Look at the Book

Obedience is neither the rock upon which our salvation rests nor the optional ribbon placed upon eternal life. It is essential. And it is empowered by God.

To comply with God’s commands is to believe that God knows more than we do about what will ultimately make us happy.

Christian self-denial is not truly self-denial. It is saying “no” to the lesser and impermanent for the better “yes” of eternity.

God doesn’t help us in our times of need so that we will keep it to ourselves. He comforts us so we can bring comfort to others.

God promises rest for the weary, peace for the brokenhearted, and comfort for the restless. Do you know the God of all comfort?

Christ’s work on the cross and subsequent resurrection not merely shows that he loved humanity. It proclaims that God loves his glory.

You have two options when it comes to Christ: submit to him joyfully now and gain your life, or submit to him begrudgingly later and lose it.

You may not bow to him now. You may not bow to him next year. But a day draws near when every knee will bow before Jesus Christ.

Jesus ascended from earth to heaven, from lowliness to a throne, from humiliation to exaltation, from a cross to a crown.

The Father and the Son were not in a Civil War to redeem humanity. They were in perfect harmony. The Father sent; the Son gladly went.

God did not become an angel to save angels. But he did become fully human to save humans.

If you see Jesus like you do Gandhi, Nelson Mandela, or Confucius, you do not know Jesus.

Many are willing to share in Christlikeness only as long as it doesn’t mean sacrifice. But Christlikeness led Christ to the cross.

Happiness that is not permanent is not a joy that is truly satisfying.

When you see horrendous crimes committed without adequate justice served, remember, the wicked will perish before the judgment of God.

“Righteousness” has a double meaning in the New Testament. Do you know what those meanings are?

In all things, Christians prosper, because over all things, Christ reigns.

Many do not blossom with the beauty of Christlikeness because they are not rooted in the word of God.

Memorizing God’s word puts heavenly treasure in the pockets of the mind and the heart.

The word of God is not merely medicine for our sickly souls. To the born-again heart, it is food for our enjoyment and drink for our soul’s delight.

Those who say they want to be happy while they still indulge in sin do not really want to be happy.

Love does not rest until others participate in all that we have in Christ.

Love makes huge sacrifices for the beloved. Because the joy of the beloved is our own joy.

True humility bends low in service, gives to others at a cost to self, and receives a kingdom in the end.

Rest in parenting will not come from getting our children to nap during the day and sleep during the night. It comes from going to Jesus with your burdens.

Jesus is not a fanatic CEO that needs you to render him anxious toil. He is a King who loves to give his beloved sleep.

Although Satan tries to persuade us otherwise, believing God when he tells us to look to others’ interests doesn’t force us to look away from our own joy.

All whispers of “I deserve” are silenced at the foot of the cross. Go there with your pride and be set free.

Christian unity is not Christian uniformity. It is a beautiful painting comprised of various colors.

Jesus did not die so that we could merely tolerate one another. He died so that we would cherish one another.

It is biblically illogical to think we can live a life worthy of the gospel and be indifferent to Christian unity.

It is not for lack of compassion that men perish, but for lack of a heart that delights in the God of all compassion because of hard and rebellious hearts.

Christ’s blood is the great adhesive that unites the church together across time, racial divides, and class distinctions.

Unity among believers is not just a good thing or a normal thing. It is a God-given and sacred thing.

The church is crowned with love, clothed in Christ’s righteousness, and perfumed with Trinitarian unity.

Many of us read that it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God and think of millionaires. The rest of the world reads it and thinks of us.

Satan tells us that all suffering is a curse and proof that we are not loved by God. But God tells us it is a gift to show us our salvation.

Our love for one another in the face of persecution warns our opponents of the judgment to come.

Standing firm in fearful days shows that you have promises in the gospel that death, nor loss, nor prison can steal.

If Jesus “learned obedience” and “was made perfect” does that mean he was ever disobedient and imperfect?

In his darkest hour, Jesus did not run from his Father, but boldly wept and cried aloud in trust before him.

While the world gropes in the dark for significance, our God has told us how to live the worthy life.

We hear the word “gospel” used all the time. But what does it actually mean?

If you are Christ’s, your home address is not truly your home address. Live in the here and now as a citizen of your true country: heaven.

God is able to make all grace — not some grace — abound to you so that you may overflow in cheerful giving.

It is hard to say that we have trusted God with our lives when we do not trust him with our wallets.

God doesn’t want you to begrudgingly give. He wants to satisfy you with himself so that you would give cheerfully.

God is sovereign over the ends and means of our salvation. Those who he has saved will continue to press on by the means of grace.

The night wasn’t silent because people were spreading the good news to others. Will we join them this Christmas?

Is our Christmas more about Santa Claus and cookies or Jesus Christ and his cross?