Salvation is only the beginning of relationship with Christ. If we want to experience true union with Him, we must allow Him to sanctify us fully.

At the conclusion of the ancient Jewish ceremony of formal betrothal, after a ring or some other token of value had been given to the bride, those gathered to witness and celebrate the occasion would shout together: "Sanctified!" All that remained to seal the marriage was a cup of wine, the blessings and the bridal chamber. In those days the wedding ceremony came at a later date.

However, the ceremony of formal betrothal set the couple apart to one another in such a binding contract that only a certificate of divorce could part them. They were sanctified: set apart by consent and by a holy contract signed by two witnesses. After betrothal, unfaithfulness was regarded as adultery. read more

8:00PM EDT 7/31/2002

Probably our greatest hindrance in doing the will of God is the fact that it involves sacrifice.

The Christian life seems to be a strange experience in this way, and many people (even believers) today either choose to gloss over the uncomfortable component of sacrifice or ignore it altogether.

Even during the joyous celebration of Christmas, as believers, we should not overlook the fact that the baby in the manger was destined for the cross. The truth remains that our salvation, God's free gift to us, was not without cost. read more

7:00PM EST 11/30/2006

On the cross, Jesus took upon himself the rejection and punishment brought about by our sin so that we could have unhindered access to a holy God.

I admit that rejection is not an issue I have struggled with personally. My attitude (which I'm not saying is a good one!) has always been, "If you don't like me, that's your problem."

However, through my years of working in ministry I have learned about rejection objectively--and, I must say, with surprise. At first I could not believe what people went through! But as I ministered to those suffering from rejection, God taught me about it, and I came to a special place of compassion and understanding. read more

8:00PM EDT 7/31/2001

Angels are God's messengers, created to minister to us and help fulfill his purposes, but most of the time we forget they are only a prayer away.

Hanging in my grandmother's house was a picture that has left a lasting impact on me. It was titled "The Guardian," and it featured a very large angel with a comforting expression and outreached hands hovering near a small boy and girl as they walked over a precariously dangerous bridge.

The simple framed print brought great comfort and security to my heart when I was a little girl and propelled my imaginative mind into the awesome arena of angels. In recent years the study of angels has continued to bring me much comfort and encouragement. read more

7:00PM EST 11/30/2000

MOST OF US KNOW THAT REPENTANCE IS A REQUIREMENT FOR SALVATION. BUT DO WE KNOW WHEN WE'VE ACHIEVED IT?

Repentance is an indispensable condition of entering the kingdom of God.

People generally are all at sea on this subject, as though insisting that repentance is an arbitrary arrangement on the part of God. I believe God has made human salvation as easy as the almighty, infinite, mind could make it! But there is a necessity that we "repent and turn to God" (Acts 26:20, KJV). read more

7:00PM EST 1/31/2005

In Christ there is atonement for our sins. Yet we can still be tempted to keep a running tally of all we've done.

First Corinthians 13, the great love chapter of the Bible, is a perfect demonstration of the cause and effect of total forgiveness. The apex of this wonderful passage is the phrase found in verse 5, Love "keeps no record of wrongs" (NIV).

The Greek word that is translated as "no record" is logizomai, which means not to reckon or impute. The word is important to Paul's doctrine of justification by faith. read more

7:00PM EST 11/30/2002