Your own eyes have seen all the great work Yahweh did. Therefore, keep every commandment that I am commanding you today, so that you may be strong and go in and possess the land into which you are about to cross. Deuteronomy 11:7–8 Strength derives from repetition. So the old proverb says, “If you lift … Continue reading
Present the members of your bodies as slaves to righteousness for the purpose of holiness … and its outcome, eternal life. Romans 6:19–22 One way to paraphrase this wonderful promise is: If we do what accords with God’s design for people, we will become truly valuable to the lives we touch, which will yield the … Continue reading
Indeed, all who desire to live godly lives in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evil people and impostors will progress in their deceit, both deceiving and being deceived. 2 Timothy 3:12–13 What’s worse than being persecuted? Being deceived. At first, it doesn’t seem so, but when we consider everything from the perspective of eternity, … Continue reading
You are slaves of the one whom you obey. … Thanks be to God that you became obedient from the heart to his instruction so that, being freed from sin, you became enslaved to righteousness … indeed to God, from which enslavement you derive the benefit of sanctification and its end, eternal life. Romans 6:16–22 … Continue reading
Jesus said, “Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, is the one who loves me. And those who love me will be loved by my Father, and I will love them and manifest myself to them.” John 14:21 Genuine affections in our hearts come to perfection—to completion—as they move us to action. Genuine joy about … Continue reading
Remember the promise to your servant, in which you made me hope. This is my comfort in my affliction, that your word has preserved me. … I have remembered your rules of old, O Eternal, and they comfort me. Psalm 119:49–52 No matter what anyone says, or how painful the accusation, or untrue the charge, … Continue reading
Be very careful how you try to deliver yourself from difficulties; for God is at work among you so you will purpose and work according to good will I mentioned earlier. Philippians 2:12–13 Christian life is like a walk along the beach—in water up to our knees. We must concentrate every step we take so … Continue reading
Prove yourselves to be those who do the word … ones who contemplate the perfect, liberating law and persevere in it … If you fulfill the royal law as expressed in this scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing beautifully. James 1:22–2:8 When we responded joyfully to the message that God was reconciling … Continue reading
Obeying the Lord involves not only our actions but our thoughts. 2 Corinthians 10:5 commands us to “bring every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.” We can dwell on many ideas that contradict the knowledge of God set forth in Scripture. “Cast down imaginations and every high concept that exalts itself against the … Continue reading
Everyone who hears these words of mine, and acts upon them, is like a wise man who built his house upon the rock. The rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew and burst against that house; but it did not fall, for it had been founded upon the rock. Matthew 7:24–25 We … Continue reading