We are all soldiers of Christ in a spiritual war. Satan not only opposes men like Timothy but all God’s people. The call to fight the good fight has implications for all believers. We are all to take up the full armor of God and resist the devil’s schemes. In this passage, Paul highlights the two aspects of this basic Christian fight: faith and a good conscience. We must fight for faith and we must fight for a good conscience. Keeping faith is no passive activity but an active fight to turn our thoughts on the Lord and His truth and to think His thoughts after Him. It is to live as His disciples. Keeping a good conscience is also an active fight to respond affirmatively to the pangs of conscience when our thoughts and actions contradict the word of God. It is to steer away from sin and it is to confess and repent (change/renew the mind) when we have sinned. May the Lord evermore guide us to fight to live another day, fight for faith and fight for a good conscience.
Christian life and love are meant to flow from the fountain of gospel gratitude. It is as we brim over with thanksgiving and praise for mercy and grace that we exude the life of Christ and manifest His love. Paul warms our hearts through his own testimony of how the gospel truth transformed his life. May the Lord teach us to live with gospel gratitude.
On this Mother’s Day, we turn to the book of Ruth and its beautiful story of redemption. To redeem means to free by the payment of a ransom—deliverance that assumes a desperate plight. In this story, we encounter both the stunning devotion of a woman to her mother-in-law and the greater reality of spiritual redemption that ultimately points us to Christ. Join us as we consider: 1) Naomi’s plight, 2) her redeemer, and 3) how this story speaks to us today.
There are no civilians in the spiritual battlefield. The devil opposes all who trust and follow Christ, and we must resist him since we are all soldiers of Christ
If Christ saved a wretch like Paul, there is no one He cannot save. No past is too dark for His light. No past is too dirty for His cleansing blood.
In a story like this, one would imagine this hero to be Ruth, who paid a high price to look after Naomi; but she isn’t. If not Ruth, then Boaz would seem to be it. After all, he is repeatedly called the redeemer, the go’el; but he isn’t. The redeemer is the seed, the ultimate David, the Lord Jesus.
God cares for His people by providing faithful shepherds to lead and nurture His church. In Scripture, believers are described as sheep, and church leaders are called to shepherd the flock willingly, eagerly, and not for selfish gain. Their role is not to rule harshly, but to lead by godly example through love for God, obedience to His Word, and faithful living. This lesson reminds us that receiving shepherding care means humbly being part of Christ’s church, learning from faithful leaders, and ultimately looking to Jesus, the Chief Shepherd, who will reward faithfulness when He returns.
God cares for His people by providing faithful shepherds to lead and nurture His church. In Scripture, believers are described as sheep, and church leaders are called to shepherd the flock willingly, eagerly, and not for selfish gain. Their role is not to rule harshly, but to lead by godly example through love for God, obedience to His Word, and faithful living. This lesson reminds us that receiving shepherding care means humbly being part of Christ’s church, learning from faithful leaders, and ultimately looking to Jesus, the Chief Shepherd, who will reward faithfulness when He returns.
Suffering for Christ is not something strange, but something believers should expect in a fallen world. When Christians face persecution for the sake of righteousness, they are sharing in the sufferings of Christ and are called to rejoice, knowing they are blessed and that God’s Spirit rests upon them. Such trials test and strengthen genuine faith, producing endurance and proving our hope in Him. Rather than being ashamed, believers glorify God, entrust their souls to Him as the righteous Judge, and continue doing what is right. This lesson reminds us that Christians can and should rejoice even in persecution, trusting God’s purposes and His promised glory to come.
Have you ever had the same or similar thing happen to you twice? Today, we’re going to see how Israel experienced just this from God. And how they can remember it!
Have you ever performed a secret spy mission? It’s exciting. It’s dangerous. It’s risky. Today, we will learn about someone who helped in this secret spy mission and how this person ultimately helped God and His people of Israel.
Being a leader is an important job. Being God’s chosen leader for God’s chosen nation of Israel is probably an even bigger job. We’ve seen how God chose and uses Moses to lead Israel already. Now, we will being a new chapter. Let’s see how God choses and uses Joshua to be the new leader of Israel.
