Jesus looked at him and loved him.—Mark 10:21 (NIV)
As Jesus was wrapping up a visit to Judea, a young man commonly dubbed “the rich young ruler” ran up and knelt before Him to ask for the key to eternal life. Jesus cited some of the most common commandments—don’t murder, commit adultery, lie, cheat, or dishonor your parents—leaving the man feeling pretty (more…)
You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder!—James 2:19 (ESV)
According to a September study published by Pew Research Center, the number of Americans identifying as Christians has fallen from about 90 percent in the 1990s to 63 percent, particularly as young adults continually reject the faith of their parents. What surprises me, however, is not (more…)
What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes.—James 4:14 ESV
I was 14 when I first experienced the death of someone in my circle. It was a 16-year-old tuba player in our high school band—a boy who had delivered our newspapers and on whom I had a serious crush. Just a few (more…)
Jesus said to him, “Rise, take up your bed and walk.”—John 5:8
If you’re anything like me, getting up in the morning can be a challenge. Maybe you sleep hard, and it takes the banging of metal trash can lids to get you going. Or maybe you—like me—struggle with insomnia. But most of us are able to get up out of bed (more…)
If you’re like me, you admire some famous person about whom you find yourself thinking, “Imagine what he or she could do for God with that kind of talent.” But the people God uses aren’t necessarily powerful or prominent or popular. They’re ordinary people who demonstrate extraordinary faith and faithfulness. And because of that, God shows them favor.
In the days of (more…)