Category: The Gospel and the Christian Life

What does it mean to you that Jesus faced temptation? The fact that Jesus experienced temptations is important for our salvation as well as for our own daily battles with temptation. The writer of Hebrews captured the significance of this vital aspect of Christ’s ministry when he wrote: “For we do not have a High Priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin” (Hebrews 4:15). Consider all that the Scriptures teach us about this: In the Wilderness In Matthew 4, after He was baptized by...

It is no accident that Christ said, “By this, all people will know that you are my disciples if you have love for one another” (John 13:35). He did not say they will know you by your politics, your simple living, or your dress. None of these things are primary, outward distinguishing marks of Christians. Neither do we look alike, eat alike, or speak alike. But there is something that marks Christians outwardly. What is the distinguishing mark of the Christian community? It is gospel love—unfettered, abounding, sacrificial, giving love. Why is love above all the distinguishing mark of...

Should you fight for your marriage? Is it worth the trouble? Simply, yes. Here are nine reasons why you should fight for your marriage. God owns your marriage. Jesus said, “What God has joined together, let not man separate” (Mark 10:9). When at the alter you say “I do” to each other and make a marriage covenant together, you uncover God’s design for your life. In every wedding ceremony, the officiant asks if you will make a promise to live together in marriage. The vows may be worded a bit differently for each person, but in every case, you...

Getting Real and Drawing Near Let’s face it—we are emotional creatures. And we don’t have to apologize for that fact. After all, God designed us that way, and in the Psalms we see that God works through our emotions to draw us closer to him and to mature us spiritually. We want to be careful that our authority is God’s Word, not our feelings, yet we don’t want caution to become suspicion, leaching any credibility out of what we feel. In the Psalms we find how to be real with God and simultaneously reverent. The psalms are so helpful...

The book of Joshua relates one of the most exciting, victorious, and fruitful times in the history of the nation of Israel. Under the leadership of Joshua, who himself “wholly followed the Lord” (Numbers 32:12), the people of Israel crossed over the river Jordan on dry land, miraculously overcame the great walls of Jericho, and proceeded to conquer and inhabit the entire Promised Land in a period of only about six years. Perhaps even more miraculously, and again under Joshua’s wise leadership, Israel equitably divided and settled the new land and lived there in peace for many years. What...