If you were God, how would you go about revealing yourself to earth’s people? How could you tell them about and give them the kind of life you wanted them to enjoy? God has revealed Himself in creation, but creation alone could never tell us the story of God’s love....
When Verdi produced his first opera in Florence, the composer stood by himself in the shadows and kept his eye on the face of one man in the audience—the great Rossini. It mattered not to Verdi whether the people in the hall were cheering him or jeering him; all he...
The word castaway is a technical word familiar to those who knew the Greek Olympic games. Paul used the term to say he did not want to be “disapproved” or “disqualified” as a servant of God. At the Greek games, there was a herald who announced the rules of the...
Why did Peter refer to God as a “faithful Creator” (1 Peter 4: 19) rather than a “faithful Judge” or even a “faithful Saviour”. Because God the Creator meets the needs of His people. It is the Creator who provides food and clothing to persecuted Christians. and who protects them...
The same resurrection power that saved you and took you out of the graveyard of sin can daily help you live for Christ and glorify Him. At great expense to Himself, God worked for us on the Cross. Today, on the basis of that price paid at Calvary, He is...
Paul saw himself as a priest at the altar, offering up to God the Gentiles he had won to Christ. They were a “spiritual sacrifice" to the glory of God. Even his preaching of the Gospel was a “priestly duty.” This insight into ministry certainly adds dignity and responsibility to...
Paul’s Epistle to the Romans is still transforming people, just as it transformed Martin Luther and John Wesley. The one Scripture above all others that brought Luther out of mere religion into the joy of salvation by grace, through faith, was Romans 1:17: “The just shall live by faith.” The...
Obedience to God’s will is the test of true faith in Christ. The test is not words—saying “Lord, Lord,” and failing to obey His commands. How easy it is to learn a religious vocabulary, even memorize Bible verses and religious songs, yet not obey God’s will. When a person is...
Years ago I heard a story about two sisters who enjoyed attending dances and wild parties. Then they were converted and found new life in Christ. They received an invitation to a party and sent the RSVP in these words: “We regret that we cannot attend because we recently died.”...
A church member criticized her pastor because he was preaching against sin in the lives of Christians. “After all,” she said, “sin in the life of a believer is different from sin in the lives of unsaved people.” “Yes,” replied the pastor. “It is worse.” While it is true that...