What should we say then? Should we continue in sin in order that grace may multiply? Absolutely not! How can we who died to sin still live in it?—Romans 6:1–2 A Christian has died to sin. Sin has no control over a corpse. Temptation can present itself enticingly and persistently, …
And be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving one another, just as God also forgave you in Christ.—Ephesians 4:32 The Book of Ephesians describes the behavior that ought to characterize Christians as they relate to one another. Our actions ought to be permeated with kindness. Kindness is love expressed …
But thanks be to God, who always puts us on display in Christ, and spreads through us in every place the scent of knowing Him. For to God we are the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing.—2 Corinthians 2:14–15 Whenever the …
For am I now trying to win the favor of people, or God? Or am I striving to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a slave of Christ.—Galatians 1:10 At times you will have to make a choice between pleasing God and …
“Here I am. Bring charges against me before the Lord and His anointed: Whose ox or donkey have I taken? Whom have I wronged or mistreated? From whose hand have I taken a bribe to overlook something?I will return it to you.” “You haven’t wronged us, you haven’t mistreated us, …
Blessed are the gentle, because they will inherit the earth.—Matthew 5:5 In popular thinking the term meek implies weakness. The word Jesus used had a different meaning. His picture of meekness is that of a stallion that has been brought into subjection to its master. Whereas it once fought against …
Give us today our daily bread.—Matthew 6:11 Jesus often reminded His followers not to worry. He told them not to be anxious about tomorrow’s needs or potential problems (Matt. 6:25). Rather, Jesus stressed a daily reliance on the Father, who provides for His children day by day. As the Israelites …
You must purge the evil from you.—Deuteronomy 22:21b It is a dangerous and costly mistake not to take temptation seriously. The sad testimony of many who have succumbed to sin’s enticements is that they thought they were strong enough to remain in the midst of temptation and resist it. God …
“You must not sacrifice to the Lord your God an ox or sheep with a defect or any serious flaw, for that is detestable to the Lord your God.”—Deuteronomy 17:1 God’s love moved Him to sacrifice that which meant the most to Him—His only Son. Our response, if we truly …
“Lord,” another of His disciples said, “first let me go bury my father.”—Matthew 8:21 Often our struggle as Christians is not in deciding whether we should obey Christ but in obeying immediately. We may acknowledge our need to follow Christ and commit ourselves to do what He has told us. …
