The Bible teaches us that a person’s outward appearance does not always reveal the condition of the heart. A person may profess to know God while living in disobedience. A person may appear godly while lacking a genuine relationship with Jesus Christ. Paul warned the church about this danger. “They…
We are often identified by what we do. We are mothers, daughters, wives, sisters, teachers, business owners, ministry leaders, friends, volunteers, and so much more. We may introduce ourselves by our occupation, family role, accomplishments, or ministry. But there is a deeper question—one that reaches beyond everything we do: Who…
“Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things . . . But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.” (I Peter 1:18-19) When people hear the word gospel, many immediately think about the New Testament — the life, death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. While that is true, the message…
“For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.” (II Corinthians 5:10) “For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether…
“He who covers his sins will not prosper, but whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy.” (Proverbs 28:13, NKJV) ACHAN’S STORY Joshua 7 tells us the story of Achan, a man who thought his secret sin would stay a secret. When the children of Israel went up against the city of…
When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is—that she is a sinner.” Jesus answered him, “Simon, I have something to tell you.” Luke 7:39-40 ESV In this…
“Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.” Psalm 51:10-11 Chapter 12 of II Samuel records the story of Nathan’s visit to David, revealing the grievous sins he…
“Rivers of water run down from my eyes, because men do not keep Your law . . . I see the treacherous, and am disgusted, because they do not keep Your word.” (Psalm 119: 136, 158, NKJV). It is difficult to watch intense grief. We have all seen, or personally felt, the…
“While Ezra prayed and made this confession, weeping and lying face down on the ground in front of the Temple of God, a very large crowd of people from Israel—men, women, and children—gathered and wept bitterly with him.” (Ezra 10:1, NLT) After years of exile in Babylon, Artaxerxes, king of…