What Does “Delivering to Satan” Mean?

What does delivering a person to Satan in 1 Corinthians 5:5 mean? Paul said this regarding the person who lives with his father’s wife or stepmother, a sin considered particularly grave in the Christian context. This sin is not found among those who have not known Christ. Paul says such a thing is “not tolerated […]

The Math of Generosity

“One gives freely, yet grows all the richer; another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want” (Prov 11:24). In terms of finance, this verse is an absurd proposition. It seems highly unlikely that any finance expert or someone with average skill with numbers would admit that the more one gives, the more one […]

Wait, Do not Wilt

“I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living! Wait for the LORD; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the LORD!”(Psa 27:13—14). The person who penned this Hebrew poem expresses his trust in the Lord. Line by line, he describes how he […]

The Secret of Victory

“He asked life of you; you gave it to him, length of days forever and ever” (Psa 21:4). Psalm 21 thanks the Lord for answering the prayer for victory that the people prayed in Psalm 20 as the king set out for the battle. The people had confessed that it was not their military strength […]

Serve with Power, Love, and Self-discipline

“This is why I remind you to fan into flames the spiritual gift God gave you when I laid my hands on you. God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline” (2 Timothy 1:6—7). Paul wrote this letter towards the end of his life to his […]

Re-wiring Minds for Eternity

“If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth” (Col 3:1—2). Christian faith is not just a set of beliefs but involves experiencing the Lord […]

Praying at the Face of Threats

“Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God. They collapse and fall, but we rise and stand upright” (Psa 20:7—8). Read Psalm 20:1—9. Wishing the king success as he set out for military campaigns was a significant part of the life of nations in […]

From the Stars to God’s Story

“Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer” (Psa 19:14). The starry sky over a village on a dark day is a treat for the eyes, but the city’s sky, polluted with light from automobiles, street lights, and high-rise […]

Fling Your Backpacks over to the Lord

“Cast your burden on the LORD, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved” (Psa 55:22). A line in the famous hymn, “What a Friend We Have in Jesus” asks, “Are we weak and heavy-laden, cumbered with a load of care?” Most of us would answer “Yes.” We carry […]

Praying in the Storeroom

“But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you” (Matthew 6:6). Read: (Matthew 5:5—15). Every book or blog on prayer has advice on the best time to pray, the most suitable place for […]