While He Prayed When all the people were baptized, Jesus also was baptized. As He was praying, heaven opened, and the Holy Spirit descended on Him in a physical appearance like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: “You are My beloved Son.I take delight in You!”—Luke 3:21–22 TheRead More …

Painful Reminders Then some Jews came from Antioch and Iconium, and when they had won over the crowds and stoned Paul, they dragged him out of the city, thinking he was dead.—Acts 14:19 God has many ways to deter us from sin. One is to provide reminders for us soRead More …

Sympathy with God When he heard these words, Ananias dropped dead, and a great fear came on all who heard.—Acts 5:5 When God brings judgment upon someone, our natural inclination is often sympathy toward the one being disciplined. Yet when God acts in judgment, our sympathies ought always to lieRead More …

It’s Not Difficult! “This command that I give you today is certainly not too difficult or beyond your reach.”—Deuteronomy 30:11 The Christian life is not difficult. The same Christ who lived a perfect, obedient, and sinless life stands prepared to live it again through you (Gal. 2:20). God’s will isRead More …

Confession Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The intense prayer of the righteous is very powerful.—James 5:16 Confession is God’s provision to clear obstacles that hinder our relationships with God and with others. Confession is not just forRead More …

Casting Your Cares . . . casting all your care upon Him, because He cares about you.—1 Peter 5:7 As you’ve no doubt discovered, becoming a Christian does not make your problems go away. But it does give you an Advocate to whom you can take every concern. The Christians Peter addressed wereRead More …

A Living Sacrifice Therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, I urge you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God; this is your spiritual worship.—Romans 12:1 God takes great pleasure in worthy sacrifices. In the Old Testament God gave detailed instructions for how HisRead More …

Revenge Friends, do not avenge yourselves; instead, leave room for His wrath. For it is written: Vengeance belongs to Me; I will repay, says the Lord.—Romans 12:19 One of the hardest areas in which to trust God is in the matter of justice. When we perceive an injustice, we wantRead More …

Instruments Does an ax exalt itself above the one who chops with it? Does a saw magnify itself above the one who saws with it? As if a staff could wave those who lift it! As if a rod could lift what isn’t wood!—Isaiah 10:15 One of the dangers inRead More …

A Pure Heart Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying: Who should I send? Who will go for Us? I said: Here I am. Send me.—Isaiah 6:8 It takes a pure heart to see God (Matt. 5:8). You can attend church services, read your Bible, and pray, butRead More …