What’s your story of grace?

If you are a Christian — if you are a follower and lover of Jesus Christ — are you regularly, constantly, and presently aware of God’s grace in your life? How often do you think of God’s grace? How often do you meditate on what life might have been like without Christ? Are you quick […]

What do you think?

It’s a simple question. It will often be spoken at a car lot as a decision is about to be made. And a young man will ask his friend this question about the girl he is interested in taking on a first date. And a child will ask this of her mother as she wonders […]

To know God

“…that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death.” (Philippians 3:10; NASB) We live in the age of information explosion. More information has been generated in the last three decades than in the previous 5,000 years. Over 4,000 books are published every […]

Are you happy?

Are you happy? Truly happy? Content with your life and circumstances? Are you free from anxiety and worry? Does your sleep pattern reflect that you are resting and trusting in God? The one who is truly happy is ultimately happy with God and His Word (Ps. 119:1-3). We live in a world that craves happiness. […]

The Word of life

I’ve been sick on a pretty regular basis — I’ve gotten a hold of the same “bug” too many times. I have been known to have a good case of the “not-so-holy grumbles.” Have you ever had them? At the time, it seems to feel good to grumble about: hot (or cold, depending on where […]

Be heavenly minded

“For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain” (Phil. 1:21; NASB). Jonathan Edwards was a man who longed for heaven. In one sermon he said, “Labor to obtain such a disposition that you may choose heaven for your inheritance and home, and may earnestly long for it and be willing to […]

What’s your reputation?

When George Whitfield died in 1770, American statesman and deist Benjamin Franklin wrote of him, “I knew him intimately upwards of 30 years. His integrity, disinterestedness and indefatigable zeal in prosecuting every good work, I have never seen equaled and shall never see excelled.” That’s quite a commendation of a preacher of the gospel from […]

Who’s who in the early church

The apostle Paul’s letters often conclude with lists of greetings from or encouragements to particular people. The list of generally obscure names in Colossians 4 is typical and reveals the kinds of people God uses to accomplish his purposes. Consider Aristarchus, a captive man. He was from Thessalonica and went with Paul and Tychicus to […]

Why seeking God is so important

Colossians 3 says that the believer is to “Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on the earth” (v. 2). To ask a question that a three-year-old might ask — Why? Why should we set out minds on God and seek Him (v. 1)? The passage offers five reasons […]

God’s lovingkindness is everlasting

Psalm 118 begins this way: Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; For His lovingkindness is everlasting. Oh let Israel say, “His lovingkindness is everlasting.” Oh let the house of Aaron say, “His lovingkindness is everlasting.” Oh let those who fear the LORD say, “His lovingkindness is everlasting.” (vv. 1-4) And it ends […]

Satan and sin — two defeated foes

Many believers live day-to-day in discouragement and even despair over their sin. They erringly believe that they cannot escape their sin. They rightly believe that there is forgiveness and cleansing for every sin, but they wrongly believe that their sinful habits and patterns cannot change. In Colossians 2, Paul articulates two glorious truths for the […]

The sufferings of Christ — and our sufferings

“Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I do my share on behalf of His body, which is the church, in filling up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions” (Col 1:24). Too often the misconception that the Christian life is a life of ease and simplicity without trial and […]

You are in a spiritual battle

You are in a spiritual battle — be aware of the wartime realities. Despite all that Christ has done, the battle against Satan’s influences still rages. That’s why Paul says in Ephesians 6, “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God, so that […]

When God changes a man, he lives to please the Lord

It took 38 years of watching the Texas Rangers, but a couple of years ago I finally heard the words that every baseball fan loves to hear about his team: “The Rangers are going to the World Series.” I wanted to hear that so much, I’ve actually made it my ring tone on my cell […]

A worthy life

A few years ago, Dennis needed to some same-day cleaning for some clothes that were necessary for a trip he was taking. Then he remembered a store on the other side of his hometown of Katy, TX — “One-Hour Dry Cleaners.” So he gladly made the out-of-the way trek to the cleaning company and as […]