Who Can Be Against Us?
Read: Romans 8:31-34 If God is for us, who can be against us? (v. 31) During elementary school, I was often afraid of bigger students. One particular student caused me significant fear: an older boy who was loud, unpredictable, and aggressive. But one day we were teamed up together in a playground game. He went from […]
Ongoing Education for Iranian Christians
Words of Hope’s Persian discipleship classes exist to give Iranian believers a safe space to grow in their faith alongside other Christians. The conferences also provide training for lay pastors. While churches are closed officially inside of Iran, many house churches meet together in secret. As the Iranian government persecutes church gatherings, it definitely does […]
All Things for Good
Read: Romans 8:28-30 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good. (v. 28) The Christian doctrine of providence could be called “the best of doctrines; the worst of doctrines”. The Heidelberg Catechism defines providence as “The almighty and ever present power of God by which God upholds, as with […]
Help in Our Weakness
Read: Romans 8:26-27 Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. (v. 26) There are all kinds of situations that render us speechless. A child might do something unexpectedly hilarious. A neighbor might say something outrageous. A news outlet might publish something scandalous. In these instances, we might say, “There are no words.” We are without […]
Present Pain, Powerful Hope
Read: Romans 8:18-25 The sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. (v. 18) When my first child was born, my father said, “Having a child is like spending the rest of your life with your heart outside your body.” I understood what he meant […]
Abba, Father
Read: Romans 8:14-17 The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God. (v. 16) At a recent Bible study, a member of my church said, “Every day I pray that, when the time comes, God considers me good enough to welcome me as his own.” I responded that it is natural […]
Bibles for Iran
Iran is one of the most dangerous countries for Christian converts in the world. There, new believers are at risk of persecution if their decision to follow Christ becomes known to the wrong people. Yet these sincere brothers and sisters in Christ want desperately to learn and grow. They want to read the Bible in […]
He Who Raised Christ
Read: Romans 8:9-13 He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies. (v. 11) Within the body of Christ, there’s a wide range of convictions about the work of the Holy Spirit. Some church traditions emphasize the most visible signs of the Spirit’s presence, such as speaking in tongues […]
Life and Peace
Read: Romans 8:5-8 To set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. (v. 6) I once knew a professional pilot. He had keen senses and finely honed skills. But he told me that for pilots, senses can be fatally misleading. He once told me of a flight through dense cloud over mountainous territory. In […]