Religion is a curse. It is man’s attempt to save himself. We don’t need religion—we need redemption. Redemption means to “free from bondage,” and this is exactly what Jesus did for us through His death on the cross.

In case any Christian gets to the point where they think they aren’t a sinner, they’d better remember that one of the greatest Christians who ever lived—the apostle Paul—said, “I am chief of sinners.” Jesus came to save people who are sin-sick & have enough sense to admit it.

No one likes the thought of death, but it is real. The Bible teaches that if a person is not prepared to die, he or she is not prepared to live. I want to see people ready to die and ready to live. The most valuable thing you have in this life is your soul. Eternity is real.

“’Yours, LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is yours’” (1 Chron. 29:11, NIV).

“The Spirit and the bride say, ‘Come.’ Let anyone who hears this say, ‘Come.’ Let anyone who is thirsty come. Let anyone who desires drink freely from the water of life” (Rev. 22:17, NLT).

When we drift into an attitude of love for the world, we become complacent—with no burden, concern, compassion or urgency for people to come to Christ. Only as we love the Lord with “all our heart, soul, mind and strength” will we get excited about what matters most.

God wants us to be prosperous in this life—even as our souls prosper—but we must come to clearly understand prosperity from God’s viewpoint. It’s not about getting rich; it’s about living richly.

If you feel you are weak in any area, understand that through your weakness, it is God’s opportunity to reveal His power. We must recognize our insufficiency to discover His all-sufficiency.

Whether we have been given wisdom, knowledge, talents or money, we must sow it in good soil—not keep it or hide it; that is, we must invest it wisely so that others may be led into Christ’s kingdom.

Many people will not read the Bible, but they will read the pages of our lives. May the Spirit of the living God write the message of Christ in our attitudes & actions. Pray that, in time, you will be given the opportunity to share your life story & point people to His Word.

“Just as you cannot understand the path of the wind or the mystery of a tiny baby growing in its mother’s womb, so you cannot understand the activity of God, who does all things” (Eccl. 11:5, NLT).

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY! Dads, I pray you will ask God to mold you to His standard, to show you how to let His love flow through you to your children and to help you learn from one another. Ask God to soften your heart so that you can hear how He is teaching you.

Following Jesus with your whole heart is no guarantee that your life will be without pain, suffering, hardship or even tragedy. However, you can stand on the absolute truth that the Lord is your shepherd, and He will never leave you or forsake you.

When a river courses through the earth, life springs up everywhere it flows. If we will live our lives like a river—releasing everything that God entrusts to us for His eternal purposes—the results will be amazing, with an abundance of life all around us.

If you are always right & set in your ways, you close off communication. When you can step forward & ask for forgiveness, you reconcile an injured relationship & show that true strength comes not in BEING right, but in DOING what is right. Try it! You’ll be amazed at the effect.

We can become distracted from God by work, godly calls to ministry, family activities & other “good” things that are part of a balanced life. Although important, they cannot begin to compare with our Father’s close & constant presence. He has MORE in store for us all!

With every “We can’t afford that” comment, parents reinforce the idea that decisions are based on money. Who rules at your home: God or money? Parents must seek God for what is right & trust Him to provide. He is Jehovah Jireh, our Provider!

“It is better to be godly and have little than to be evil and rich. For the strength of the wicked will be shattered, but the LORD takes care of the godly” (Ps. 37:16-17, NLT). (176)

“We don’t have a priest who is out of touch with our reality. He’s been through weakness and testing, experienced it all—all but the sin. So let’s walk right up to him and get what he is so ready to give. Take the mercy, accept the help” (Heb. 4:15-16, The Message).

God is the all-powerful “performer” in our lives. We aren’t required to put on a special show, and God’s success does not depend on our success. He simply calls us to be involved in whatever He intends to do, and we can find peace in fulfilling the desires of His heart.