kingdom

“The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart” (1 Samuel 16:7). Read 1 Samuel 16:1-13. When Samuel came to Bethlehem, he wasn’t sure what to expect. The Lord had told him that He had chosen one of Jesse’s sons to be the next king over Israel, but He hadn’t told him which one. Still, he knew what a king should look like—or so he thought. First, there was Eliab, the oldest. “Samuel saw Eliab and thought, ‘Surely the Lord’s anointed stands here before the Lord’” (1 Samuel 16:6). He was tall and strong, a suitable warrior—he looked like a king. However, God told his prophet, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him” (v. 7). One by one, Samuel inspected each of the seven sons of Jesse who were in attendance for the sacrifice, but none of them were the Lord’s chosen […]

“But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life” (Romans 6:22). Read Romans 6:15-23. If you think you can live a godly life by your own strength, you are in deep trouble. Although we play an important role in our sanctification and are commanded to obey the Lord, we cannot grow into Christlike people without depending on Christ Himself. Therefore, we must surrender completely to our rightful master and loving King—the Lord Jesus Christ. Every person on the face of the earth has either sin or Jesus as their master. There are only two choices; there is no third. The question is Which master are you obeying? Slavery to sin produces unbearable guilt here and now and eternal separation from God forever (see v. 21). In contrast, slavery to righteousness gives you freedom from guilt and shame and guarantees you […]

“Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another” (John 13:34-35). There is something contagious about a heart of love. People who are selfless with their love can make giant waves in this world, whereas those who cling to selfish desires cause only ripples. In fact, those who have hearts of love view the people around them as being most important. A heart that bears the marks of God’s intimate love is not a selfish heart. The Truth is that when we look directly into God’s heart of love, we are transformed forever. The selfish desires that once dominated our heart’s landscape vanish in an instant—replaced by a desire to lavish love on others. As God begins to transform our hearts through His grace and kindness, we become vessels willing to reciprocate this type of love. Something happens inside of […]

“You gave me life and showed me kindness, and in your providence watched over my spirit” (Job 10:12). Inside each of us there is a hunger and a thirst for justice. We want to see the guilty person get his just due. Yet, when it comes to us, we want mercy and grace extended in our direction. We may be deserving of the worst kind of punishment, but we long for someone to give us a second chance before harshly condemning us. Although God is just in His ways, He also is merciful. In fact, God’s Word makes it simple: “Mercy triumphs over judgment” (James 2:13). God would rather extend mercy toward us than the harsh consequences of judgment. That is why Jesus gave His life for us—so we would not have to suffer the consequences of sin. Jesus paid the debt we owe for our sin. As believers pursuing the heart of God, we must emulate His heart. As […]

“Humility is the fear of the Lord; its wages are riches and honor and life” (Proverbs 22:4). Becoming a champion challenges our faith in more ways than we think. When we experience a great deal of success and numerous victories in our lives, human nature begins to enjoy the praises that are given to us. Before we know it, the excitement that people have for us changes the way we view life, and we start believing our own press. Instead of dwelling on who got us to this point, we begin dreaming about where we are going to take ourselves in the future. Humility is the mark of a true champion. Godly love is emblazoned on his or her heart. Most people can sniff out false humility miles before they get to it. They hear the cliché about how we had nothing to do with it, and they know we do not believe a word we are saying. Sincere humility, […]

“I call on you, my God, for you will answer me; turn your ear to me and hear my prayer” (Psalm 17:6). The true test of our character is not measured by the actions we take nor the attitudes we present when we are on stage with the spotlight shining on us. The true test of our character is measured when no one is watching but God. Many people make the mistake of wearing their spiritual maturity on their sleeves. But God is not impressed with how many Bible verses we know nor how many Sunday school lessons we teach. In fact, nothing we do can impress God. What God desires from us more than anything is a relationship. He designed us for this. We function best when we have others around us supporting us and challenging us to grow in our relationship with Him. And no relationship can thrive without communication. In 1 Samuel 22, we find David tucked […]

“My salvation and my honor depend on God; he is my mighty rock, my refuge” (Psalm 62:7). In the New Testament, Jesus made it clear that we have to make a choice: Either we will serve God or we will serve something else. You can dedicate your life to living for the Lord, or you can spend your life living for yourself. However, to truly honor God in a way that places Him in high esteem over everything else, He must be at the center of your affections. Many people do good works. Some non-believers even do more good works than Christians. Yet, a look at the heart reveals their true motivation—whether their deeds are truly done for themselves or for the people they are serving. Some Christians are doing good works out of guilt or obligation, as opposed to the purest reason: love for God. To honor God is to serve Him out of our strong desire to see […]

“In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord, high and exalted, seated on a throne; and the train of his robe filled the temple” (Isaiah 6:1).  When anxiety and uncertainty surround us, God is still in control. Read Isaiah 6:1-7.  The decline of true Christian faith in America is our most pressing trouble. This loss of faith has hollowed out our society from within. It’s just as the psalmist said, “When the foundations are being destroyed, what can the righteous do?” (Psalm 11:3). Many believers are asking the same question today. Even so, I have hope—hope that is based on the changeless and immovable promises of God. As I already mentioned, in times like these, it is imperative—not recommended, not suggested, not just preferable—it is imperative that we go to God’s Word and learn from His prophets. During Isaiah’s lifetime, the nation of Judah, too, went through a period of anxiety and uncertainty. Isaiah 6:1 tells us, […]

“So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking” (Ephesians 4:17).  Read Ephesians 4:17-32. Where should we go to find out what a true Christian is really like? Not to popular culture but to Scripture, of course! And Scripture reveals that it is our heavenly blessings, given to us by God, that make all the difference. But first, let’s consider how the apostle Paul describes a non-Christian. He says, “They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts” (Ephesians 4:18, emphasis added). Similar to how our hands can become calloused with repeated wear, people can become spiritually calloused toward God; they become indifferent toward Him, and eventually their hearts are hardened. Those who are spiritually dead need the power of Jesus to […]

“From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work” (Ephesians 4:16).  Read Ephesians 4:7-16. Every time a person is born again, every time a person repents of their sins and receives Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, the Lord Christ gives them a spiritual birthday gift. A spiritual gift from the Lord is not just any old gift. It’s not some bargain-basement, last-minute, generic present. God gives His children gifts that are perfectly designed, perfectly suited, and perfectly fitted for each recipient. Each one is tailor-made. That is why it is such a tragedy when a gift goes unused. You see, Jesus is the conquering King—victorious over Satan at the cross. He came and set the captives free—you and me and all who come to believe in Him—and, drawing us into His victory parade, He has distributed to us the spoils: a […]

“I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, . . .” (Ephesians 3:16).  Read Ephesians 3:1-21. In Ephesians 3:14-21, Paul reminds us of the heavenly blessings available to us and describes the conditions for grasping, understanding, and implementing the power of those spiritual blessings here and now. Sadly, many Christians have knowledge of these blessings, but fail to apply it to everyday life. We can read about these wonderful gifts in Scripture, but that’s like getting a note from the post office telling you there’s a package waiting for you—the next step is to go pick it up. In the same way, there are things we must do to take hold of God’s blessings and grow spiritually. First, we must be daily empowered by the Spirit of God (see v. 16). When you came to Christ, your spirit was made alive—but your spirit and your flesh still […]