God’s Word tells us how deeply and thoroughly sin has infected and affected us. But this truth only highlights the abounding, inexhaustible grace of God, a grace that is greater than all our sin.
The Bible alone gives us a proper perspective on life and death. It explains the origin of sin, its universal impact, and the death it has brought to humanity. The Bible also gives us the solution to sin and death. The apostle Paul tells us the answer is in the life Christ gives us.
The substitutionary death of Jesus Christ not only saves us but also secures us. Faith in Him gives us the assurance of knowing we are saved, reconciled, and safe in Him forever.
We do not, and cannot, earn God's love. Instead, we can rest in the assurance that He is a God who loves people who are helpless sinners and His enemies. His love is a gift, not a reward.
Through faith in Christ, we receive the wonderful gift of the Holy Spirit. His presence within us equips and empowers us to walk with God and serve Him. He is the constant Helper we all need.
The gift of grace grants us access to God's presence and a new status as His redeemed children. But pain also is a gracious gift from God, which He uses to produce in us Christlike character.
There is no lasting peace in our lives without having peace with God. And that blessing of peace with God is ours through faith in the Prince of Peace, Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.
True, lasting hope cannot be based on ever-changing circumstances, whether good or bad. Hope is found in knowing God and trusting Him, the one who is all-powerful and always faithful.
To insist that we need to pay for God's gracious gift to us is to reject the gift itself. It is supremely important that we grasp the message of Romans that salvation is a free gift given unconditionally by our gracious God.
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.
