Faith is hard, but finding the hope in our faith is paramount to both succeeding. Habakkuk shows us how in his back-and-forth with God, culminating in the phrase “Though the fig tree doesn’t blossom…I will still exult in You.”

Even as a young child, Josiah knew that Judah needed to go through some reforms. Even though it didn’t stave off the coming exile, it still gave the people in that day a reminder of who God is. We can use the same model for restoration in our own lives.

God’s promise in Revelation 21, during His description of Heaven, was to “make all things new.” But in what way will they be “new,” and why should that matter with us? Also, how can we use the concept of “new” to propel us into making 2022 a year where we draw even closer to God?

“How Great Thou Art” is one of our most cherished hymns, but do we understand what it really means? God’s greatness isn’t just displayed in His power — although it can apply to that — it’s also shown in His mercy and in His love. Taking a few minutes to reflect on His power should cause us to reflect upon our own mortality, and our relationship to Him.

Tucked inside of a list of people that will not enter into Heaven from Revelation 21 is a curious one: the cowardly. Immoral, idolaters, murderers — we understand why these people won’t enter into Heaven, but why the cowardly? What’s wrong with that?

With nearly 250 million global cases and 5 million deaths, it’s safe to say that Covid-19 has been one of the worst health disasters in history. But it also presents an opportunity for one group of people to step in the spotlight: faith healers. Where did they all go?

Manasseh was one of, if not the worst kings to ever sit on the throne of Israel. Yet when he was cast into the dungeon, he was able to turn his life around. His is the original sinner’s prayer, and it teaches us that what he started in the dungeon must be carried with him into the rest of his life.

Matthew 7:6 is one of the hardest verses in the New Testament to both understand and apply in our lives. On the surface, it appears that Jesus is advocating against His own directives in the Great Commission, so what does He mean when He says to “stop throwing our pearls before swine”?

Humbling yourself before others to wash their feet is no easy task, but how much more difficult is it when one of the people you’re serving is hours away from betraying you? That’s what Jesus dealt with in John 13, but it’s also something we deal with every single day. How do we treat those who we know hate us?

Membership in a local church is more than just a spectator sport — it requires active participation from everyone involved in order to drive growth. Here are four statements you can use to examine your own commitment to your local church. Can you honestly say you agree with them in your own life?