Here, then, is our assurance. When we pray in the Name of Jesus, our words are never bare wood, never merely human, never doomed to perish. They are clothed in gold, lifted by Christ Himself, carried by angels into the presence of the Almighty. And so we pray with confidence, knowing that in Him our prayers are holy, fragrant, and sure to be heard.
The Bible is not merely a remarkable book, though it is that in abundance; it is the living Word of God. Those who read it without the Spirit may find curiosities and puzzles, but those who read it with Him find life, because they are not merely reading words, they are meeting a Person.
James 2:24 is not teaching a workspace righteousness, but showing that genuine faith always bears fruit. Paul declares that we are justified by faith apart from works, and James does not contradict him. Rather, James warns against a lifeless claim to faith with no evidence of transformation. Just as Abraham’s obedience revealed his trust in God, so too our works reveal — but never earn — the reality of salvation. As Jesus said, “By their fruits you shall know them.”
The Old Covenant spoke in terms of conditions: “If you obey, then I will bless you.” But in Christ everything has changed. God is not holding Himself back until we achieve perfect surrender. He has already come near, He already dwells within, and surrender now means trusting His presence rather than straining in our own strength.
Paul prayed constantly to visit the believers in Rome, but the answer was long delayed—and came wrapped in chains. How do we pray like that? And what does faithfulness look like when the answer doesn’t come?
Is healing included in the atonement? Many argue it’s purely spiritual, but Scripture points beyond that. From Exodus to Isaiah, and Jesus’ own ministry, John lays out the theological case for physical healing as a grace rooted in the cross. Though not all are healed in this life, the promise remains: we stand in grace.
Even the disciples, having witnessed miracles firsthand, struggled with unbelief. This reflection explores how easily we too forget God’s faithfulness, falling into fear and doubt. With warnings from Jesus and reminders from Scripture, it calls us to trust in His sufficiency—while echoing the honest prayer, “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief.”
An Exchange With a Co-Heir in Christ Now here are some thoughts for the day! This is the record of an exchange with my dear friend and brother in Christ, David. You are right, the gospel is about future glory – but not entirely is it? Is there nothing of it in our present lives? … Read more