The second epistle of Paul to Timothy is a letter from a man facing execution. In it he gives a personal testimony as a valedictory — a leave-taking, a farewell — that exults life. At the time of writing, Paul was awaiting execution for a crime he was innocent of. His friends had forsaken him, […]

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Jacob holds the distinction of being the only person who wrestled with God and survived (Genesis 32:28). He not only wrestled with God but also strove with everyone around him, beginning in the womb with his twin brother, Esau (25:22). At birth, Jacob grabbed Esau’s heel (v. 26) and later tricked him out of his […]

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Habakkuk is a little book written by a little-known prophet. His name might mean “to embrace,” but we aren’t even sure about that. Nor when the obscure book at the back of the Old Testament was written — perhaps during the evil reign of Manasseh, or closer to Babylon’s siege of Jerusalem, from the mid-to-late […]

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India is one of the ancient civilizations in the world, located at the center of South Asia. It shares borders with several sovereign countries: China, Bhutan, Nepal, and Pakistan in the north and northwest and Bangladesh and Myanmar in the East. India also shares maritime borders with Sri Lanka. India is the second most populous […]

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Free speech laws in Western nations have supported Christians in spreading the gospel throughout the world. Free speech is a special gift that is underappreciated by all of us. But historically, for most of two thousand years, the church has had to survive without freedom of speech. Opposition to free speech began early in the […]

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What would you do to get help for your child who was sick and near death? In John 4 we read about a royal official whose son was sick and who likely had exhausted his local contacts and resources to heal his son. The man was desperate for help. This royal official was in Capernaum […]

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If I could time travel and meet any Old Testament character, Joshua would be a contender on my list. The contrast between Joshua and his generation is clearly seen in one of the Bible’s most significant chapters. In Numbers 13, twelve spies were selected to scout out the Promised Land. Joshua was one of them. […]

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Have you ever received a love letter — one that was honest? Probably not. Love letters usually express deep affection and extol the virtues of another. Jesus sent seven such letters to churches mentioned in Revelation. In them He made numerous observations, revealing honesty about His people’s spiritual condition and readiness for His return. Jesus’ […]

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“Unclean, unclean!” Lepers had to scream when they saw someone healthy coming near to them. The best way against leprosy in Jesus’ day was to isolate them from society and let them die alone, far from their families. Lepers did not receive health care or spiritual care, since the priests couldn’t go near them. Nor […]

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Philippians is a wonderful book. We have heard references to this letter of Paul’s many times and know familiar verses: He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ (1:6). Therefore God also has highly exalted Him [Christ] and given Him the name which is above […]

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Picture a castle perched high on a hill, massive walls surrounding it as protection from invading forces. There’s only one way into that castle: through the huge drawbridge, controlled by a watchman who determines if that bridge should be lowered. The watchman must be loyal to the king, highly educated as to who is friend […]

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Do Christians lose salvation when they sin? We do not lose our salvation by sinning. If we did, none of us could remain saved very long. More than a few scriptures affirm the reality of sin’s presence in us all — all our earthly lives (1 Kings 8:46; Psalm 53:3; Isaiah 64:6; Romans 3:23). The […]

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