Growing in Grace

The Blessed Hope Looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ (Titus 2:13) We are to expect and prepare for our blessed hope. That hope is not heaven or glory, but Jesus Himself, face to face, closer than ever. We don’t just wait for the coming of Jesus; we live in active expectation of the return of Jesus. We are looking for it. The return of Jesus Christ should be precious for Christians to consider. Jesus came the first time to save the soul of man; He will come a second time to resurrect the body. Jesus came the first time to save the individual; He will come a second time to save society. Jesus came the first time to a crucifixion; He will come a second time to a coronation. Jesus came the first time to a cross; He will come a second time to a throne. Jesus came the first time in humility; He will come a second time in glory. Jesus came the first time and stood before Pilate; He will come a second time an...

A Walk of Faith Wednesday, February 6, 2019 -Greg Laurie So the people of Israel walked through the middle of the sea on dry ground, with walls of water on each side! —Exodus 14:22 It must have been very exciting when the Israelites walked through the middle of the Red Sea on dry ground. Maybe they saw fish cruising by in the walls of water on each side, like the best aquarium ever. But they had to walk for hours and hours. It took all night. That is the Christian life. It’s just a walk with the Lord. Sometimes there’s a lot of excitement in the beginning of the Christian life when we realize what God has done for us. But as time passes, we might start taking things for granted. And we might find ourselves becoming apathetic. If that describes you, then you need to plot your RPGS: (1)  Read  the Bible every day. You never outgrow it and never get beyond it. God’s Word never becomes irrelevant. (2)  Pray  about things. Bring things up before the Lor...

January 29, 2019 How to Free Yourself from Bitterness But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.  Matthew 6:15 When Terry Anderson was taken captive by a guerilla group, little did he realize that he would be enduring what no one should ever be subjected to. Anderson, age 40 at the time, had been the chief Middle-East correspondent for the Associated Press. Soon after he was taken captive, he was given a Bible by his Shiite Muslim captors, and for the duration of his four-and-a-half-years of captivity, he drew strength and hope from the pages of this grand old book. At the most difficult times, he said, "My faith kept me from giving in to despair."  It was also that relation with God that enabled him to forgive the very individuals who had deprived him of his freedom for more than six years. "They did great wrong to me and my family," he said, but instead of hating them, he explained, "I don't hate anybod...