God wants us to help out those who are weaker in the faith, or struggling. We can best do that by imitating Christ in four key ways: bearing patiently with the weak, acting selflessly, living sacrificially, and taking on the role of a servant.
God is making every believer into an eternal masterpiece to reflect His glory. That should lead us to treat one another with even greater care, deference, and devotion than we would give to a prized, but temporary, possession.
As we consider how to use our liberty in Christ to God's glory, we are helped by dedicating ourselves to the principle of keeping a good reputation before God and man in all we do.
The Christian life is not primarily about being right on all the issues we face. It is far more about learning to balance our liberty in Christ with love for our brother as we seek to protect one another from spiritual harm.
God has left many things unanswered in His Word. He did this, not so we would argue and judge one another, but to encourage us to develop our own convictions before Him, knowing that He is the only one who can rightly judge our lives and our service to Him.
The Christian life is filled with issues that Scripture does not directly touch on. We must not let these issues impair our unity in Christ or distract us from following Him as our Lord.
Our time on this earth is short---shorter than we may think. God wants us to live in light of the full salvation that soon will be ours. Let us put on Christ and put away all works of darkness!
Love for others is not just a good and wise activity; it is a divine obligation. Love is a debt we owe, and as we are paying it daily, we are establishing a lasting legacy and testimony to the power of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Government is a God-ordained institution designed to restrain evil and promote good. We are to honor and obey government. And because government is established by God, we honor Him when we pay the taxes we owe. Paul's message on this topic is very down to earth.
Being gracious to others is not easy. It requires a selfless, humble spirit that desires the best for others. With God's grace as a model, however, we are fully equipped to live gracious lives and overcome evil. Paul offers some practical principles for a grace-centered life.
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.
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.
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.
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.
