As the Chief Shepherd, Christ alone can assess a person’s ministry and give him or her the proper reward. Some who appear to be first may end up last when the Lord examines each worker’s ministry. Today a Christian worker may labor for many different kinds of rewards. Some work...

Chastening is a Greek word that means “child training, instruction, discipline.” A Greek boy was expected to “work out” in the gymnasium until he reached his maturity. It was part of his preparation for adult life. Trials of the Christian life are viewed in Hebrews 12:5-13 as spiritual discipline that...

When you trust Jesus Christ, He frees you from the guilt and punishment brought by sin. But He also frees you from the bondage of sin’s power, so that you can walk in the freedom of your new life. He sets you free from the fear of death. He delivers...

We who are parents know that our children (especially teenagers) do not like to hear us say, “Now, back when I was a kid….”But this is an important part of training a family. It is a wonderful thing when a “spiritual father” can encourage and help his “children” out of...

Timothy knew the meaning of sacrifice and service, but God rewarded him for his faithfulness. To begin with, Timothy had the joy of helping others. There were hardships and difficulties, but there were also victories and blessings. Because Timothy was faithful over a few things, God rewarded him with many...

Christians are waiting for Jesus Christ, and He may return at any time. We are not waiting for any “signs”; we are waiting for the Saviour. We are waiting for the redemption of the body and the hope of righteousness. When Jesus Christ returns, we will receive new bodies and...

The work of Christ is a completed work, final and eternal. On the basis of this completed work, He is ministering now in heaven on our behalf. The Lord has appeared to put away sin by dying on the cross. He is appearing now in heaven for us. One day...

Just as the whole of the Law is summed up in love, so the whole of human relationships is fulfilled in love. This applies to every Christian and to every area of life. This love is evidenced by a unity of mind. Unity does not mean uniformity; it means cooperation...

Paul devoted a great deal of space to the theme of sexual purity because it was a critical problem in the church of his day. It is also a critical problem in the church today. For many people, marriage vows are no longer considered sacred; divorce, even among believers, is...

The sober-minded believer has a calm, sane outlook on life. He is not complacent, but neither is he frustrated and afraid. He hears the tragic news of the day, yet he does not lose heart. He experiences the difficulties of life, but he does not give up. He knows his...