“If anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.”  -  1 Timothy 5:8There was a young man in his twenties who had recently gotten married. He worked for a street sign business owned by a man who expected total commitment from his employees. The business was successful, and the boss paid his workers generousl...  Read More

“Better is a little with the fear of the Lord, than great treasure with trouble.”  -  Proverbs 15:16An MBA Harvard graduate was sent to Mexico for work and saw a fisherman docking his small boat at the port. The fisherman had just returned from the sea and had caught four incredible fish. The businessman was amazed and asked, “How long did it take you to catch these fish?”The fisherman replied, “O...  Read More

"But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." - Romans 5:8 (NKJV)I was thinking about Victor Hugo's Les Misérables, particularly Jean Valjean, who was essentially imprisoned for stealing bread to feed his family. After he was released, he tried to find an honest way to get food and shelter. Everyone turned him away. Eventually, he found his...  Read More

"For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them." - Ephesians 2:10 (NKJV)Picture a church where everyone is uniquely gifted by God for different purposes. Someone is gifted to work with homeless people and thinks everyone should work with homeless people. Meanwhile, others are uniquely gifted to teach children in Sunday...  Read More

"Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying: 'Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?' Then I said, 'Here am I! Send me.'" - Isaiah 6:8 (NKJV)In Acts 9, we see Saul, a fierce persecutor of Christians, dramatically encountering Jesus on the Damascus road. After being struck down by a bright light, he heard Jesus' voice asking, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?" Saul's immediate response w...  Read More

"For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast." - Ephesians 2:8-9 (NKJV)There's a story about a man who imagined himself approaching the gates of heaven. As he came to the entrance, Peter was there and asked him, "Why should you be allowed into heaven?" The man confidently replied, "Because I read my Bible...  Read More

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new." - 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NKJV)There's a powerful story about a poor little girl carrying a pitcher of milk home to her family. While walking, the pitcher slipped from her hands and shattered on the ground, milk spilling everywhere. She sobbed uncontrollably, knowing her mother w...  Read More

"What shall I render to the Lord for all His benefits toward me?" - Psalm 116:12 (NKJV)There's a beautiful song called "My Tribute" that asks the heartfelt question: "How can I say thanks for the things that You have done for me?" Here are some of the lyrics:How can I say thanksFor the things You have done for me?Things so undeservedYet You gave to prove Your love for meThe voices of a million ang...  Read More

"For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them." - Ephesians 2:10 (NKJV)When we think of God's greatest works of art, our minds naturally drift to the breathtaking creation around us. The Grand Canyon's majestic beauty, the endless expanse of oceans, or the towering mountains that pierce the sky. These are undeniably b...  Read More

"That in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus." (Ephesians 2:7, NKJV)There are seasons in life when friends encourage us to trust God by saying, "keep looking up." This is often good advice, reminding us to fix our eyes on heaven, to remember that our help comes from the Lord (see Psalm 121:1-2). But there are also times when we...  Read More

"Even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved)." (Ephesians 2:5, NKJV)One of the most remarkable truths in all of Scripture is that being a Christian involves receiving new life, not just new information. When God saves us, He doesn't simply educate us or encourage us to try harder; He performs a spiritual resurrection, breathing His life i...  Read More

"But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved)." (Ephesians 2:4-5, NKJV)In all of literature, perhaps no two words carry more weight than these: "But God." After the devastating diagnosis of human spiritual deadness described in the first three verses of Ephesi...  Read More