In the Parable of the Prodigal Son, the older brother had difficulty embracing grace. He had stayed with his father and worked diligently while the younger son went off. He had been in the field working when his younger brother returned. He had to ask a servant what the party was about and wasn’t happy …
We see the grace of the father’s pursuit in the Parable of the Prodigal Son. The son had asked the father for his inheritance early, while the father was still living. In essence, this request insinuated that the son wished the father were dead. Then, to make matters worse, the son spent the money on …
Recognizing our need is often a turning point in our lives. An addiction or a false perception of ourselves, among other things, can be harmful to both us and others. The Pharisees and religious leaders did not realize their need for a Savior. As they gathered around Jesus, He reached out to them with the …
The Compassion of Jesus is what every believer experiences along our spiritual journey as the Lord guides and often intervenes in our lives. In John 8:1–8, Jesus returned to the Temple where a crowd gathered to hear Him teach. The religious leaders interrupted by bringing a woman caught in adultery and placing her before Him. …
Grace that meets us in our brokenness is a gift that our Savior extends to us in His mercy and compassion. Jewish leadership brought the woman caught in adultery before Jesus, her sin exposed and her fate seemingly sealed. John 8:6 They (religious leaders) were trying to trap him into saying something they could use …
When Jesus refused to condemn the woman caught in adultery, forgiveness releases the burden of sin. The Pharisees tested Jesus and suggested that she be stoned. John 8:7 They kept demanding an answer, so he (Jesus) stood up again and said, “All right, but let the one who has never sinned throw the first stone!”[1] All the …
Today, billions of people inhabit the earth, yet Jesus knows your name and understands your struggles. Scripture calls believers the sheep of His pasture, and our loving Shepherd knows each of us personally, even when we don’t know Him. Jesus, our Good Shepherd, was making His way toward Jerusalem to lay down His life on …
Zacchaeus was a worldly, wealthy man. But we see him climbing to see Jesus in our story. Luke 19: 3 He tried to get a look at Jesus, but he was too short to see over the crowd. 4 So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree beside the road, for Jesus was going to pass …
God had told Ananias that He had a mission for Saul. This enabled Ananias to see through God’s eyes. Ananias knew of Saul’s reputation for persecuting Christians and was understandably afraid of him. But Ananias’ faith was stronger than his fear, and he obeyed God’s instructions. Acts 9: 17 So Ananias went and found Saul. He …
Choosing the path of grace is about someone who wants the best for the person they are involved with. In our sinful nature, it’s common to treat people harshly when we’re dissatisfied with their behavior or other issues. Often, when couples face marital problems, they tend to be critical of their spouse’s actions. They criticize …