Read Colossians 1:21–23 Now [God] has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation. Colossians 1:22 Paul’s statement to the Colossians seems to cast a shadow on the assurance of our future glory (v. 13). Is it...
Read Philippians 1:25–30 It has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for him. Philippians 1:29 Satan wants us to think that we are alone in the battle and that our difficulties are unique, but such is not the...
Read 1 Peter 4:17–19 Those who suffer according to God’s will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good. 1 Peter 4:19 If we really have hope, and believe that Jesus is coming again, then we will obey His Word and start laying up treasures and...
Read Job 30 In his great power God becomes like clothing to me; he binds me like the neck of my garment. Job 30:18–19 Job experienced sufferings similar to those of our Lord Jesus Christ. In the daytime, Job endured unbearable suffering; and at night, God wrestled with him, made...
Read 1 Peter 3:3–6 Your beauty … should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight. 1 Peter 3:3–4 Attitudes such as submission, understanding, love, kindness, and patience are the fruit of the Spirit (Gal....
Read Philippians 1:11 [I pray that you will be] filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God. Philippians 1:11 The difference between spiritual fruit and human religious activity is that fruit brings glory to Jesus Christ. Whenever we do anything in...
Read 1 John 3:11–15 Anyone who hates his brother is a murderer. 1 John 3:15 A visitor at the zoo was chatting with the keeper of the lion house. “I have a cat at home,” said the visitor, “and your lions act just like my cat. It seems a shame...
Read Hebrews 8:7–12 I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more. Hebrews 8:12 What does it mean that God remembers our sins no more? Does it mean that our all-knowing God can actually forget what we have done? The phrase “remember [our] sins no more” means...
Read 1 Peter 4:4–6 [The pagans] think it strange that you do not plunge with them into the same flood of dissipation, and they heap abuse on you. 1 Peter 4:4 Unsaved people do not understand the radical change that their friends experience when they trust Christ and become children...
Read Ecclesiastes 2:1–11 When I surveyed all that my hands had done … everything was meaningless. Ecclesiastes 2:11 Today’s world is pleasure mad. Millions of people will pay almost any amount of money to buy experiences to temporarily escape the burdens of life. While there is nothing wrong with innocent...