Christian Living / Spiritual Growth

  • Transformation into Glory

    1 Corinthians 13

    Each aspect of the fruit of the Spirit—that is, each aspect of you as you are transformed—is nurtured through personal relationships. Because Christian character does not develop in a void, take the initiative to become involved regularly in ...Read More

  • Trial by the Sea

    Exodus 14:1–9

    Are you in a difficult circumstance? Is there a difficult person in your life with whom you must interact, possibly on a personal level? Have you been tempted to get angry towards God because He has allowed you to be ...Read More

  • True and Counterfeit Glory

    James 2:1–13

    “Clothes make the man,” the saying goes. We behave better and feel more serious when we dress up. Do we dress up to go to banquets with mere men but not to attend the Lord’s Supper? Do we dress ...Read More

  • True Confidence in Christ

    Acts 4:1-22

    Arrogance is a false confidence based on your own ability. True confidence comes from faith in our omnipotent God. Peter was doubtless courteous but also consummately bold before the highest court among the Jews. These men had put Jesus to ...Read More

  • True Faith

    Romans 10:10-13

    The confession “Jesus is Lord” was perilous in Paul’s day. A person could easily lose his or her life. In today’s free world this is no longer the case, thankfully. Ask God for courage in the relatively minor ...Read More

  • True Fasting

    Isaiah 58:1–12

    The Lord does not wait for us to be sinless to answer our prayers, but we should never take that as a license to do what we please. God does not take persistent sin lightly, and we are the most ...Read More

  • True Food and Drink

    John 6:55

    Although Christ is not advocating the view of transubstantiation, He is saying something true when He refers to His body as our bread and His blood as our drink. As noted in Calvin’s comments above, there is a real ...Read More

  • True Freedom

    1 Peter 2:15–17

    The passage we have been studying over the past two days can be applied not only to the civil authority but also to any institution that exercises authority over us. Because we are to be subject to “every human institution ...Read More

  • True Repentance

    Romans 8:12–17

    Repentance is a gift from God. We express contrition for our sins and their offense to our holy Creator, but the Holy Spirit must give us the ability to do this. Without His sovereign work, we do not care that ...Read More

  • True Repentance

    Matthew 4:12-22

    Renouncing is a great word although seldom used. It connotes a definite, intentional, and emphatic denial of a former belief or pattern of action. We are called to renounce our sin in favor of a more virtuous God-fearing life. Consider ...Read More

  • Trusting God

    Hebrews 11:1-6

    If you are a believer, you probably understand the role of faith in your salvation. But do you understand its role in your day-to-day life? In what ways do you trust God? And does your faith rest on His promises ...Read More

  • Trust in God’s Provision

    Exodus 16:1–21

    Are you ever afraid that God will not provide for you? Do you really trust Him to meet your needs from day to day, both spiritually and physically? Are you putting obedience to Him first, or do you make sure ...Read More

  • Truth and Hope

    1 Corinthians 13:6–7

    Scripture speaks of hope as an anchor (Heb. 6:19) because it looks forward to the sure promises of our God. Hope is not merely a desire for something that may not come to pass. All the blessings and glory ...Read More

  • Truth and Hope

    1 Corinthians 13:6-7

    All of us have experienced betrayals in our lives wherein somebody did not keep a promise or otherwise violated our trust. When God calls us to be trusting people, He knows that many will betray us, but that does not ...Read More

  • Truth and Love

    2 John 1–3

    Sometimes we can fall into the trap of presenting truth without love. We who are Reformed can be especially guilty of using the doctrines of grace as a club with which we attack people instead of lovingly sharing God’s ...Read More