Ask most Bible students what God’s grace is and they’ll answer, “undeserved favor.” Indeed, the Bible teaches that despite our sinfulness (rejecting God’s love and rule and failing to love people as God loves us), because of Christ’s death we are forgiven and have a credit of righteousness on our account before God. We are now…
Our concept of grace needs to be renewed. Grace is more than “unmerited favor” — it’s God acting in my life to do what I cannot do for myself. The Bible says it’s up to us to “Grow in grace” (2 Peter 3:18). Grace and power go together in the Bible. Our part is to look for the mighty hand of God to move around us and then to join in with what he is doing.
Most of us are prone to make one of two mistakes: either we shrink back from challenges or we take on too much in our own strength. The key to life is to take courage from Jesus with us so that we can persevere in difficulties and serve God in all we do. A favorite…
There are two integrated movements that define my life: meditating on Jesus and obeying his words. Meditating on God’s Word is joyful intimacy with Jesus. Obeying the Lord is loving others. These are the inner and outer journeys of spiritual formation in Christ. Both movements please the Lord! But many things can divert me from…
Sometimes I’m just overwhelmed with appreciation for God’s grace — aren’t you? The grace of God isn’t just “unmerited favor” — it’s God acting in our lives with kindness and power. Praying a Psalm often warms my heart with a fresh realization of God’s generosity and strength at work in my life. Because of God’s…
“There’s your curb of shame Bill!” My friend riding on the bike next to me laughed as he pointed to the spot on the street where a few weeks earlier I had fallen off my bike and sprained my wrist. My friend is a pastor — he saves his compassion for other people! All teasing…
If only we would let Jesus ravish our hearts! If only we would see that the opportunity of our lives is to be Jesus’ beloved disciple! Right now — at this very moment — the resurrected Christ is smiling at you and I! His arms are open to us. The glorious Lord Almighty is our…
The summer before my senior year of college I worked as an apprentice butcher. If you know me you’re laughing right now: Bill a butcher! But if you were in the meat market with me for those three months when I was 21 years old you would not have laughed — you would’ve cried for me. It was…
What if God were to write a letter to you? It’d be a love letter! Have you read the Bible as being God’s love letter to you? That’s what it is! I know you don’t deserve it — neither do I. That’s the point. God’s love is unconditional. Testimonies on God’s Love Letter to You Over 80,000…
Are there Bible verses on perfectionism? What does Scripture teach us about the problem of perfectionism? Over the years I’ve talked with many people who struggle with perfectionism. I myself have had problems with it. In my own life and as I have helped other in psychotherapy and spiritual mentoring I have found that God’s Word…