[We] are being transformed into his likeness. —2 Corinthians 3:18 “[I]t is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God . . .” (Eph 2:8). You didn’t do anything to achieve your salvation, but you must […]
You are not your own. —1 Corinthians 6:19 Am I in the right place? Am I doing the right thing? Do you find those questions unnerving? I believe I was “called” to ministry. But it didn’t occur in a spectacular way at a specific moment. Nothing mystical happened, empowering me to give my testimony, and
[S]top passing judgment on one another. —Romans 14:13 In Romans 14, Paul warns us to tap the brakes when passing judgment on the conscience and conviction of others: “why do you judge your brother? Or why do you look down on your brother?” Browse a few
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[Y]our kingdom come. —Matthew 6:10 One phrase in The Lord’s Prayer entreats, “Your kingdom come.” The language would have enlivened the Jewish expectation of a Messianic earthly kingdom, stimulated the later Christian hope for God’s spiritual kingdom to advance on earth, and invigorated anticipation of the return of Jesus and the inauguration of the
[S]in, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death. —James 1:15 English essayist Thomas De Quincey’s On Murder, published in 1827, evoked lots of grins. It ran this way . . . Many a person who upon committing a murder begins a downward slide and soon may come to robbing and then Sabbath breaking,
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Sooner or later nearly every church is contaminated by contention. Like cancer, it infiltrates furtively at first and goes undetected. But eventually, it metastasizes and permeates the body, resulting in severely depleted strength. Or death. Toxic Intruders Paul used a lot of ink exhorting Christians to encourage one another, build each other up, love one
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We always thank God for all of you. —1 Thessalonians 1:2 Robert Emmons, a psychology professor at the University of California, Davis, and author of The Little Book of Gratitude: Create a Life of Happiness and Well-Being by Giving Thanks, coined the term “defiant gratitude.” Defiant gratitude is the attitude
[Bringing] salvation to those who are waiting for him. —Hebrews 9:28 Hebrews 9 cites Christ’s three appearances on our behalf: past, present, and future. In the past he appeared to redeem us: to ransom us from sin’s bondage, “once for all by his own blood, having obtained eternal redemption” (vv. 11–12). In the
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Do not be anxious about anything. —Philippians 4:6 Can you think of anyone with more reason to be anxious and depressed than the apostle Paul when he jotted down that line? Under house arrest, awaiting trial, shaky health—eyesight so bad he had to squint to read. Yet, read his letter to
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He who guards his mouth and his tongue keeps himself from calamity. —Proverbs 21:23 William Barclay wrote: “We owe a very great deal to the fact that Peter had a quick tongue. Again and again Peter rushed into speech, and his impetuosity drew teaching which is immortal.” Here’s an example . .
