As a parent, when our children stumble, we don’t disown them. We may punish or reprimand, but cast them out of the family?  We cannot!  They are biologically connected to us. Those born with our DNA will die with it. God, our Father, engenders the same relationship with us. Upon salvation we become as John 1:12 says, “children of God.” He alters our lineage, redefines our spiritual parenthood, and in doing so, secures our salvation. Paul says, “Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit” (Ephesians 1:13). And a soul sealed by God is ..read more

Have you ever thought about why the Earth needs the moon?  Do you know how whirlpools form, what makes something glow in the dark, or the incredible properties of blood? Enjoy today's devotion from How Great Is Our God, the all-new follow-up to the bestselling devotional Indescribable, with 100 new devotions that showcase the greatness of our Creator. If we are living in the light, as God is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, His Son, cleanses us from all sin.  Blood. Some people faint at the sight of it, but you cou ..read more

Some historians clump Christ with Moses, Muhammad, Confucius, and other spiritual leaders. But Jesus refuses to share the page. In John 14:6 Jesus declares, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but by me.” He could have scored more points in political correctness had he said, “I know the way,” or “I show the way.” Yet he speaks not of what he does but of who he is: “I am the way!” ​ His disciple Peter announced, “There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we mus ..read more

MATTHEW 10:30Why do we put God in a box? Why do we have no problem praying for God to heal a child’s cancer, but feel odd asking Him to fix our stuffy nose? Do we assume He’s too busy to deal with the little stuff, or are we limiting what He’s capable of and what He cares about? That one thing. I know I can’t talk to God about that! He’s probably sick and tired of me asking for help with that. He’s probably wondering why I haven’t licked it yet. Better wait until I get it straightened out. Plus, He’s got lots of kids to save from fires, persecuted Christians overseas to rescue, and calamitie ..read more

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I have a feeling most people who defy and deny God do so more out of fear than conviction. For all our chest pumping and braggadocio, we’re anxious folk. We can’t see a step into the future, can’t hear the One who owns us. No wonder we try to bite the hand that feeds us. But God reaches and touches. If he’s touching you, let him. Mark it down! God loves you, and He loves you with an unearthly love. You can’t win it by being winsome, you can’t lose it by being a loser. But you can be blind enough to resist it. Don’t, for heaven’s sake, don’t. For your sake, don’t. Others demote ..read more

Many of us had parents who expected standards of behavior or achievements we could never meet, which may have led to a breakdown in our relationship with them. Or perhaps we are the demanding parents who have required too much of our children. Sometimes a similar relationship breakdown occurs between God and ourselves, and we may feel that we are alienated from God because we can’t meet God’s perfect standards of holiness. We know about the sacrifice of Jesus Christ and the support of the Holy Spirit, yet because we feel inadequate, we can’t really form an intimate and constant relationship ..read more

How much  does Jesus know God?  When Jesus says in Matthew 10:31, “You are worth more than many sparrows,” you can trust him.  He knows the value of every creature.  And when Jesus says, “In my Father’s house are many mansions,” you can count on it.  He knows; He has walked them. “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son that whoever believes in him shall not perish…” (John 3:16).  When Jesus speaks about God, he is the ultimate authority. Trust him ..read more

Jesus invites, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest…let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls” (Matthew 11:28). Do yourself a favor. Underscore, underline, and accept this invitation. Jesus says,  Let me teach you how to handle long Mondays, and cranky in-laws. Let me teach you why people fight, death comes, and forgiveness counts. We need answers and Jesus offers them. But can we trust him? There’s only one way to know and that is to seek him out. Lift up yo ..read more

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