The first seven beatitudes are difficult enough to apply in life, but it may be that persecution is the toughest of all. Whether it is that colleague at work who always has an insulting comment about your Christianity, or a member of your family that never lets up—it is difficult to suffer persecution. However, verse... Continue Reading

O Lord, I here desire to enter solemnly into covenant with Thee, taking Thee for my Lord and Master, and accepting Thee on Thy own terms, taking Thee for my King, Priest, and Prophet, and in my station, through Thy grace, to stand by truth, and cheerfully to take on Thy yoke, and follow Thee.... Continue Reading

You can experience a joy, a radiance, in even the worst circumstances. You can be going through the worst possible crisis, and you can still experience comfort and joy. The kind of joy that God offers isn’t diminished by difficulty and hardship; it coexists with difficulty and hardship. We can look to God in our... Continue Reading

In this sacrament, we see God’s tremendous grace poured out for sinners regardless of the sinner’s ability to merit or accomplish anything. Whether baptism is received by a child of a Christian household, or by a new professing believer, in all cases when rightly administered, baptism is wholly about the promises of God given by... Continue Reading

God uses His people to encourage and to motivate us to fight the good fight of faith and faithfully finish the race. Are we training ourselves to be lovers of good? Or do we just give in to our sinful hearts and break others with what we say? There is so much wisdom in silence. In silence,... Continue Reading

Money and possessions are never going to make you happy and fulfilled. This is such a critical truth for us as Christians. If you don’t live this truth, you’ll spend your whole life focused on menial and temporary treasures instead of eternal treasures. What we do with wealth now will affect our reward in the... Continue Reading

His sovereignty even over our very decisions and choices (including that to choose him) is good because it means none of our decisions and choices are the ones that ultimately derails his plans for the world, for his people or for us in particular. I am convinced that CH Spurgeon had it right: ‘The sovereignty... Continue Reading

Don’t wander endlessly in subjective feelings and fears. Whatever suffering, confusion, doubt, or anxiety you’re dealing with in a life that feels out of control or separated from God’s love, the cross is an objective historical event you can look to for solid proof of who God is and his unshakable relationship with you through Christ.  ... Continue Reading

It was in this moment of intense agony—the worst of her life—that she, being mystified at her husband’s composure, told him to curse God and die.  This was clearly the darkest day of her life.  Therefore, her words came out of intense grief.  Such struggles with God amidst intense grief are natural and to be... Continue Reading

Often it is with great difficulty that Christians hold different consciences on issues in the church. Sometimes how one holds conviction is as important as the conviction one holds. One must hold Christian convictions Christianly.   Jeremiah Burroughs gives four important points concerning holding a different conscience than those with whom you worship. How one... Continue Reading