The Christian life is not a refuge for the lazy. It is a continuous, diligent, and strenuous effort to pursue holiness, love, and an exemplary life before the watching world. Paul makes this important point in the fourth chapter of 1 Thessalonians.
Do we really value our fellow Christians? The apostle Paul's example shows us how critical it is that we treasure Christian fellowship and faithfully minister to and among one another in the church at every opportunity.
We tend to measure success in ministry by numbers, dollars, and buildings. What we really should be looking at is character, attitudes, commitments, and responses. Paul's own ministry in the city of Thessalonica shows us what Christ-honoring ministry looks like.
Thanking God for fellow believers and recalling what He has done in their lives is an important ministry. It encourages them, as well as us, and it gives us a fresh perspective on God’s grace.
The Christian life is not conformity to a set of rules but conformity to the person of Jesus Christ. It is thinking like Him, adopting His attitudes, developing His character qualities, and living all this out in every area of life.
We identify, reject, and refute error by knowing the truth. The truth is that Jesus Christ is God in the flesh and our Savior, and through faith in Him, we possess everything we need to serve and honor Him.
The goal of ministry is to bring glory to God by bringing Christians to maturity in Christ. Spiritual maturity should be our personal goal as well. It is marked by godly wisdom--understanding the spiritual treasures we have in Christ and walking with Him.
The Christian faith is not about Christians but about Christ. The book of Colossians begins by telling us who Jesus Christ is and what He has done and how these truths have affected and should affect us, His followers.
As he concludes the book of Philippians, Paul gives us the secret to genuine satisfaction in life. It comes as we learn contentment with the circumstances God has placed us in and as we thank Him daily for all His gifts to us.
Our passage today is an eminently practical one. The apostle Paul urges us to pursue harmony with one another, prayer and thanksgiving, and a renewed way of thinking. Over all of this is the admonition to keep rejoicing in the Lord. Doing these things is the answer to anxiety.
Psalm 51 records David’s heartfelt confession after his sin with Bathsheba, and Stephen Davey explains it as a model of genuine repentance. He begins with David’s petition—a plea for mercy based on God’s steadfast love. Aware of the weight of his guilt, David asks God to blot out his transgressions, wash away his iniquity, and cleanse him from sin. The second step is admission: David accepts full responsibility, refusing to blame others and acknowledging his fallen nature. His sin, he admits, flows from the sinful heart of humanity inherited from Adam. Next comes restoration: David pleads, “Create in me a clean heart, O God,” recognizing that only divine power can renew what sin has corrupted. Finally, his resolution is to teach others from his failure—to lead sinners back to God through honesty and repentance. Davey concludes that true confession involves humble honesty, complete dependence on God’s mercy, and a transformed resolve to live transparently before Him, proving that no sin is too great for God’s restoring grace.
Psalms 42–44 open the second book of Psalms, where Stephen Davey explains that God invites believers to pour out their hearts to Him with complete honesty. The sons of Korah—descendants of a rebel who chose faithfulness—wrote of spiritual dryness and discouragement: “My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.” Davey notes that even when God seems silent, He is never absent. These psalms teach believers to trust and wait for the Lord, declaring, “Hope in God; for I shall again praise Him, my salvation and my God.” In Psalm 44, this personal trust expands to national suffering as Israel endures consequences for sin yet clings to God’s covenant faithfulness. Paul later cites this psalm to remind believers that suffering is not abandonment but evidence of spiritual maturity. Through these lessons, Davey encourages believers to be honest with God, steadfast in hope, and confident that even in dry seasons, God remains their salvation and strength.
In The Voice of Creation (Psalm 19:1–8a), Stephen Davey contrasts Carl Sagan’s hopeless view of a silent universe with David’s joyful proclamation that creation declares the glory of God. Davey explains that the heavens continually reveal God’s signature, wisdom, and grace—a universal testimony to His power and creativity. The beauty, complexity, and order of nature point unmistakably to a Designer, but this general revelation alone cannot save; it must be joined with the special revelation of God’s Word. David moves from calling God El (Creator) to Yahweh (personal Redeemer), showing that Scripture revives the soul, makes the simple wise, and causes the heart to rejoice. Davey concludes that while creation proves God’s existence, His Word reveals His character and plan of redemption. Believers, therefore, should worship the Creator revealed both in the world around us and in the inspired Word that leads us back to Him.
This lesson from Deuteronomy 16–26 emphasizes God's righteousness as the standard for all of life. Moses reviews the importance of righteous leadership—judges, kings, priests, and prophets—who are called to uphold justice and truth. God's laws are revisited to guide Israel in holy living, covering areas like inheritance, morality, and societal order. These commands act like protective boundaries, showing how a righteous person should live. Finally, Israel’s worship is tied to gratitude and public acknowledgment of God's faithfulness. The lesson encourages believers to live righteously, not just privately but visibly, so the world sees God's wisdom and character through them.
Psalm 19:8b–14 teaches that God’s Word is flawless, enduring, and deeply valuable—more desirable than gold and sweeter than honey. Unlike the temporary treasures of this world, Scripture enlightens the heart, exposes sin, renews fellowship with God, and guides believers in righteousness. David celebrates the Bible as a timeless revelation that cleanses, corrects, and delights those who cherish it, reminding readers to treasure and obey God’s Word as their greatest source of wisdom and joy.
