Daily Grace
Mutual Encouragement
“I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong—that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith” (Romans 1:10-11). There is no argument about Paul’s ability to make other believers strong. Just reading his...
Obedience Comes Through Faith
“Through him we received grace and apostleship to call all the Gentiles to the obedience that comes from faith for his name's sake” (Romans 1:5). We often see grace and faith connected. Grace is the part of our salvation that God paid for us. We cannot be saved apart...
New Horizons
“Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God” (Romans 1:1). When Paul wrote that he was “set apart for the gospel of God” he used a word that is full of meaning. “Set apart” is a translation of the word, aphorizo. It is...
Jesus Doesn’t Forget Us
“But go, tell his disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you’ ” (Mark 16:7). All the disciples had run away from Jesus before the crucifixion. Now that He was risen from the dead the angel conveys a message...
His Will Leads to Victory
“ ‘Abba, Father,’ he said, ‘everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will’ ” (Mark 14:36). Jesus was not a madman and He was not suicidal. In His humanity, He knew what was coming and He would have felt the same emotion...
Greatness is in Serving Others
“Jesus called them together and said, ‘You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and...
The Kindness of Jesus
“There some people brought to him a man who was deaf and could hardly talk, and they begged Jesus to place his hand on him. After he took him aside, away from the crowd, Jesus put his fingers into the man’s ears. Then he spit and touched the man’s tongue. He looked up...
Great Faith
“He replied, ‘It is not right to take the children's bread and toss it to the dogs.’ ‘Yes it is, Lord,’ she said. ‘Even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table.’ Then Jesus said to her, ‘Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted.’ And...
God Changes Our Hearts
“For it is from within, out of a person’s heart, that evil thoughts come—sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. All these evils come from inside and defile a person” (Mark 7:21-23). Sin can’t be...