What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Romans 8:31-33 (NKJV) Do you ever struggle with shame? Shame never comes from God. He doesn’t rub our noses in our past mistakes, and He doesn’t try to knock us down a peg by saying, “Hey, don’t get a big head! Remember when you did such-and-such?” Maybe you’ve heard teaching that God loves you and you’re going to get to Heaven, but that it’s unrealistic to expect …

I decide not to do bad, but then I do it anyway. My decisions, such as they are, don’t result in actions. Something has gone wrong deep within me and gets the better of me every time. Romans 7:19-20 (MSG) Do you ever feel like you can’t measure up? You have good intentions, but something happens on the road between intentions and reality. If so, you aren’t alone. Even the Apostle Paul felt the same way, frustrated because his actions didn’t match up with his intentions. But Paul discovered the key to living a life of freedom. He understood that God doesn’t demand perfection. In Romans 7:24–25 (MSG), Paul says, “Is there no one who can do anything for me? …The answer, thank God, is …

In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will, Ephesians 1:11 (NJKV) I’ve heard that banks around the world hold unclaimed thousands of dollars, waiting for an heir of an estate to come forward. Imagine having wealth and property under your name, but because you don’t know about it, you never exercise your right to receive it. It’s the same with the inheritance Jesus has won for you. Everything we need to know about our inheritance can be found in God’s Word. But just like a will, if you don’t read it, you’ll never know what you’re entitled to. And therefore, you will never receive it. God’s …

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, Romans 1:16 (NKJV) I once read a story about a poor man who saved for years to buy passage to America, but only had enough money for the ticket. He had nothing left for food. So, he packed all the food that he could take along and rationed it into small daily portions. Not long into his journey, he ran out of food and became so starved that he decided to risk punishment by eating in the dining room on the ship. As he sat down and began to eat, the captain noticed him. He continued to eat as fast as he …

“…whoever accepts and trusts the Son gets in on everything, life complete and forever! And that is also why the person who avoids and distrusts the Son is in the dark and doesn’t see life. All he experiences of God is darkness, and an angry darkness at that.” John 3:36 (MSG) Heaven and hell are both real—and not everyone will automatically make it into Heaven. Some don’t believe this statement is true, and this misbelief affects their actions. When we fail to realize the truth about eternity, we may live self-focused lives. We don’t realize that our world is just a temporary home, so things like work, money or pleasure become our focal point. Or we may live exclusively for our children and grandchildren. The …