Christian Living
Christian Living
Christian Living
Pray in Christ’s Name
Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full. —JOHN 16:24 Though we frequently end our prayers with “for Jesus’ sake,” we often pray for our own sake. Although we condemn the doctrine of salvation by our own good works...
Christian Living
The Obstacles of Meditation
Here is a summary of their responses to such obstacles: Obstacle 1: Unfitness or ignorance. Such say they cannot confine their thoughts to a particular subject. Their “thoughts are light and feathery, tossed to and fro.” Answer: Disability, ignorance, and wandering thoughts offer no exemption from duty. Your “loss of...
Christian Living
God’s Name Is “THE LORD” (YHWH)
SCRIPTURE MEDITATION And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you. And God saidmoreover unto Moses, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, the LORD God of your...
Christian Living
Shape Our Lives by the Authoritative Scriptures
The reading of the word is an ordinance of God, and mean[s] of salvation, of God’s own appointment. The Bible is this word, and God has given it to us, and appointed it to be read. —THOMAS BOSTON In John Bunyan’s (1628–1688) famed Pilgrim’s Progress, Christian is escorted into a...
Christian Living
Born Again
Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. — JOHN 3:3 What does Jesus mean when He tells us that we must be born again? Must we enter our mother’s womb again and...
Christian Living
Five marks of a faithful member of Christ’s body
Ephesians 4:10–16 shows us five marks of a faithful member of Christ’s body. A faithful member receives Christ’s Word, unites with Christ’s person, connects with Christ’s people, serves others for Christ’s sake, and grows into Christ’s image. In every respect, church membership depends on the church’s living Head, Jesus Christ....
Christian Living
We engage in meditation
One practical dimension of growing in Christ is meditation. This does not mean emptying your mind of rational thought by repeating a syllable or contemplating a conundrum, such as “What is the sound of one hand clapping?” In Christian meditation, your mind hovers over a biblical truth like a bee...
Christian Living
We faithfully attend prayer meetings
In addition to private intercessory prayer, we reveal our quest for spiritual growth by participating in prayer meetings of the church. Acts 2:42 says of the first Christ followers, “They continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.” The early church gathered...
Christian Living
“Walk over the vast ocean”
William Gurnall (1616–1679) asked, “Is there none, O man, that needs the mercy of God besides thyself?” In contemporary language, is there no one else that you want to be saved besides yourself? God gives us permission for our love to begin at home. So pray for your family. After...
