Intentional Faith

In the Life of Christ “But whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin—because they were saying, ‘He has an unclean spirit.’” Mark 3:29–30 Few teachings of Jesus create more anxiety than His warning about the unforgivable sin. Spiritually sensitive people sometimes fear that a careless sentence, an angry prayer, an intrusive thought, or a…

As the Day Begins “There is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repents.” Luke 15:10 Repentance is rare because the human heart usually prefers self-defense to surrender. We explain our conduct, minimize our failures, compare ourselves with others, and protect our respectable appearance. Yet Jesus teaches that heaven responds with joy when even one sinner turns back to…

May the Lord bless every reader in every place as we enter today’s rhythm of spiritual disciplines, daily devotions, and thoughtful Scripture reflections. Wherever this day finds you—at home, at work, in a season of peace, or carrying a burden—God remains present and faithful. He has not abandoned the work He began in us, and He will continue shaping our Christian walk as we listen, repent,…

天堂中的记忆、安慰与永恒意义 “我看见在祭坛底下，有为上帝的道、并为作见证被杀之人的灵魂。他们大声呼喊说：‘圣洁真实的主啊，你不审判住在地上的人，给我们伸流血的冤，要等到几时呢？’” 启示录…

As the Day Ends “Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.” James 4:3 As this day comes to a close, James invites us to examine not only whether we prayed, but why we prayed. Prayer is not a spiritual method for persuading God to bless whatever we have already decided to pursue. The phrase “ask amiss” translates the Greek kakōs, meaning wrongly, badly,…

DID YOU KNOW Did You Know? God’s redemption can be so unexpected that it feels unreal when it arrives. Psalm 126 opens with the memory of a restoration so astonishing that the people could scarcely believe it was happening: “When the Lord turned again the captivity of Zion, we were like them that dream” (Psalm 126:1). The Hebrew expression translated “turned again” carries the idea of restoring…

On Second Thought “Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed.” Romans 4:16 “By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.” Hebrews 11:3 There are moments when life feels like standing outside a locked door. We can see what we need on…

The Bible in a Year “Whoso curses his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in obscure darkness.” Proverbs 20:20 As we journey through the Bible this year, Proverbs repeatedly reminds us that wisdom is revealed not only in what we believe, but also in how we speak and behave within our closest relationships. Proverbs 20:20 addresses one of those relationships directly: the bond between…

In the Life of Christ “Then Jesus entered a house, and the crowd gathered again, so that they were not even able to eat. When His family heard about this, they set out to restrain Him, because they said, ‘He’s out of His mind.’” Mark 3:20–21 There is a particular loneliness that comes when the people who love us do not understand the work God is doing in us. Criticism from a stranger may sting,…

As the Day Begins “Chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, self-willed.” 2 Peter 2:10 Self-interest can hide beneath respectable language. We may call it ambition, personal freedom, self-protection, or simply “doing what is best for me.” Yet Scripture asks us to look more carefully. Peter describes those who are…

May the Lord bless your spiritual walk today, wherever you are and whatever responsibilities await you. As we enter this rhythm of spiritual disciplines, daily devotions, and Scripture reflections, may we remember that God is faithfully completing the work He has begun within us. Each reading invites us to slow down, listen carefully, and allow biblical truth to shape our Christian walk and…

死后，我们会接受审判吗？ 天堂系列：救恩、审判与永恒的盼望 “你们得救是本乎恩，也因着信；这并不是出于自己，乃是上帝所赐的；也不是出于行为，免得有人自夸。” 以弗所书 2:8–9 “祂救了我们，并不是因我们自己所行的义，乃是照祂的怜悯，借着重生的洗和圣灵的更新。” 提多书 3:5 很多人一想到死后的审判，心里就会充满惧怕。他们会问：“我这一生做的好事够不够？我的错误会不会太多？上帝会不会因为我曾经失败，就拒绝我进入天堂？”这些问题很真实，因为我们都知道自己并不完全。我们有说错的话、做错的决定，也有隐藏在心里、不愿让别人知道的罪。然而，圣经告诉我们，救恩的根基不是我们的表现，而是耶稣基督已经完成的工作。 人死后要面对上帝，这是圣经清楚的教导。希伯来书 9:27…

On Second Thought “Thus says the Lord, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: ‘I am the Lord your God, who teaches you to profit, who leads you by the way you should go.’” Isaiah 48:17 Isaiah 48 presents a sobering picture of people who belonged to God by covenant but resisted Him in practice. Israel knew the language of faith, carried the history of God’s deliverance, and could speak of the…

The Bible in a Year “Fools make a mock at sin: but among the righteous there is favor.” Proverbs 14:9 Proverbs speaks with a directness that can make us uncomfortable, yet that discomfort is often part of its mercy. It identifies foolishness not merely as a lack of intelligence but as a moral resistance to God’s truth. The fool in Proverbs is someone who repeatedly refuses correction, dismisses…

In the Life of Christ “Jesus went up on a mountainside and called to him those he wanted, and they came to him. He appointed twelve that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach and to have authority to drive out demons.” Mark 3:13–15 When I read Mark’s account of Jesus appointing the Twelve, I am struck by the deliberate movement away from the crowd. Jesus had been…

As the Day Begins “If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed.” John 8:31 Many people think of faith mainly as a decision made in the past: a prayer prayed, an aisle walked, a confession spoken, or a baptism remembered. Those moments matter greatly, but Jesus does not describe discipleship as a single spiritual transaction. He says, “If ye continue in my word.” The Greek verb…

Welcome, brothers and sisters, wherever you may be reading today. May the Lord meet you in the ordinary moments of this day and draw you into a steady rhythm of prayer, Scripture reflection, obedience, and spiritual attentiveness. Daily devotions are not meant to become another burden placed upon the Christian walk. They are invitations to slow down, listen carefully, and recognize that God is…