The word afflicted means “suffering in difficult circumstances.” The phrase in trouble is a good translation. The Apostle Paul used this word to describe the circumstances he was in as he suffered for the Gospel’s sake (2 Timothy 2:9). As God’s people going through life, we must often endure difficulties...
It is God’s will that the marriage union be permanent, a lifetime commitment. There is no place in Christian marriage for a “trial marriage,” nor is there any room for the “escape-hatch” attitude: “If the marriage doesn’t work, we can always get a divorce.”. For this reason, marriage must be...
True Bible faith is confident obedience to God’s Word in spite of circumstances and consequences. Read that sentence again and let it soak into your mind and heart. This faith operates quite simply. God speaks and we hear His Word. We trust His Word and act on it no matter...
When I became a Christian, churches did not have regular follow-up courses for new converts such as we have today. My “follow-up course” was a series of Bible studies from the Book of Hebrews, led by a gifted layman and taught in his living room. Much of what was taught...
What does Job’s story mean to believers today? It means that some of the trials of life are caused directly by Satanic opposition. God permits Satan to try His children, but He always limits the extent of the enemy’s power. When you find yourself in the fire, remember that God...
Jesus warned about the danger of hypocrisy, the sin of using religion to cover up sin. A hypocrite is not a person who falls short of his high ideals, or who occasionally sins; all of us experience these failures. A hypocrite deliberately uses religion to cover up his sins and...
What is true Christian dedication? For one thing, it means giving God your body. Before we trusted Christ we used our bodies for sinful pleasures and purposes, but now that we belong to Him we want to use our bodies for His glory. The Christian’s body is God’s temple because...
Christians live in the future tense; their present actions and decisions are governed by the knowledge that they have a living, resurrected Saviour whom they will someday see. Just as an engaged couple makes all their plans in the light of that future wedding, so Christians should live with the...
The word submit is a military term that means “get into your proper rank.” When a buck private acts like the general, there is going to be trouble! Unconditional surrender is the only way to complete victory. If there is any area of the life kept back from God, there...
The church is a miracle. No amount of skill, talents, or programs can make the church what it ought to be. Only God can do that. If each believer is depending on the grace of God, walking in the love of God, and participating in the fellowship of the Spirit,...