As the Day Begins “Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; and walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us.” — Ephesians 5:1–2 There is something beautiful about the early days of faith. Prayer feels fresh. Scripture seems alive on every page. Worship carries a sweetness that is difficult to describe. AContinue reading “Keep the Fire From Shrinking”
Tag Archives: Christian growth
Becoming What Grace Has Already Begun
As the Day Ends “…our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.” — 2 Timothy 1:10 As this day comes to a close, it is worth remembering that the Christian life is not a finished product displayed for inspection. It is a life underContinue reading “Becoming What Grace Has Already Begun”
WHEN A LITTLE ERROR BECOMES A LONG DETOUR
On Second Thought There are few things more frustrating than discovering that you have been traveling in the wrong direction for a long time. You may have been moving steadily, confidently, and even enthusiastically, only to realize that the road you trusted was taking you farther from your destination. Spiritually, deception often works that way.Continue reading “WHEN A LITTLE ERROR BECOMES A LONG DETOUR”
DON’T LEAVE YOUR INHERITANCE UNOPENED
As the Day Ends “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ.” —Ephesians 1:3 As this day ends, it is worth remembering that the Christian life is not built around trying to persuade God to become generous. InContinue reading “DON’T LEAVE YOUR INHERITANCE UNOPENED”
Forgiven Yet Still Formed
The Bible in a Year One of the greatest misunderstandings in the Christian life is the belief that forgiveness automatically removes every consequence of our choices. Psalm 99:8 presents a balanced picture of God’s character that is both comforting and sobering: “Thou answered them, O Lord our God; thou wast a God that forgave them,Continue reading “Forgiven Yet Still Formed”
The Battle You Cannot Win Alone
On Second Thought One of the most frustrating discoveries in the Christian life is realizing that our greatest enemy often lives much closer than we imagined. We may expect temptation to come from an ungodly culture, difficult people, or spiritual opposition, yet Paul points us inward. In Romans 8 he describes the conflict between theContinue reading “The Battle You Cannot Win Alone”
Living Today in Light of Tomorrow
As the Day Ends “Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts.” — 1 Corinthians 4:5 As evening settles over the day, it is comforting to remember that God’s grace has carried usContinue reading “Living Today in Light of Tomorrow”
Seeing Christ Formed Within
As the Day Begins “But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.” — 1 Corinthians 2:9 The Christian life is far more than receiving God’s blessings; it is receiving God’s very presence.Continue reading “Seeing Christ Formed Within”
When Opposition May Reveal God Is Moving
DID YOU KNOW Did You Know? Resistance often appears when God begins rebuilding something important. When Jeshua and Zerubbabel returned to Jerusalem in Ezra 3, the city still carried the scars of exile and destruction. Yet in the middle of brokenness, the people rebuilt the altar and restored worship before the temple foundation was evenContinue reading “When Opposition May Reveal God Is Moving”
WHEN FAITH DRIFTS QUIETLY
DID YOU KNOW Did You Know? Spiritual drift rarely begins with open rebellion—it usually begins with subtle distraction. Second Chronicles 19 reveals King Jehoshaphat returning home after forming an unwise alliance with wicked King Ahab. Though Jehoshaphat loved the Lord, he slowly drifted by aligning himself too closely with someone who opposed God’s ways. ThatContinue reading “WHEN FAITH DRIFTS QUIETLY”