As Jesus traveled toward Jerusalem, he met ten lepers. They begged him for healing, and he graciously honored their plea for mercy. But only one of them gave thanks (Luke 17:15-17). The others seemed to be trading one disease for another – leprosy for ingratitude.
The English word “love” is really sloppy. The meaning depends almost entirely on context. But the usual word for “love” in the New Testament is very precise – and challenging.
In the aftermath of a terrible crime (like the one perpetrated in Thousand Oaks, California), do you ever wonder how people can be so inhuman and evil? Daniel’s vision on the bank of the Tigris River gives us an eye-opening answer.
Joy is a gift of God, something he wants his people to have. But it’s also a choice, which is why the Bible tells us to “rejoice in the Lord” (Phil. 4:4).
Legalism is making up black-and-white rules to address matters of opinion. Daniel’s prayer for mercy points to a great antidote for this spiritual problem.
Distress affects all of us in different ways. Some of us feel anxious and panicky. Others feel irritable or depressed. But Jesus has a gift for us – if we will receive it.
Atheists say that Christians believe in “the God of the gaps.” There are things we can’t explain, and so we attribute them to God – sort of like how people hear a creak in the attic and fear that a ghost is lurking up there. Is this accusation fair?
The Bible consists of 66 books written by 40 authors living at various times over a period of 1,600 years. And yet the Bible tells one coherent and beautiful story, a story that gives strong evidence for the inspiration of the scriptures.
The political environment in the U.S. is becoming hateful and violent. It’s very disturbing. What’s going to happen to us? In 551 BC, the prophet Daniel had a vision that still communicates a reassuring message all these years later.
When something goes wrong, is it our first inclination to get irritated? If we yield ourselves to the Spirit of Christ, he will teach us patience (Gal. 5:22-23).