Moments For You
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 →
The Nativity
The nativity is one of the best-known stories in history. Asked to describe the events surrounding Jesus’ birth, most people could probably give the basic components of the story: An angel tells a young virgin she’s going to give birth to the Savior of the world…. Mary and Joseph travel... 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 →
An Early Christmas
I have done my share of grumbling about the way Christmas shopping seems to begin earlier every year. But, to be honest, in my own way I’m much worse than the advertisements and stores. I vote for an early Christmas. A very early Christmas. Isaiah Isaiah would understand what I... 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 →
Close But Not Quite
“When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. They told him, ‘In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the... 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 →
Eight Christmas Contrasts
Jesus underwent a human birth so that we who believe on Him might have a heavenly birth. (Luke 2:11; John 1:12) Jesus took His place in a manger in a stable, so that we might have heavenly mansions. (Luke 2:7; John 14:2) Jesus became a member of a human family... 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 →
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 →