Moments For You

“There shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel” (Numbers 24:17). For a long time those who studied the constellations believed that a star would signal the birth of a mighty king in the land of Israel. The Magi were wise men who... Read more →

Shortly before He went to the cross, Jesus prayed for unity among His followers: “Holy Father, keep them in Your name, which You have given Me, that they may be one, even as We are one” (John 17:11). The Reasons for Unity Jesus not only prayed for unity, but He... Read more →

“When Jesus was born … there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem” (Matthew 2:1). There has been a great deal of confusion surrounding the visit of the wise men. What exactly are “wise men” anyway? The more accurate term is “Magi”—originally the name of a Persian priestly caste,... Read more →

Will we ever be united? Every day opposite opinions become more polarized, pulling people away from each other. Friendships are ruined, families torn apart, churches split, nations divided. While we desire to stand on our convictions, how can we remain unified at the same time? In the Bible we read... Read more →

In the book of Genesis, we find the story of Adam and Eve and their two sons, Cain and Abel. The Scriptures say that “Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the Lord. And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock” (Genesis 4:3–4).... Read more →

“That they may all be one, just as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe that You have sent Me” (John 17:21). There’s a very real sense in which this petition already has been fulfilled.... Read more →

“Ye are the light of the world … Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 5:14-16). The Necessity of Light Bearing The very purpose of being a Christian is to give light. Giving light... Read more →

“Thanks be unto God for His unspeakable gift” (2 Corinthians 9:15). What can possibly make a gift indescribable? Since all human presents can be described, it is clear that the only thing that can make a gift indescribable is that it has to have something of God mixed with it.... Read more →

As long as sin has existed, there has existed the wicked desire to degrade, diminish, and devalue others. In our sinfulness and depravity, we act hatefully toward others. The Bible says that human beings are made in God’s image and likeness (Genesis 1:26–27), meaning that, in some limited way, God... Read more →

“God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me His prisoner” (2 Tim. 1:7-8). These words of encouragement were written by the apostle Paul to... Read more →

“By grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God” (Ephesians 2:8). Salvation is a gift you receive, not a paycheck you earn. Don’t underestimate the significance of this biblical truth. If you get it wrong—and it is incredibly easy to get... Read more →

Sometimes I can worry too much about how to evangelize. The Samaritan woman in John 4 taught me not to worry so much. She shared a simple testimony about what she saw and experienced, and encouraged people to meet this Man for themselves. When they did, they realized and believed... Read more →

“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father” (James 1:17). When I was a child, I wondered why I had to thank God for food I didn’t want to eat. In my immature mind, gratitude was a response to receiving something I... Read more →

Lists can be boring, but not the one in Hebrews 11. It’s an impressive list of Old Testament believers and their amazing accomplishments. However, the writer kept interspersing the words “by faith,” for his emphasis was strictly faith, not fame. Through faith these people obtained a good testimony (v. 39).... Read more →

When detailing qualifications for leaders, the apostle Paul stressed the importance of possessing “a good report” from the world (1 Timothy 3:7). In other words, a candidate ready for leadership among God’s people is one who already enjoys a good witness in the community—one who confirms from Monday to Saturday... Read more →