Privilege

Read 2 Corinthians 5:16–21 We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. 2 Corinthians 5:20 When I was a young pastor, it used to embarrass me somewhat to make visits and confront people with...

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Speaking the Language

Read 1 Corinthians 2:11–16 This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words. 1 Corinthians 2:13 Each of our four children has a different vocation. We have a pastor, a nurse, an electronics...

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Miracle Recovery

Read Isaiah 38—39 In those days Hezekiah became ill and was at the point of death. The prophet Isaiah son of Amoz went to him and said, “This is what the LORD says: Put your house in order, because you are going to die; you will not recover.” Isaiah 38:1...

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No Longer the Law

Read Galatians 3:15–29 Now that faith has come, we are no longer under the supervision of the law. Galatians 3:25 In many Roman and Greek households, well-educated slaves guarded the children during the day. Sometimes they would teach the children, sometimes they would protect and prohibit, and sometimes they would...

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Faith Looks Forward

Read Hebrews 11:6–16 Without faith it is impossible to please God. Hebrews 11:6 Faith looks to the future, for that is where the greatest rewards are found. The people named in Hebrews 11 (and those unnamed) did not receive “the things promised” (v. 13), but they had God’s witness to...

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Backsliding Is Not Good Exercise

Read 1 John 3:7–10 Do not let anyone lead you astray. He who does what is right is righteous, just as he is righteous. He who does what is sinful is of the devil. 1 John 3:7–8 God’s promise “I will cure you of backsliding” (Jer. 3:22) implies that backsliding...

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A “Poor” Example

Read 2 Corinthians 8:1–9 You know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich. 2 Corinthians 8:9 In what ways was Jesus rich? Certainly He was rich in His person,...

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In Good Company

Read Romans 1:16–17 In the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.” Romans 1:17 On May 24, 1738, a discouraged missionary went “very unwillingly” to a religious meeting in...

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Motivation for Ministry

Read 2 Corinthians 4:1–6 Since through God’s mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart. 2 Corinthians 4:1 The way we look at our ministry helps to determine how we will fulfill it. If we look on serving Christ as a burden, we will be a drudge and...

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It’s Not about Me

Read Galatians 1:13–24 And they praised God because of me. Galatians 1:24 If Paul had been interested in glorifying himself, he could have remained a Jewish rabbi and perhaps become Gamaliel’s successor. But it was the glory of God that motivated Paul, and this ought to motivate our lives as...

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