Moments For You
Friend of God
“I [Jesus] have called you friends” (John 15:15). Jesus came to bring life. He came so that we can experience life the way it was meant to be. Through Him we can have deep fulfilling relationships, contribute to the world in meaningful ways, have joy that isn’t dependent on circumstances,... Read more →
The Promise of Heaven
If you are a Christian, someone trusting Christ alone for your salvation, Scripture promises that the moment you leave this life you will go to Heaven. To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord. To depart this life is to “be with Christ” (Philippians 1:23).... Read more →
Moving Forward
The Christian life is all about following Christ on a journey of personal transformation. But we were never meant to make that journey alone. We were meant to be accompanied by other travelers, because it’s more fun that way, and because God uses those friendships to shape us—to form us... Read more →
Spirit of Promise
“In Him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in Him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, Who is the guarantee of our inheritance” (Ephesians 1:13-14). Paul, the human author of these words, is saying that when you listened to... Read more →
Proverbs on Friends
In today’s busy world, friendship often takes a back seat to “more important matters.” Most of us are too busy with family and careers and hobbies to invest in meaningful friendships. Now, if you’re in middle school, friendship is a life or death situation. But once you’re an adult, friendships... Read more →
Promises Promote Purity
“Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God” (2 Corinthians 7:1). Paul urges us to cleanse ourselves. The matter of growing in holiness, of cleansing the dirtiness and defilement in our conduct... Read more →
The Friend of Sinners
“The Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Look at Him! A glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’” (Luke 7:34). It is often said that you can tell what a person is like by the company he keeps. There is some... Read more →
God’s Promise, Through God’s Power
When Abraham and Sarah believed the promise that God would give them a son, they didn’t get pregnant immediately. In fact, there was a 25-year gap between when God made the promise they’d have a son and when Sarah got pregnant. Now, 25 years is a long time to wait... Read more →
The Cost of Friendship
C. S. Lewis, the author of The Chronicles of Narnia, was a very thoughtful and perceptive Christian. He wrote some of the most poignant words about friendship: “To love at all is to be vulnerable. Love anything and your heart will certainly be wrung and possibly be broken. If you... Read more →
Stolen Promises
Christians have the bad habit of isolating Bible verses from their appropriate context, and then claiming the verse as a promise God has given to them personally. In many cases, the promise gives tremendous comfort to us in the moment, but it’s been taken out of context so it’s a... Read more →
Job’s Friends
Much can be learned from the example of Job and his friends, Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar. When we are aware of a friend who is hurting, we can follow the positive example of these men by going to the person, mourning with them, and spending time together. Our physical presence... Read more →
Plans and Promises
“Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand” (Proverbs 19:21). A lot of life’s letdowns have a greater purpose. That five-minute delay looking for your misplaced car key? Maybe the Lord kept you out of a deadly... Read more →
Clearing the Ledger
Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 13:5 (NASB) that genuine love “does not keep an account of a wrong suffered.” This is one of those word pictures in Scripture where something familiar is used as a metaphor. Here Paul uses an accounting term describing a merchant who keeps tally of... Read more →
Friend Or Foe?
Dick Sheppard served as a chaplain in the British army during World War I. One night he was lying in the dense blackness of no man’s land when he heard footsteps approaching. Unable to see who it might be, he was tempted to cry out, “Friend or foe?” Years later,... Read more →
Our Thoughts and God’s Promises
Our Thinking God’s Promise It’s impossible All things are possible (Luke 18:27) I’m too tired I will give you rest (Matthew 11:28-30) Nobody really loves me I love you (John 3:16; John 13:34) I can’t go on My grace is sufficient (2 Corinthians 12:9) I can’t figure things out I... Read more →