Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?” Matthew 18:21 (NIV) During a conference on family life, the guest pastor emphasized the mutual forgiveness that must exist within a couple if they are to successfully overcome even the most difficult obstacles. He provided numerous examples, drawn from both biblical and social contexts. At the conclusion of the conference, a woman approached

Therefore I exhort you, brothers, through the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God, which is your reasonable service. Romans 12:1 (LEB) At the moment of exchanging wedding vows, instead of repeating the words spoken by the pastor, the young bride decided to summarize the entirety of the vow in a single simple sentence—a sentence that deeply moved the entire congregation. She looked the groom straight in the eye and said: "I of

It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in princes. Psalm 118:9 (NIV) We all have moments when we need someone to lean on—someone we trust and are certain will never fail us, no matter the magnitude of our difficulties. This person will always be there to support us, stand by our side, and come to our aid. Some of us—despite possessing a strong faith—tend, in the midst of our trials, to turn first to this human figure rather than to God, convinced that they are

Then Haggai answered and said, ‘So is this people, and so is this nation before Me,’ says the Lord, ‘and so is every work of their hands; and what they offer there is unclean. Haggai 2:14 (NKJV) The Law was not a conditional means God established to make the people holier or purer if they observed it. Quite the contrary: it was a means to reveal to them the depth of their sinful state. As Paul affirms, the Law revealed our sins. By enacting commandments—by telling us what to

In the same way, those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be My disciples. Luke 14:33 (NIV) What leads some people to reject God’s offer of salvation in Jesus Christ is their attachment to the material possessions they own. These things are too precious in their eyes for them to give them up. Others, however—those who do not possess much—step forward without hesitation, convinced that, since they do not specifically own the very goods they would have to aban

Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day. Acts 2:41 (NIV) In one of our previous messages, I mentioned that Peter’s preaching after Pentecost resulted in numerous conversions, although I did not specify the exact number. In this verse, however, we discover the precise figure of new disciples who joined their ranks: approximately 3,000. What is worth noting, however, is that the passage explicitly indicates that

Jesus called out to them, “Come, follow Me, and I will show you how to fish for people!” Matthew 4:19 (NLT) When I was a radio host in my youth, I had an interesting and insightful audience. Everything I said held great importance in their eyes. And when the time came to open the lines to listeners, the switchboard would light up: so many people would call in to ask me questions. One day, after a show dedicated to setting goals and identifying priorities, a young boy asked me

I have seen his ways, and will heal him; I will also lead him, And restore comforts to him and to his mourners. Isaiah 57:18 (NKJV) In the Book of Ecclesiastes, the author teaches us that there is a time to rejoice and a time to weep. It is a passage that brings comfort to many people and offers them hope. Even when we feel like giving up and sinking into despair, we continue to hope. Sometimes, as we traverse the valley of despair—and as the wait for the time of rejoicing se

Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with Me. Revelation 3:20 (NIV) It is not always easy to make a sensible decision based solely on emotion, or on the strength of a vague and unfounded promise made by another. When we make a decision based on emotion, we run the risk of wanting to turn back. When we make a decision based on someone else’s promise, we risk regretting it—for, i

The future glory of this Temple will be greater than its past glory, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. And in this place I will bring peace. I, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, have spoken! Haggai 2:9 (NLT) Most often, when we see no way out—because we are trapped in a situation over which we have lost all control—we become so discouraged that we lose hope, to the point of wanting to give it all up and simply wait for the inevitable to occur. We often fall prey to the illusion th

They will console you, when you see their ways and their doings; and you shall know that I have not done without cause all that I have done in it, says the Lord God. Ezekiel 14:23 (RSV) In this passage, we see God addressing Ezekiel, declaring to him that if He were to decide to raise His hand against a land—even if Noah (for his righteousness), Daniel (for his faithfulness), and Job (for his perseverance) were present within it—all three combined would be unable to save a si

Now concerning spiritual gifts, brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be unaware. 1 Corinthians 12:1 (NASB) Some of our readers have shared with us the difficulty they experience in understanding the use of spiritual gifts and their manifestation. This is a glaring reality within our churches. We live in a deeply "spiritual" world—and yet, often, a deeply confused one. We observe this through trends such as being "spiritual but not religious," or the quest for supernatur

To whom will you compare me? Or who is my equal?” says the Holy One. Isaiah 40:25 (NIV) Some might wonder why God poses this question: Does He harbor doubts regarding His own identity? This inquiry does not stem from a need for information, but rather constitutes a declaration of absolute uniqueness. In a world prone to creating substitutes for the Divine, God asserts His position as "The Holy One"—a title signifying that He is set apart unto Himself. He is not merely a super

Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking in the Spirit of God ever says “Jesus is accursed!” and no one can say “Jesus is Lord” except in the Holy Spirit. 1 Corinthians 12:3 (ESV) One of the most widespread controversies within the Christian community concerns spiritual gifts. While some traditions maintain that these gifts still exist and play a vital role in the edification of the Church, others believe that the gifts of the Spirit ceased with the death of th

For God says, “At just the right time, I heard you. On the day of salvation, I helped you.” Indeed, the “right time” is now. Today is the day of salvation. 2 Corinthians 6:2 (NLT) We all feel the need to be saved—to be spared from the coming judgment. Even those who refuse to acknowledge and accept the existence of God nevertheless feel this need to have their past faults erased, so that they may walk in a new life. At the very least, they desire to be forgiven by those again