“What is causing the quarrels and fights among you? Don’t they come from the evil desires at war within you?” (James 4:1 NLT).

November 20, 2022

WILL WE EVER HAVE PEACE ON EARTH? We may blame conflict on external circumstances caused by others, but James said that war actually originates within each of our hearts. How long in human history did man exist before his first quarrel? Not long. Just long enough for two brothers to be born. Yet God saw

“The Lord is for me, so I will have no fear. What can mere people do to me?” (Psalms 118:6 NLT).

November 19, 2022

HOW BIG IS YOUR GOD? The psalmist’s view of God was greater than his fear of man, therefore he did not fear. Why should the child of God fear anything? What is so great or terrible that it should trouble the believer’s heart with anxiety? The apostle Paul seems to be thinking of this verse

“This is what the Sovereign Lord says: O my people, I will open your graves of exile and cause you to rise again” (Ezekiel 37:12 NLT).

November 18, 2022

THE AMAZING PROMISE OF RESURRECTION Ezekiel was called to prophesy to the Jewish exiles in Babylon and those scattered throughout the nations. This was a time when Israel had ceased to exist as a nation. In the national sense, it was dead. So, this resurrection prophecy might first be considered symbolic of a day when

“Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy.” (James 1:2 NLT).

November 17, 2022

MOVING TRIALS FROM THE SAD COLUMN TO THE GLAD COLUMN James described the spiritual mindset that the Christian should have when facing trials. What is this mindset? “Great joy.” Not happiness, which is based on external happenings, but “great joy,” which comes from within and is the fruit of the Spirit for the believer that

“Your people are saying, ‘The Lord isn’t doing what’s right,’ but it is they who are not doing what’s right” (Ezekiel 33:17 NLT).

November 16, 2022

WHEN A PEOPLE ACCUSE THE LORD When a people lose their fear of the Lord and begin to lift their own judgments above His, that nation will not long survive. The prophet Ezekiel warned the people of Judah to repent. Yet they responded by accusing God of injustice rather than repenting themselves. Today, we often

“Work at living in peace with everyone, and work at living a holy life” (Hebrews 12:14 NLT).

November 15, 2022

WORK AT LIVING IN PEACE WITH ALL PEOPLE Those who are at peace with God through faith in Jesus are to pursue living in peace with all people.” Peace is the third member of the first triad of the fruit of the Spirit: “Love, joy, peace” (Gal. 5:22). Therefore, peace is one of the key

“God’s discipline is always good for us, so that we might share in his holiness” (Hebrews 12:10 NLT).

November 14, 2022

DON’T WASTE THE PAIN Are you going through a season of hardship or sorrow? Are you burdened by trouble? Exhausted by trial or disappointment? Don’t waste the pain. God is still God. He is still sovereign. Such seasons are never enjoyable at the time, but when we look back on them, we see how God

“He thought it was better to suffer for the sake of Christ than to own the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking ahead to his great reward” (Hebrews 11:26 NLT).

November 13, 2022

I’D RATHER HAVE JESUS THAN ANYTHING The book of Hebrews teaches that it was “by faith” that Moses chose to be identified with God’s people rather than remain as the adopted son of Pharoah’s daughter. Moses was further commended for his faith in that he considered it better to suffer for “Christ” and look to

“By his faith Noah condemned the rest of the world, and he received the righteousness that comes by faith” (Hebrews 11:7 NLT).

November 12, 2022

TRUTH WILL EITHER SAVE OR CONDEMN There is only one way to be right with God. And that is to receive the righteousness of God through faith. It was Noah’s example and profession of faith that condemned that unbelieving generation who rejected God. For the truth will either save or condemn those that hear it,

“So do not throw away this confident trust in the Lord. Remember the great reward it brings you!” (Hebrews 10:35 NLT).

November 11, 2022

DON’T THROW AWAY YOUR SHIELD OF FAITH  After a season of suffering we are tempted to timidity and cowardice. We fear persecution and pain, so we hide from the fight. We lose a battle, so we retreat from the war. Yet, the Word teaches us not to “throw away” our “confident trust,” which is the