Whoever secretly slanders his neighbor, Him I will destroy; The one who has a haughty look and a proud heart, Him I will not endure. Psalm 101:5 (NKJV) During a conference on the behavior and attitude of the born-again Christian, a participant asked me, "How will we know that we have been transformed?" I took the time to describe Paul's attitude before and after his encounter with Christ, citing the relevant verses. Although he understood my explanations, the answer did not s

I find then the principle that evil is present in me, the one who wants to do good. Romans 7:21 (NASB) During a meeting with his church leaders—and before even revealing the purpose of the gathering—the pastor asked them: "Which of you has stopped sinning since being appointed as a spiritual leader?" Exchanging glances, they all assumed the pastor intended to appoint the one who hadn't sinned as his assistant. They all claimed not to have sinned. Some cited the Bible as an ai

Then He returned to His disciples and found them sleeping. “Simon,” He said to Peter, “are you asleep? Couldn’t you keep watch for one hour? Mark 14:37 (NIV) There comes a time in our lives when—regardless of our strength, motivation, or objectivity—we need the support and comfort of others. When such moments arise, we must accept the situation and humbly turn to others for support. It is a fact of life: we all need help—at least once—to overcome our trials. That is the very

Hear, you mountains, the indictment of the Lord, and you enduring foundations of the earth, for the Lord has an indictment against His people, and He will contend with Israel. Micah 6:2 (ESV) No case ever comes before a court without the presence of both the accused and the accuser. Regardless of the scope of a judgment, the person who knows the whole truth is the one who committed the act; for they are aware not only of the action itself but also of the underlying motive. De

Hear me, Lord, my plea is just; listen to my cry. Hear my prayer, it does not rise from deceitful lips. Psalm 17:1 (NIV) A prayer can be profound and deeply emotional without necessarily being sincere. And even if it is sincere, does it spring from an upright heart? Considering David’s situation, one might wonder how a man like him could declare before God that his plea was just and that his lips held no deceit. You might ask yourself: if he could display such confidence desp

From now on let no one trouble me, for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus. Galatians 6:17 (NKJV) Abraham was deeply attached to Lot, to the point of taking him along when God asked him to leave his homeland. Despite his love and attachment to his nephew, Abraham had to part ways with him when disputes arose between their servants, as their herds were mingling in the same pastures. The situation was delicate for owners sharing the same grazing territory. To avoid su

For you will be judged by the same standard with which you judge others, and you will be measured by the same measure you use. Matthew 7:2 (CSB) In the preceding verse, Jesus introduces His teaching with a clear and radical statement: "Do not judge, so that you may not be judged." However, He does not stop there; He goes on to provide explanations to help His audience fully grasp the meaning of His words. Is Jesus asking us not to judge simply out of fear of being judged ours

The officers answered, “Never has a man spoken in this way!” John 7:46 (NASB) A young pastor went to a store with his wife and son to buy a suit, but he was mistaken for someone who had failed to pay for clothes purchased two days earlier. Upon seeing him, the store manager—who had previously filed a complaint—called the police to report his return. Taken to the police station, the pastor saw the situation resolved when an officer reviewed the surveillance footage and realize

In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. 1 Peter 1:6 (NIV) With tears in his eyes, a young man appeared at the church office and confided in his pastor that things had not turned out as he had hoped. He began to explain his situation. Before his conversion, everything had gone well for him. He had a stable job, the means to afford whatever he desired, and he traveled often; his family had no cause

Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her. Ephesians 5:25 (NKJV) A struggling couple sought their pastor's counsel and help to navigate a trying period in their relationship. Upon arriving at his office, the wife complained incessantly that her husband no longer loved her as he once did, while he retorted by asking how he could love a woman who no longer respected him. The confrontation was heated; neither was willing to yield. A

I write this to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life. 1 John 5:13 (RSV) If there is one song I love to sing, it is: "Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine! O, what a foretaste of glory divine!" Who does not know this hymn? It reassures me regarding my salvation. It is a hymn we all know, and I am certain I am not the only one who cherishes its words. When I sing it, I pour my whole heart and soul into it, for I know that my sa

But Jehoshaphat asked, “Is there no longer a prophet of the Lord here whom we can inquire of?” 1 Kings 22:7 (NIV) The difference between a spiritual Christian and an immature one lies in the fact that the mature believer prays before making a decision and seeks counsel from someone more mature, whereas the immature Christian—even if they do pray—might simply take a chance, reasoning that as long as they harbor no ill will toward others, God will protect them if problems arise

If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have sin; but now they have no excuse for their sin. John 15:22 (RSV) Twenty years after accepting Christ, growing in ministry, and persevering in the faith—a man, whose faith and humility were held in high esteem by all, declared himself unworthy of God's grace. He spent seven days fasting and withdrew from church activities, in which he had played a pivotal role. His church leaders summoned him to a meeting to help him na

And he said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” Acts 7:56 (NASB) We may not be living in the era of the early Christians, but that does not mean we do not encounter the same types of problems. In the time of the early Christians, those who spoke of Christ and His saving work on the cross were targeted. They were crucified or put to death because of their faith. This is a reality against which Jesus clearly warned us. Steph

But you even undermine the fear of God and hinder meditation before Him. Job 15:4 (HCSB) One day, during a Bible study focused on the trials of Job, one of the participants argued that Job's friends did not truly know God, and that it was precisely this ignorance that drove them to stone him—so to speak—with the words of their mouths. In his view, anyone who truly knows God would never address a person enduring such a severe trial in that manner. He pointed out that, as he re