Daily Inspiration and Strength From the Bible

Why do Christians fight so often trying to understand faith and works?

Read James 2:14-16
“As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead” (James 2:26).
What Does This Scripture Mean for Us?
It’s always puzzled me to try to understand why some believers battle over “faith v. works,” as though it were that silly riddle about which came first — the chicken or the [...]

Judgment or mercy? Happily, God has a way to handle both

Read James 2:1-13
“Judgement without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment” (James 2:13).
What Does This Scripture Mean for Us?
That’s a good thing, wouldn’t you agree? That mercy triumphs over judgment, I mean.
I doubt that any of us would be able to stand uncondemned before a perfectly righteous, [...]

God’s Word defines ‘religion’ very concisely with a how-to

Read James 1:19-27
“Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world” (James 1:27)
What Does This Scripture Mean for Us?
I really LOVE the verse I quoted above. It’s one of a few very concise [...]

Trusting God even when our hearts are filled with doubts

Read James 1:1-18
“He who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not
think he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does”
(James 1:6,7).
What Does This Scripture Mean for Us?
Wouldn’t it be great to live an absolutely confident, doubt-free [...]

Dealing with life’s changes — and the One who never changes

Read Hebrews 13
“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever” (Hebrews 13:8).
What Does This Scripture Mean for Us?
Okay, so maybe I’m just getting old but I have to tell you — I HATE change. Well, probably
not all change, of course. But I really tend to get set in my ways and want relationships, [...]

How amazing: We are part of God’s family and he is with us

Read Hebrews 12:14-29
“You have come to God, the judge of all men, to the spirits of righteous men made perfect, to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel” (Hebrews 12:23,24).
What Does This Scripture Mean for Us?
Can you think of a [...]