom from sin only as being liberated from ...

7. Inheriting God’s Promise through Obedient Faith

Paul’s goal was to explain the meaning of Christ’s coming—to make absolutely clear who Jesus is and what He came to do. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is God’s promise to us. Hope is first born in our heart through God’s promise. Hope is a catalys...

8. Great Dreams Rooted in a Great God

“Dad, I’ve always felt I was destined to do something great,” my son once told me.  Pretty cool, huh? It spoke volumes about our God-given ability to dream . Dreaming can be rooted in the pride within us all, but I think it goes deeper than that—m...

9. Glorifying and Enjoying God: the Crux of Life

Millions of Christians have been lulled into thinking that God’s purpose for us boils down to little more than a fulfilling life on earth, with the added bonus of a heavenly reward later. With this mindset, it’s only natural to focus on what God can...

10. Sharing in Christ as Siblings

Scripture says that God “conforms us to the image of His Son, so that Jesus would be the firstborn among many brethren.” Think about the implications of this incredible statement. Considered to be His brothers? Really? We like to describe our fai...

11. God Designed Life in Him to be Tough

Why does God allow us to encounter so much conflict and hardship in life? How does it all fit in with His plan to bring us into union with Him? Choice is the answer! Our redemption does not merely rest on our initial decision to make Jesus Lord...

12. Understanding and Embracing Suffering

Because suffering plays such a vital role in God’s destiny for us, we can’t just sweep it under the rug. It’s tremendously helpful not only understand suffering, but to embrace it as well. God wants us to experience joy and fulfillment, and even ...

13. Why are we the way we are?

Understanding our nature is tremendously helpful as we strive for spiritual growth. Why are we the way we are? Curiosity drove me to examine myself, because my behavior seemed to prove that I was a very different person than what I thought I should...

14. Our Flesh: Body, Mind and Soul

The Bible often uses the term flesh to illustrate what Jesus strongly warned against: “the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak.” Here the term flesh is used to describe that part of our nature which stands in contrast to our spirit. It is the...

15. Our Spirit: the Dwelling Place of God

Man’s spiritual nature is God’s supreme gift, since through our spirit, and only through our spirit, are we able to commune with Him. Indeed, the opportunity for His indwelling presence is the reason our spirit exists. God actually takes up residence in ...

16. Spiritual Life Means the Sharing of God’s life

We can’t fully appreciate what it means to be alive in our spirit until we understand what it means to be spiritually dead. Being dead means that our connection to God is broken in such a way that communication with Him on a Spirit to spirit basis i...

17. Forget the Symptoms; Attack the Disease!

While trying to change our behavior by disciplining the body has some value, it ultimately never produces the desired result. This is because it merely treats the symptoms—not the disease itself. And not only that, it leads to heaping on a load o...

18. Rebuilding our Character is God’s Job

Trying to control our flesh through an external system of do’s and don’ts will not change our behavior. True change is only possible when a vibrant connection to the Spirit of God brings about a deep rebuilding of our character. Only through God...

19. Does the World Revolve Around Me?

Why are cars called autos? It’s because they’re self- powered. In the Greek, the word autos means self. God has designed us with the capacity to make our own choices—we’re self-propelled, so to speak. Self is simply me, a personal being given t...

20. Free Will is Rooted in Self-interest

It is said that man is a free moral agent, meaning he possesses unrestricted power in making moral choices—we call it free will. Undeniably, God’s eternal purpose required that man be given the ability to choose—not merely between right and wrong...

21. Self-interest—a Gift of God

Self-interest, ugly as it may be, is actually a gift of God. It helps us make our way in this world. Having a healthy sense of self-worth—feeling significant—motivates us to reach toward God’s purpose for our life. It’s rooted in the fact that we...

22. Is Our Heart Capable of Genuine Change?

Is our heart capable of genuine change? I can see how I truly have changed, initially through my born-again experience, and then more slowly over the many years since. But in many ways I’m the same person I’ve always been. I see it when I’m confr...

23. How Do You Feel about Yourself?

How do you feel about yourself? Are you happy with who you are? Or do you sense the need for change in your heart? Most of us do. It’s frustrating, though, when change doesn’t come quickly. It causes us to lose hope that it ever will. It’s diffe...

24. What if Sin Was No Longer a Problem?

As Christians, wouldn’t it be wonderful if sin was no longer a problem? If sin wasn’t an issue, wouldn’t it be a lot easier to wholeheartedly live for Jesus? Great thought!—just not within the realm of reality. Still, what could possibly be wron...

25. Our Battle with the Flesh Demands Choice

God wants good for us here on earth, but His plan revolves around our union with Him later. His purpose is fulfilled only as we receive Christ, and then enter into a lifelong pursuit of God in spite of our bent toward choosing self in place of Him. This...

26. Slaves Purchased to be Set Free

Why did God allow us to be born into a world of sin? The only possible outcome of life here is enslavement to sin. Yet human existence is actually an incredible gift of God. It gives us the opportunity for intimacy with Him—culminating in a personal j...

27. Moral Awareness at Our Very Core

Scripture tells us that God is righteous. We commonly define righteousness as being in right standing with God. But what does it mean for God to be righteous? It would be silly to think that He achieved a moral excellence that allowed Him to be good...

28. Not in the Flesh, but in the Spirit

The Bible says that God’s law obligates us to obey it fully. But God knows there is no way that we can obey it entirely. And since the punishment for failing to do so is separation from God, He had to provide a way to overcome this barrier. God’s sol...

29. Dead to Sin? I don’t Feel Very Dead!

God has provided the remedy for all our sin—past, present and future. But even so, it’s obvious that He intends for us to be holy, and thus commands us not to sin. So how is it that He can overlook the sin that so easily flows from our nature? Even tho...

30. Dealing with Sin in a Whole New Way

What is sin? I’ve often heard sin defined as missing the mark, as if one were missing a target he is aiming at. Those whose lives are centered on sin not only offend God, but utterly miss the precious gift of His eternal purpose. The Bible says t...

31. Joined to Christ in Death and Resurrection

Romans 6:4 says that baptism symbolizes our burial with Jesus—a sharing in Christ’s death in a way that allows us also to share in His resurrection life. It’s why we can now live life in a brand new way. When we are born again, we become conne...

32. Our Body of Sin is Done Away With

We deserved death for our sins. But Jesus was willing to go to the cross in our place. You and I understand what His sacrifice meant. But Romans 6:6 tells us a whole lot more: “our old self was crucified with Him so that our body of sin might be d...

33. Sin is a Symptom of a Serious Disease Within.

It’s pretty common to think about sin merely as a response by our flesh to some outside stimulus.  “I wanted it, so I did it!” But in reality sin is a symptom of a much more serious disease within. Sin is a barometer of the heart. It’s more than jus...

34. It’s not About what We Do or don’t Do

“If I have truly died to sin, why do I still feel so alive to it?” This really is mysterious! Don’t think you’re alone here. It’s not an uncommon question by any stretch of the imagination. “Just what did happen to me when I became that new cr...

35. Duped by Satan into Earning Our Way

It’s sad that so many have been duped by Satan into believing that we must now earn our own way now that we’ve been saved. Think back to your desperately sinful condition when God reached down and pulled you out of that pit. God’s grace was overw...

36. Attempting to be Justified Through Law

God’s law did not originate with the Law of Moses. Law was first introduced when God said, “from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat.” So law was there in the Garden—just not “the Law” as it was later given. And sin was als...

37. Why does God Keep Himself Hidden?

Faith is at the very heart of God’s plan for us. Scripture says that it’s impossible to please God without it. Through it we obtain His free gift of righteousness. By faith alone we are saved. Faith isn’t natural to us. That’s because God doesn’t...

38. We Tend to Confuse Faith with Hope

We often get hope confused with faith in our thinking. Hope is different. Hope is first born in our heart when a promise is given. Hope is a desire with some expectation of fulfillment. We only hope for what we want. Anticipating something you have...

39. God Hates Sin because of its Destructive Power

Our freedom in Christ doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t do everything we can to say no to sin. It would be foolish to let sin run rampant in our body while waiting for change to happen within our heart. Rather, these principles work hand in hand wit...

40. As We Attempt to Rid our Life of Sin…

After being set free in Christ, it’s easy to become a bit confused as we set our minds to do right. As we attempt to rid our life of sin, we often turn to good works in the hope that they will somehow offset the sin demerits we sense accumulating a...

41. “Give it Up! You’re a Failure!”

Satan wields a two-edged sword in the process of tempting us to abandon our faith. His argument goes something like this: “It only makes sense that God would expect you to perform for your salvation,” all the while criticizing us: “Give it up! You’r...

42. The Holy Spirit: Our Guarantee of God’s Promise

When Jesus took our sin upon Himself, He freed us from sin’s consequence—separation from God. When we receive Christ, we are securely joined to Him through the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit. His Spirit residing within is our guarantee of ...

43. Pride is the Core of the Problem

It’s not at all uncommon for Christians to be oblivious to the issue of pride in their life. We just don’t appreciate the influence this cancer has over us! Pride is at the very core of the problem of sin because our demanding ego causes us to pur...

44. The Purpose Law is to Expose Sin

God’s law helps to curb our behavior and provide direction, but its main purpose is to expose sin. Romans 7 says: “I would not have come to know sin except through the law.” Law can be thought of as a gauge of sorts, because it sets the standard of Go...

45. “My flesh is finally dead!” Is It?

Romans 6 tells us that: “our body of sin has been done away with.” “My flesh is finally dead!” we reason. Yet deep down it’s really hard to believe, because the manner in which “our body of sin” has been “done away with” is not what it appears to be....

46. God has Acquitted His Children

In Romans 7, Paul says that freedom from law is actually the basis for our freedom from sin. He uses the example of a married woman who by Law is accountable to her husband. But when her husband dies, she is free from that responsibility. What’s i...

47. Feeling the Need to Work for God’s Grace?

A constant theme in Paul’s writings is freedom from law. But this truth isn’t easy to accept because we instinctively feel the need to work for God’s grace. So time and again we see Christians falling back into works in an attempt to ensure their...

48. Amazing Grace can Breed Complacency

Standing in our rock-solid hope of God’s amazing grace carries with it the danger of breeding complacency: “Now that I’ve got my ticket to heaven, what more do I need?” Sadly, this is how many Christians view God and His purpose for their life. ...

49. Building on God’s Righteousness

Godliness? How could I ever be thought of as being godly? We often think of godliness as a goal we hope to reach someday. Instead, it’s what we should devote ourselves toward. Godliness is a mindset of pursuit—a quest which keeps us constantly eng...

50. Satan Finds Fertile Ground in Human Nature

Why would God put humanity into a world controlled by Satan? Without God people don’t have a chance! Demons have no trouble taking advantage of someone’s dead spirit, since people naturally lay themselves open to attack when devoid of the life of ...

51. Blanketed by Gods’ Righteousness

Paul says “consider yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus.” This truth has profound meaning for our life right here and now—not merely in the life hereafter. We all lack the ability to live this brand-new life by God’s...

52. Spiritual Circumcision: What a Concept!

Through His death on the cross, Christ cancelled out our debt—the punishment due for our sin. We’ve undergone a spiritual circumcision. In God’s eyes our body of flesh has been removed and therefore is no longer a factor in our union with God. It’s ...

53. The Importance of Being Fruitful

Jesus said, “My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be my disciples.” We are to bear much fruit; it’s what truly glorifies God and ultimately proves that we are Christ’s disciples. Several places in the Gospels...

54. Aiming at Two Critical Targets

In Christ we enjoy all the advantages of absolute security. But we must not let it stop there. The Lord has called us to even greater purpose—wholehearted submission to His will. Such intentional commitment to Him demands that our life be squarely a...

55. Exploitation of our Shame

Isn’t our sin embarrassing? Not just the obvious ones, but ungodly attitudes as well! We instinctively cover sin up, trying to appear more respectable than we really are. No doubt pride has a lot to do with this. When we sin, don’t we tend to ...

56. Run to God when You Sin

Hidden sin, by its very nature, opens wide the floodgates of guilt and shame. So it’s not surprising when we react negatively: “I’ll just bury this thing a little deeper so no one will ever discover who I really am.” Satan has used shame in coun...

57. Righteousness Can Never be Earned

Righteousness can never be earned by working for it. It’s easy for us to think of salvation as a free gift of God’s grace. But righteousness? That’s often a different story. Being righteous is rooted in the fact that Christ is now in me, and I...

58. Paul’s radical message of liberty

Freedom in Christ! What a blessing! But what we do with this treasure is huge, because our choices ultimately determine our fruitfulness—that is, to what degree we end up glorifying God with our lives. Paul’s radical message of liberty prompted his...

59. Law Intensifies Destructive Desires

Law reveals the standard by which we are to conform to God’s righteousness. Through its call to obedience, law steers us toward God’s character. Its purpose is to bring to light the holiness of God, while exposing the sinful weakness of our humanity. And law...

60. Holy in our Attitudes and Behavior?

The Holy Spirit wants to thrive within us, not just lie dormant. A mounting desire to please God is what we should expect from the Spirit’s indwelling presence. And as a part of this yearning to please Him comes a sense that we are to be holy. Because G...

61. Being Holy Means Set Apart to God

When the Bible talks about someone being holy, it means that person is set apart as belonging to God. Since God is the embodiment of purity, those set apart to Him must also be pure. This standard of purity is an ever-present reminder to us of God’s h...

62. Must We Try to Become Holy?

As Christians, is holy something we are—or something we must try to become? First and foremost, holy is what we are in Christ. Scripture tells us: “By this we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once and for all.” When ...

63. No Struggle in Bearing Fruit!

Jesus said, “I am the vine and you are the branches.” Jesus is talking about us being alive, but His emphasis is on fruitfulness. A branch barely connected to the vine might get the basic nutrients needed to survive—but it won’t produce quality fruit. ...

64. Always Trying to Patch Over Sin

We resist change. We cling to doing things our own way because we’re human. So when sin crops up, we try to patch it up, rather than trying to get to the root of the problem. It’s painful to root sin out. Yes, we want to change, but it’s a lot more ...

65. Character won’t Change Overnight

It can certainly be disheartening when we realize that change in our character doesn’t happen overnight. Yet how could being transformed into God’s image be anything but a life-long process? The process of transformation is designed to take pla...

66. In a Holding Pattern, are You?

Do you ever feel like you’re in a holding pattern? Even though you may be pursuing Christ—going to church, loving God and others, and just being a good person in general—there’s a good chance that you’re still left with a sense of emptiness. The reason fo...

67. Prayer is a Two-way Street

Everything we were ever created to be is wrapped up in Jesus. Finding out who we are in Christ is the first step toward discovering His purpose for us, because a healthy sense of self-worth gives us the confidence to step out. The better we get...

68. Don’t Despise Small Things

2nd Timothy says: “In a large house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also vessels of wood and earthenware, some for honor and some for dishonor.” A vessel of wood can be just as important as one made of gold. So don’t despise the s...

69. Does Sin Separate Me from God?

As a Christian, does sin separate me from God? We are often taught that sin causes a separation, a rift that can only be restored when we confess our sin. Therefore, moving forward with our life in God is possible only when our tie with Him can be...

70. Still Trapped in this Flesh

Colossians tells us that God has, “rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son.” But being trapped in this flesh here in this fallen world makes that a little hard to believe, doesn’t it? Christ’s kingdom...

71. Not Two Natures Battling Within

The struggle with our flesh is not the result of two natures battling within, but merely the conflict of two kingdoms, each pulling us in its own direction. Even though saved, Satan’s domain exerts tremendous pressure in steering us toward the instant g...

72. No Guilt Trips; God’s on a Gift Trip

Christians often overlook something really important: God isn’t into guilt trips; He’s on a gift trip. Everything we need has already been provided in Christ. Picture God’s outstretched hand, all His abundance there for the taking by anyone who w...

73. Sin: Pitfall or Practice?

For Christians, the Bible talks about two kinds of sinful behavior: periodically falling into sin—a pitfall—and the practice of sin as a lifestyle. Scripture cautions us against stepping into the pitfall of sin, certainly! But more importantly it ...

74. Like It or Not, We’re All Slaves

Like it or not, we’re all slaves. Those who live according to the flesh are hostile toward God from the very core of their being. No wonder they refuse to subject themselves to Him. Their slavery to sin renders them incapable of doing otherwise. But i...

75. Two Natures Struggling Within?

We often think our conflict with sin stems from two natures struggling within: the sin nature of our flesh set against our redeemed inner man. “My higher nature should be victorious over my lower nature,” we’re taught. So when we sin, it’s hard to...

76. Pursuit of God by Obligation?

Intimacy with God needs to start somewhere—and we know it! So our pursuit of God is often rooted in a sense of obligation. And that’s an okay beginning. Yet there’s something wrong if seeking Him doesn’t become a pursuit of the heart rather than me...

77. Preparing the Soil of Our Heart

Jesus expects us to grow spiritually. Our job is to prepare the soil of our heart to receive that growth. But it doesn’t happen overnight. It comes from pressing forward—trying to live in a manner pleasing to Him. It’s all about “presenting our bod...

78. What’s My Purpose, Anyway?

God has created each of us with purpose—a personal calling. We all share this inward tug. So moving forward without any real sense of direction in life can’t help but lead to frustration. “What am I doing for God? I just don’t know what my purpose...

79. We’ll Always have Shortcomings

What does my sin say about my faith? Sometimes it’s pretty ugly. But let’s be realistic. No matter how good we ultimately become, we’ll always have shortcomings. Still, we must not be naïve about the influence sin has on our life—how it affects both fai...

80. The Plague of Nagging Sin

God knows our limitations and has dealt with the nagging sin that plagues our selfish nature. But He will not tolerate slavery to sin. We’ve been freed from sin and enslaved to God Himself. The fruit of this relationship is holiness. God only a...

81. Having Become Acceptable to God

Is holiness something we are in Christ or something we need to become? Though a foundation of holiness has been laid in us by virtue of the fact that we now are God’s possession, Scripture makes it clear that something is still missing. Time and a...

82. Immersing Ourselves in God

A fruitful relationship with Jesus can never be built only by attempting to obey God. Though obedience certainly has its place, relationship based on it alone will never succeed. Genuine fruitfulness can be achieved only one way: immersing ourselves...

83. Finally Fed Up with Failure

Can we bear fruit without being personally transformed? Yes, if we’re willing to settle for a skimpy crop. But we won’t be successful in producing what Jesus wants—“much fruit.” God wants to see us radically changed. And since we know we can’t ...

84. The Secret to Moving Forward

Jesus wants us to be constantly moving forward with Him. Discovering God’s purpose for our life is kind of like driving a car. It’s impossible to steer a car that’s standing still, but easy to maneuver once you give it the gas. Yet being in mo...

85. The Challenge of Besetting Sin

Besetting sin is one our most daunting challenges. It’s the kind of sin that doesn’t happen once or twice, but a recurring problem you just can’t seem to conquer. When I received Christ, much of my sinful behavior simply seemed to drop off. I jus...

86. Sold into Bondage to Sin

I doubt that Paul had huge personal problems with sin. Still, he had the wisdom to realize what lived on in his flesh—this “bondage to sin,” as he describes it. He knew that pride—the underlying root of all sin—remained a powerful enemy which cou...

87. The Futility of Trying to Earn It

Attempting to gain acceptance from God by our own goodness merely results in dependence on law as the basis for our righteousness. But trying to earn our own way is at best an exercise in futility. God, knowing the limitations of our flesh, resolved...

88. What God Values Most

Think about what a woman values most. The husband often believes it’s what he gives her: his time, gifts, treating her with love and respect, and providing for the family. But none of this matters much if she feels that he does not desire emotional i...

89. How Could God Use Me?

“How could God use me? How can He possibly use somebody with so many weaknesses? God doesn’t look at it like that. He has a place for us, and has gifted each of us accordingly. So bloom where you’re planted, no matter who you are or what insecurities you m...

90. Forgotten by God?

Insecurity often results from feeling like we’ve been put on the shelf and forgotten by God. But the fact is that sometimes He needs to do just that! Regardless, it can be really painful, because it feels like we’ve somehow been overlooked. These tim...

91. Forgetting What Lies Behind

Toward the very end of his life, Paul was imprisoned in Rome, facing death. In the midst of this ordeal, he made this remarkable statement: “one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the g...

92. He’s the God of the Now!

Near the end of his life, Paul was still “reaching forward to what lies ahead” in Christ. Do you suppose that he may have looked at life this way all throughout his ministry? How productive might we become if we were to pursue God’s will with such ...

93. Building Solid Character

God has the chance to build solid character in us as we submit our life to Him. But this takes time. Don’t be disheartened by your sin as it inevitably comes. Let your failures drive you to God, and He will use them to strengthen your resolve to l...

94. Slaves of Righteousness

Something totally different makes us tick now that we are God’s children. Having become alive to God, we are now actually driven to serve Him—we have become “slaves of righteousness.” “The law of sin,” on the other hand, also remains an active forc...

95. Benefitting from Your Failures

Can we benefit from our failures? Sure! Disgust over failure helps prod us toward the goal of resisting sin. Obviously we’ll never be sinless, but that mustn’t keep us from fleeing from temptation. God is here to help, and things will get better eac...

96. Sensed God Speaking?

We talk about the need for a personal devotional life. But interaction is what’s important. Both prayer and time in God’s word are most effective when it’s a two-way street. We must listen as well as speak. Only then do our devotions become the c...

97. Behaving Like Dead Men

“The law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and death,” Paul tells us in the Book of Romans. It’s a spiritual law. We are no longer found guilty for sin. Jesus took that role upon Himself, making sin itself the c...

98. God Sees Relationship Like We Do

Deciding whether or not to pursue intimacy with God has its rewards—and its consequences. Ask any parent. Ask them what they value most: an adult child who desires to be close for the sake of relationship itself, or one who relates to them either f...

99. An Appetite for Intimacy

God wants you! And He wants you to want Him. He desires the kind of relationship rooted in our need to be with Him. Can we survive spiritually in a halfhearted relationship with God? Sure we can. But merely going through the motions doesn’t carry a...

100. Fresh Life Through Suffering

One rainy winter day, I noticed how dusty our houseplant was. So I set it out to rinse it off a little. Not a bad idea—except that I forgot about to bring it in. The next morning I was horrified to see the pitiful thing had lost all its leaves. S...

101. What Will Make It Easier?

Do you ever feel like your path is blocked by a whole mountain range of challenges? When confronted by a trial, immediately we wonder how to get around it. Skirting the issue just seems a whole lot easier, since working through the problem appears...

102. From the Perspective of Eternity

If you could see your life from the perspective of eternity—the beginning, middle and end all at once—what do you think would be the most important part? Would it be a past achievement? Or might some future event carry the most weight. Actually, it’...

103. Going It Alone Doesn’t Cut It

Communing with God was never meant to be strictly a solitary experience. Personal time spent with the Lord is certainly important. That’s a given! But our pursuit of God must also include consistent interaction with other believers through worship, f...

104. Given Up Because of Your Sin?

God has set us free from the power of sin by causing us to die to law. His purpose is to make us alive to Him in spite of our weaknesses. The stage for such a powerful relationship couldn’t have been set in any other way. Only through His provision c...

105. Aiming at Two Targets

We must aim at two critical targets in our lives as believers: We need to serve God, and at the same time pursue personal transformation. Both need to be in play if we are ever to be effective. Jesus Himself is the prime example of self-sacrificing...

106. Misreading Our Destiny

The sense of destiny God has placed in our life can easily be misread. Pride rooted in self-will can lead us to think that we must be set apart for some highly esteemed task. But God may have something entirely different in mind. Without question,...

107. Not Serving in Our Own Strength

Helping people pleases God, and it matures us. Serving God this way sets the stage for solid growth in our life, because focusing on the needs of others helps us lay aside our own desires. And we need not worry about serving in our own strength....

108. Don’t Despise the Small Things

Sown all around the hem of Aaron’s robe were “blue and scarlet pomegranates, with gold bells between them.” The tinkling of the bells accentuated the duties he was performing, just as the gifts of the Spirit tend to draw attention to God’s power t...

109. You’ve been Invited

What if you were invited to a party of a lifetime, so lavish, so impressive, that everyone who knew you would be green with envy? Why him? What did he do to deserve such an honor? Maybe you have been asked, but just don’t know it! The truth is, a...

110. Boasting? “Well, if I must,” says Paul

Pride is instinctive to human nature. So boasting, no matter how we may attempt to disguise it, flows from our core as effortlessly as breathing. We simply need to express who we are and what we’ve accomplished—“wise, strong or rich,” as the Lord ex...

111. It’s all about God

The principle of honoring God is laced throughout the entire Bible. God’s creation exists for the sole purpose of glorifying its Creator. God demands that He be honored, not for some selfish desire but simply because He is God. Put yourself in H...

112. Wisdom Shouts in the Street!

“Professing to be wise, they became fools,” says Paul in Romans 1:22. As the ungodly chase meaning in their lives, the futility of their pursuits is pretty obvious to the Christian. But what about those in the church who attempt to supplement bib...

113. If only I could be recognized

The desire for recognition is a central to our nature. The alienation that results from a lack of acknowledgement causes deep emotional hardship. God understands this about us, and He has done something about it. But He goes further than mere recognition....

114. Clothed in Christ’s Righteousness

In Jesus’ parable about the Wedding Feast , the host found a man not dressed in formal wedding attire.  Given the importance of the event, he flaunted disrespect through this breach of etiquette. In choosing to spurn what was proper, his act o...

115. An Invitation into Covenant

The Bible says we enter into a covenant with God when we accept His offer of eternal life. A covenant always contains responsibilities to be performed by each of the parties. So we often think of our surrender to God’s will as some sort of deal. G...

116. A Clear Commitment

Speaking of Jesus’ parable of the wedding feast, the week required for such a celebration is a long time to take out of one’s busy life. And it’s all the more challenging when we don’t understand how special the occasion will actually be. It’s th...

117. God’s Infinite Love

For those seeking God—weak as we are in our humanity—He is immeasurably patient. The love of God is far deeper than anything we can possibly imagine. Yet there remains an eternal purpose to that love. With God there is a line drawn in the sand, so ...

118. Opening Up to God’s Touch

It’s a bit presumptuous to think that we could be transformed into the image of Christ merely by our own efforts. None of us believe this, of course, but we sure act like it! Under the guise of gathering knowledge and seeking wisdom, we are convinced t...

119. It Costs Your Life!

In the grand scheme of things there are relatively few who will make the decision to receive Jesus as Lord of their life, and then faithfully follow Him throughout the course of their lifetime. Given the reality of our human drives and desires, it...

120. In Christ!

Jesus Christ is much more than merely the channel of his Father’s word—He is the embodiment of God’s Word itself. Jesus is the cradle and splendor of all beauty, but He is more—He is beauty itself. He is the fount of all truth, yet He is more—He...

121. Prize It Above All Else

Our freedom in Christ is described in the Bible as a prize—a gift to be cherished. The Apostle Paul fought hard to make sure God’s people would not be fraudulently stripped of their prize of freedom. But free for what? Not free to continue in sin...

122. Stake Your Life on It!

Scholars recreate historical documents from copies which exist today. Not more than a dozen copies remain for most ancient writings, often more than a thousand years older than the original. Yet we routinely depend on their accuracy. So what about...

123. This World as a Stage

Skeptics often ask why our planet could be of any relevance in a universe so vast. How could this world, insignificant as it appears to be, harbor the setting for such an epic struggle between good and evil. This idea is widely accepted as the message...

124. Only One Way to God

All creation was brought into existence through Jesus Christ. And it was all created “for Him.” This is God’s intent for everything we see before us. Since mankind is the zenith of God’s created order, we possess a supreme purpose. What is it exac...

125. Have We Actually Advanced?

Because knowledge of the physical world is increasing exponentially, some think that man’s evolution has somehow sped up.  Who could have predicted that we would daily be using such technological marvels, or that millions would routinely be j...

126. “What must I Do to be Saved?”

As the Apostle Paul sat chained in a Macedonian dungeon singing praises to God, a massive earthquake occurred. His shackles miraculously fell off and the prison gates flew wide open. Witnessing this, the terrified jailer cried, “Sirs, what must I...

127. The Ultimate Price

“All of us like sheep have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; but the Lord has caused the iniquity of us all to fall on Him.” This incredible prophecy found in Isaiah 53 resounds throughout all generations. And it does not stand alo...

128. The Nature of Biblical Belief

The Bible is jam-packed with the promises of God, and they all hinge on one key promise: “Whoever believes in Him will have eternal life.” What does it mean to believe ? You may say, “Of course I believe in God,” or, “Yes, I believe in Jesus.” B...

129. Faith Results in Action!

We all exercise faith as we go about our routine of life. And we always behave as we believe. What we have set our heart on is what we naturally pursue. Today’s perception of believing something rarely lines up with the Bible’s meaning, because sup...

130. Born Again?

Belief in God is so much more than a mental acceptance of His truth. Real faith results in transformation. And this is impossible to accomplish on our own. The Apostle Paul described it this way: “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the o...

131. Spiritual Illiteracy

Illiteracy is an awful thing. It prevents people from healthy development. But in a way, they can’t be blamed for their failure to understand, since this weakness imprisons them. Sometimes their environment prevents them from learning and sometimes t...

132. The Power of Ideas

Ideas are powerful. There is no greater force for social transformation than ideas. Nations have been birthed by them. Ideas form the foundation of entire cultures. Most people live according to ideas nurtured by the world around us. More often than...

133. Our Heart-shaped Cavity

In each of us, within the deep recesses of our inner being, lies a void. It could be called a spiritual vacuum of sorts. Think of it as a heart-shaped cavity that nothing but the love of God can truly fill. Oh, we try to fill it, by every other means...

134. The Root of Sin

Becoming a child of God involves surrendering your life to Jesus. Surrender first means acknowledging that you have been in rebellion against God—ignoring Him and His purpose for your life, no matter how subtle that disregard for Him might be. You h...

135. Why Be Alienated?

Sin has separated us from God. We are spiritually dead because of it. But God has solved this problem by bridging that gap through the suffering and death of His very own Son. Jesus took upon Himself the punishment we deserved by paying an outrageous...

136. Faith is the Key

Just how does a person receive the grace God has so generously provided through Jesus? It involves faith. God deals with your heart as well as your intellect. Faith comes through an act of your will; believing God’s promise is a decision on your p...

137. The Obedience of Surrender

Surrendering your life is a step of profound obedience. Since God is well aware of every detail of your life, He knows what a huge commitment this is on your part. Take comfort in the fact that God designed it this way and therefore has made every...

138. One Giant Step

The step of faith is one of immense proportions. It bridges the superficial nod of the intellect to the true belief of the heart. I was once seated next to a guy who had not asked Christ into His life, yet accepted the fact that God did indeed exist....

139. Faith Comes From Hearing

“Faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ,” Romans 10 says. People need to hear the Gospel. What we say about Jesus may seem to fall flat but in reality is very influential, because God takes this opportunity to drop the promise of ...

140. Freedom of Choice

We were created for union with God. Children forever share a blood relationship with their parents; they will always be family. God sees us this same way. For Him the gift of family will never be forgotten, and therefore His promises are irrevocable....

141. It’s Time to Act!

People often ask: “What about those who have never heard the gospel? If what you are telling me about Jesus is true, what chance could they possibly have of making it to heaven?” Only God knows the answer to this very reasonable question. He has pro...

142. The Mystery of Suffering—Part 1

In an attempt to understand God’s purpose for His creation, people routinely stumble over the issue of suffering. How can a good and loving God allow the kind of suffering we see in this world? It just doesn’t seem fair. Is it possible to reconcile wha...

143. The Mystery of Suffering—Part 2

We are all destined to suffer in this life; it’s unavoidable. But why do some have to suffer so much more than others? One answer may be that suffering is not necessarily an evil in God’s eyes. He uses suffering to draw those who are seeking truth to ...

144. The Mystery of Suffering—Part 3

From the very beginning God planned to send His Son, Jesus, to reconcile sinful people to Himself. His purpose involved Jesus’ own suffering on an inconceivable scale, culminating in His death on a Roman cross. We can’t begin to imagine the pain and...

145. Joy Rooted in Peace

The reality of human suffering strikes at the very heart of God’s intention for His creation. God is not unjust; He’s merely fulfilling His purpose with the ultimate goal of eternal life in mind. So does God want us to be miserable during our liv...

146. Found in the Book of Life!

God’s Book of Life contains a record of all who truly belong to Him. At the Last Judgment, all whose names are not found written in it will be thrown into a lake of fire, which, of course, results in eternal separation from God.  Failure t...

147. Awaiting Judgment

Judgment?  God is about to wrap up history by bringing before Him all who have ever lived for a final accounting at the Last Judgment . It’s only natural to experience a sense of fear when we hear that term. It is indeed a terrifying prospect! Y...

148. I’d Bet My Life on It!

Is it really fair on God’s part to allow just a few of us to enjoy life with Him forever? Is God biased; is He unjust? Why not all of us? Why not put together a plan that would ultimately save all mankind? The single most important thing to understand w...

149. Surrender your Life!

Jesus wants each and every one of us for His very own. But He wants us to want Him. That’s His plan in a nutshell. And God has provided everything we need to step right into our place as His treasured sons and daughters. The Apostle Peter said it w...

150. The Power of Belief

Ask yourself: “Why do I believe what I believe? “ Belief is basic to the nature of man; it is the most powerful of all human drives. Because this is so, philosophy has flourished throughout history--the early Greeks are a prime example. Sadly, man...

151. Wisdom Shouts!

“Wisdom shouts in the street…Turn to me and I will pour out my spirit on you; I will make my words known to you.” so says the book of Proverbs. It is God shouting this message. Just imagine it—the Creator of all things calling you, calling , not a...

152. On Discernment

Why do Christians sometimes run to non-biblical sources to gain what they imagine to be profound wisdom? Think about it: the Bible contains a wealth of information regarding God’s nature, the purpose for His creation, and His amazing plan to bring u...

153. As God Reveals Himself…

While in captivity, Paul recorded several prayers in his letters to three different churches. What’s remarkable is their perfect agreement with one another, which all the more emphasizes their importance for us. Each prayer begins with the necessity o...

154. The “Jesus App”

Our smart phones have become indispensable, both for communication and for information. When we find a great app we immediately download it; the most important ones go right there on the front page. We tend to do the same with Jesus. We know relationship...

155. Yourself or Your-“cell-f”?

The Bible describes our place in Christ’s body like being that of our own—an eye or a hand, for example. The idea is how crucial it is to function together as a whole. But what if we change the perspective a little? Think about reducing yourself to ...

156. Fulfillment through Suffering

Psalm 84 declares: “The Lord gives grace and glory; no good thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly.” Paul goes even a step further: “God causes all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to Hi...

157. Choosing God’s Best

Jeremiah proclaims, “Stand by the ways and see and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls.” Have you chosen God’s path? Great! But there’s a fork in the trail which demands another...

158. The Holy Spirit Within

Jesus promised that His Father would send His followers the Holy Spirit once He left the earth: “He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever; …He abides with you and will be in you.” The Bible proclaims that we are, “sealed in Him ...

159. Images. Don’t Fall for it.

Images! Images! A scenic cityscape can be photographed in just the right light, enticing us to experience it first-hand. But what’s never portrayed is the crowding, smut and evil within it. The advertising world is extremely skilled at toying with o...

160. Intimacy Is What It’s About

Intimacy is what God is really after. We can busy ourselves with all kinds of things in our effort to please God, but if it doesn’t first begin with a meaningful personal interaction with Him, all our serving can end up in vain. As Martha busied h...