The vitality of your life in Christ is revealed daily. You can gain significant insight into this spiritual reality by evaluating “when” and “why” you pray. There are three perspectives of life that require little or no prayer for a Christian: A fourth pattern of life can be described as “abiding in Christ” and is…
Only God can help us discover the real power and personal impact of sin, even though we may know the “definition” of sin. This is especially true with regard to prayerlessness. To begin with, prayerlessness indicates a lack of belief in the necessity of depending on Christ for all aspects of life (John 15:5). When we…
You probably realize that prayer is not a wish list that God will fulfill according to your personal perspective or timetable. Instead, God always answers prayer with consideration of the request itself, the person making the request, those that are the focus of the request, and others affected by the request. Answered prayer always glorifies…
All of us have perspectives on hundreds of subjects and myriad situations of life. We should cherish, even guard, the perspectives that are grounded in biblical truth. On the other hand, we should re-evaluate perspectives based on personal biases, feelings, self-oriented traditions, or common opinions and, instead, pursue a view toward change that aligns with…
The most important decision you will ever make concerns who you are. That personal focus does not deal with gender, citizenship, politics, abilities, job, health, wealth, marital status, accomplishments, ethnic group, IQ, or any organizational or religious affiliation. This decision concerns your life now but, of far greater significance, determines your eternal destiny. The most…
If you believe in the afterlife, then you may believe in heaven. If so, do you know what the Bible says about how to get there? Many who believe the Bible know what God’s Word says is necessary for a person to go to heaven. Others who claim allegiance to the Bible, however, may add…
There seems to be an increasing demand for “free speech” world-wide. Proponents of self-centered free speech often clamor for unrestricted and unhindered verbal and printed communication as well as unrestrained and uncensored physical expressions in which ideas and beliefs can be presented. God’s Word, on the other hand, emphasizes the importance of Christ-honoring communication in…
Those who do not believe in Christ legitimize their refusal to forgive others for self-oriented reasons. Believers in Christ can also fail to forgive because of self- interest. Believers, however, primarily refuse to forgive biblically because they do not realize the magnitude of their forgiveness from the Lord. As a result, they do not fully…
Excerpted from Forgiveness: The Possible Impossibility One of the most overlooked aspects of forgiveness is how to ask for it. Asking for forgiveness should not be done according to human wisdom nor simply generated by emotional intensity. Asking for forgiveness should, instead, be based on biblical truth, especially with regard to personal responsibility and esteeming others…
Believers wholeheartedly committed to the Lord Jesus Christ realize the importance of dying to self in aspects of everyday life. For example, even when traveling from one place to another, a believer’s interaction with others should be characterized by dying to self in order to glorify God and demonstrate Christ’s love. In daily life, one…