“So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love” (1 Corinthians 13:13 ESV). The apostle Paul rebuked the believers in Corinth for pursuing spiritual gifts and positions within the church in order to edify themselves. He offered to teach them a “more excellent way” of life, a more
“And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” (Esther 4:14 ESV). Esther, whose name means, “star,” won King Xerxes’ beauty contest and was crowned as his queen. She went from being a Jewish orphan to a Persian queen. Her relative, Mordecai, who had raised her as
“In the first month, which is the month of Nisan, in the twelfth year of King Ahasuerus, they cast Pur (that is, they cast lots) before Haman day after day; and they cast it month after month till the twelfth month, which is the month of Adar” (Esther 3:7 ESV). The book of Esther explains
“Whoever loves pleasure will be a poor man; he who loves wine and oil will not be rich” (Proverbs 21:17 ESV). This proverb states a truth that is usually revealed over time. For the one who loves pleasure and drink may seem happy for a time. But after a while their love of comfort leads
“Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all. He keeps all his bones; not one of them is broken” (Psalms 34:19-20 ESV). David wrote this psalm during a low period in his life. Running from King Saul who sought to kill him, he tried hiding among the
“No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.” (1 Corinthians 10:13 ESV). This verse from the apostle Paul’s
“For if I preach the gospel, that gives me no ground for boasting. For necessity is laid upon me. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!” (1 Corinthians 9:16 ESV). The apostle Paul reminded the Corinthians of his credentials as an apostle and a preacher of the gospel. He called them to
“This “knowledge” puffs up, but love builds up. If anyone imagines that he knows something, he does not yet know as he ought to know” (1 Corinthians 8:1-2 ESV). The Corinthians felt that they had superior knowledge about things such as food offered to idols. They knew that the idols weren’t real and they felt
“Therefore let everyone who is godly offer prayer to you at a time when you may be found” (Psalm 32:6 ESV). David wrote of a time when his unconfessed sin weighed heavy on him. He finally decided to stop trying to hide his iniquity and to confess his sins to the Lord. When he did,
“Only let each person lead the life that the Lord has assigned to him, and to which God has called him” (1 Corinthians 7:17 ESV). In the apostle Paul’s response to the Corinthians concerning marriage and singleness, he said that status before God is more important than status in the world. He encouraged them to