Romans 9:17 is a direct quote from Exodus 9:16. It paints a picture of God working through human choices—even stubborn, resistant ones—to reveal His power and character. When Paul quotes God’s words to Pharaoh, he’s showing that Pharaoh wasn’t a puppet; he was a [...]
The more we love someone, the more they have the ability to touch our hearts. The most difficult experiences we have in life are often centered around our most beloved children and grandchildren. There aren’t always quick answers to drawing our loved ones back [...]
God did not create humanity with the intention of having us die; His original purpose was for mankind to live eternally in a perfect relationship with Him on a perfected earth (Genesis 1:26–28; Psalm 115:16).When God finished His creation, He declared it "very good," [...]
Money is important to live, but just how important should it be? Some people say that being a good Christian means that God will automatically bless you with riches, but this is not true. Jesus and his apostles owned very few possessions, and they [...]
The question of whether dancing belongs in a church service really comes down to two things: the motivation of the heart and the purpose of the gathering. Scripture gives us examples from both the Old and New Testaments, and they paint slightly different pictures. [...]
In the Garden of Eden after the fall, mankind was promised, “By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will return” [...]
Confessing sins to God is essential for all who have consecrated their lives to Him. Although the consecrated mind seeks to draw close to God and focus on His ways, the old mind, steeped in the old ways of sin, struggles against change (Romans [...]
We often deal with people who see things differently than we do. Respecting our fellow believers — our spiritual family, the “household of the faith” — is absolutely vital for several key reasons.First and foremost, we respect fellow believers because God Himself called them. [...]
Courage is not the absence of fear; rather, it is a deliberate process of action, spiritual reliance and psychological reframing. Courage is ACTION in the presence of fear. If fear arises (and it will), the courageous action is to pause and acknowledge the discomfort [...]
Prayer is how we communicate with God. It’s like a power cord that stretches all the way to Him in heaven. Prayer “charges” our hearts with more energy to serve Him while increasing our faith and peace. When we pray to the Creator of [...]
The Prosperity Gospel is a teaching that is in contrast with the true Gospel of Jesus Christ based on its focus on earthly gain and personal desire. It is fundamentally characterized by its emphasis on material and physical blessings in the present life as [...]
The statement from 1 John 4:1, "Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world," instructs Christians to exercise discernment regarding the influences they encounter.For more [...]
God knows what is best for us through His omniscience, profound wisdom, eternal perspective and meticulously detailed plan that was established before the world was even created. This plan accounts for all of human history and is designed to bring about the best possible [...]
Scripture gives Jesus many meaningful titles, but one of the most tender and powerful is the “Good Shepherd.” It’s striking that Jesus chose such a humble image to describe himself and his followers. In contrast, human societies often use fierce animals like lions, eagles [...]
Matthew 5:21–25 is part of Jesus’ teaching where he intensifies the understanding of the commandment “You shall not murder.” Rather than addressing only the outward act, Jesus focuses on the inward condition of the heart that leads to it.Murder begins with anger: Jesus teaches [...]
Matthew 19:12: NASB 1995 “For there are eunuchs who were born that way from their mother’s womb; and there are eunuchs who were made eunuchs by men; and there are also eunuchs who made themselves eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. [...]
Staying close to God involves intentional effort, transforming our mindset and actions, and relying on God's grace and providence through Jesus Christ. It’s dedicated work of continuous learning and applying scriptural principles.•Develop a Devoted Prayer Life: Prayer is a vital privilege and is how [...]
"For as many as are led by the spirit of God, they are the sons of God ...Ye have received the spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit that we are the children of God." [...]
Psalm 23 is cherished by many Christians for its vivid portrayal of God’s care, and its implications for our everyday, modern life. For a step-by-step walkthrough of the Psalm, we invite you to listen to:Christian Questions PodcastEpisode #1242: “Is the Lord Really My Shepherd?”The amazing, [...]
During his ministry on earth, Jesus sought those who, like him, were prepared to completely dedicate, or consecrate, their hearts and minds to God. Jesus understood that this type of commitment, which would come at the expense of worldly goals, approvals and rewards, would [...]
