“But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead” (2 Corinthians 1:9 ESV). In his second letter to the Corinthians, the apostle Paul wrote how the hardships he and his fellow believers had experienced in Asia Minor had nearly crushed them. For their afflictions were so great
“On the first day of every week, each of you is to put something aside and store it up, as he may prosper, so that there will be no collecting when I come” (1 Corinthians 16:2 ESV). Ironically, the church in Corinth, one of the most wealthy among the 1st Century churches, was the one
“Just as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the man of heaven” (1 Corinthians 15:49 ESV). People today spend a great deal of money and effort on extending the youthful appearance of their bodies. Yet inevitably, our earthly bodies will age and die. This
“For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive” (1 Corinthians 15:22 ESV). The apostle Paul explained the critical importance of the resurrection of Jesus to the gospel message, saying “If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins” (1 Cor.
“What is man, that you make so much of him, and that you set your heart on him, visit him every morning and test him every moment?” (Job 7:17-18 ESV). Job doesn’t accuse God of being absent, but of being too present. He doesn’t blame his suffering on being forsaken by the Lord as most
“I have been young, and now am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken or his children begging for bread” (Psalm 37:25 ESV). Like the psalmist David, I can make the same observation. For I have never seen the righteous forsaken. Whether David meant this as a promise or a general rule, I’m
“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