Even though she was a foreigner, Ruth showed herself a model Israelite woman: humble, thankful, hard-working, and deeply loyal to those she loved. Ruth never complained about her circumstances or hardships, rather she responded with gratitude when anyone showed kindness to her. In the end she proved that character counts more than circumstances. Jesus said…

Jeremiah 1:8 Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you,” declares the Lord. The ever increasing pressure of living in turbulent times only clarified things for Jeremiah. On a daily basis he witnessed how evil and twisted the human heart could be. His culture, which once loved the…

Jude wanted to write about the salvation that he shared with his brethren. The NIV says he was very eager to do that. He wanted to be positive and write about good stuff. However, because false teachers were circulating bad theology, he found it necessary, he felt compelled, to alert and awaken fellow Christians. He…

Philippians 4:8-9 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. At the time the Apostle Paul wrote his letter to the Philippians, it is believed by most commentators that he was imprisoned in…

Though 3 John is the smallest book in the Bible we should not underestimate the importance of what is communicated, especially about leadership. In fourteen short verses John, led by the Spirit and inspired by God, paints three portraits of leadership, two good and one bad, each accentuating the witness of that character. This letter…

2 Chronicles 32:7-8 “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or discouraged because of the king of Assyria and the vast army with him, for there is a greater power with us than with him. 8 With him is only the arm of flesh, but with us is the Lord our God to help us…

The letter John wrote to the elect lady and her children was short and to the point. He was impressed with the testimony of their lives and their commitment to abiding in the truth. It is evident that John desired to encourage them in the faith, seeking to equip them to continue their stand for…

Matthew 28:6 He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Jesus had told his disciples in John 10:17-18 that he had the choice to lay down his life and the authority to take it up again. When Jesus gave up his Spirit (John 19:30) he laid down a perfect, sinless life that…

2 Kings 6:16-17 “Don’t be afraid,” the prophet answered. “Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” 17 And Elisha prayed, “Open his eyes, Lord, so that he may see.” Then the Lord opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire…

To be persistent means to continue unceasingly and continuously. 1 Thessalonians 5:17 tells us to pray continually. In Luke 18, Jesus tells a parable that shows us what persistence can do. Luke 18:1-8 (NIV): Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. 2 He said:…