“14 This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. 15 And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.” -1 John 5:14-15 Have you ever wondered if God hears your prayers? Really hears them? We all have. Yet this doubt is not from God. He offers a clear answer to this enduring question. First, God promises that... Read more
“7 Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. 9 This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. 10 This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his... Read more
“16 This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. 17 If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? 18 Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.” -1 John 3:16-18... Read more
“9 Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates a brother or sister is still in the darkness. 10 Anyone who loves their brother and sister lives in the light, and there is nothing in them to make them stumble. 11 But anyone who hates a brother or sister is in the darkness and walks around in the darkness. They do not know where they are going, because the darkness has blinded them.” -1 John 2:9-11 John was... Read more
“1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched—this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. 2 The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us. 3 We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also... Read more
“8 But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. 9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” -2 Peter 3:8-9 Even within the lifetimes of the apostles, people began to doubt Christ’s promise to return. This was understandable,... Read more
“…the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials and to hold the unrighteous for punishment on the day of judgment.” -2 Peter 2:9 Patience is a struggle. Why? We can only see “now.” Yet God’s eyesight is timeless. He knows the beginning and the end as well as our current situation. This knowledge is intended to encourage us during times of trouble. As Peter notes, God knows how to rescue his people from trouble; God also knows how... Read more
“3 His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 4 Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.” -2 Peter 1:3-4 God is all-sufficient for our lives. With him, we lack nothing. Why? Peter notes... Read more
“6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. 7 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” -1 Peter 5:6-7 As Peter wraps up his brief letter, we find a twofold teaching that informed his readers as well as our lives today. He begins with the concept of humility, not to other people, but to God. When we do, Peter notes that God can then lift us up... Read more
“1 Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because whoever suffers in the body is done with sin. 2 As a result, they do not live the rest of their earthly lives for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God.” -1 Peter 4:1-2 It’s easy to choose our own way; it’s much more difficult to choose God’s will. Even after becoming a follower of Christ, the temptation is to take... Read more
Holy Writ
Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In