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 [...]
The terrible things that happen in the world make it difficult for some to believe in God, let alone Christ. They cannot understand why God allows the things He does—how can a loving God let people suffer in illness, in political turmoil, in natural [...]
The Bible does not reference Valentine’s Day or anything similar, as it was created hundreds of years after the Bible was written. Its history is quite convoluted according to the timeline presented by Wikipedia. Valentine's Day - WikipediaSome form of an annual celebration of [...]
The “flesh” and the “old man” are synonymous.During his ministry, Jesus told his apostles that in order to follow him, one needed to “deny oneself” and “take up his cross” (Matthew 16:24). He further tells them that any who lose their lives for his [...]
Ephesians 4:1 I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,4:2 with all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in4:3 endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond [...]
Mark chapter four begins with Jesus addressing a “great multitude” of people. One of the lessons he taught them was the Parable of the Sower (Mark 4:2-9). In the parable, a sower (farmer) sows a parcel of seeds. Different things happen to the seeds. [...]
Our world rewards self-confidence. The pervasive belief is that we should rely on ourselves at all times—we should be strong, aggressive, go after what we want. Our needs and our wants are our most important consideration. We should be able to handle our lives [...]
The Apostle Paul uses the illustration of an athlete’s training to illustrate the lifestyle of a faithful Christian. Several Bible commentaries make reference to the Isthmain games, named because they took place in the isthmus where Corinth stood. For example, Ellicott’s Commentary for English [...]
1 Thessalonians consists of a letter from the Apostle Paul to the early Christian church at Thessalonica (1 Thessalonians 1:1). In chapter 1, Paul issues greetings to the church members. Chapters 2 and 3 continue his greetings and also offer an explanation for his [...]
There has always been one main criteria for those who seek membership in Christ’s church after being called by God – to love God with all one’s mind and heart and to love one’s neighbor as oneself (Matthew 22:37-40). Those who truly understand this [...]
James 5:1-6: (KJV) “5 Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you. 2 Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are motheaten. 3 Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall [...]
The Bible teaches that in the future, mankind will be resurrected to a state of human perfection, as was experienced by Adam and Eve before their sin. This is part of the “restitution” spoken of in Acts 3:21. Restitution refers to a restoration to a [...]
