Self-Control
Read: Titus 2:1-8 The grace of God . . . teaches us . . . to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives. (vv. 11-12 NIV) In 1972, Stanford University conducted a study of “delayed gratification.” The now-famous “marshmallow experiment” tested children’s ability to forego an immediate reward (one marshmallow) in favor of a later, greater reward (two marshmallows). In his practical letter […]
Gentleness
Read: Matthew 11:28-30 I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. (v. 29) My best friend once recounted play-wrestling with his three-year-old son. The toddler was about to pounce on his head when my friend reared up and growled. His son froze in terror. The boy then burst out […]
Faithfulness
Read: Hebrews 10:19-25 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. (v. 23) In Beyond Good and Evil, Friedrich Nietzsche wrote, “The essential thing ‘in heaven and in earth’ is . . . that there should be long obedience in the same direction . . . [This] has always resulted in . . . something which […]
Goodness
Read: Matthew 5:13-16 Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works. (v. 16) As a pastor, I regularly encounter people outside the church who say, “I don’t go to church, but I try to be a good person.” I regularly encounter people inside the church who say, “I’m here because […]
Women’s Sewing Center
In Lohardaga, India, Words of Hope operates a training center to teach women living in poverty how to sew, tailor clothing, and knit. This hands-on ministry provides women with a marketable skill so that they can provide for themselves and their families. The relationships formed during training often open doors for sharing the gospel with […]
Kindness
Read: Romans 2:1-4 God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance. (v. 4) In his memoir, actor Danny Trejo describes how he once accidentally stumbled into an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting while trying to crash a rival gang’s house party. Trejo, armed and expecting a fight, was welcomed by a room full of friendly older people. […]
Patience
Read: 2 Corinthians 1:3-7 As we share abundantly in Christ’s sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too. (v. 5) Years ago, my wife noticed a peculiar phenomenon. Every time I got in line at the grocery store, a fast-food restaurant, or a border crossing, that line would grind to a halt. We tested her […]
Peace
Read: John 14:23-27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. (v. 27) In a 2021 interview with Vanity Fair magazine, actress Jennifer Lawrence disclosed that a recent period of overwork and burnout had been driven by a preoccupation with pleasing people. Lawrence says, “I reached a point where people were not pleased […]
Joy
Read: James 1:2-5, 16-18 Count it all joy . . . when you meet trials of various kinds. (v. 2) During my early years as a pastor, I led a retirees’ Bible study of the book of James. When we reached James 1:2, one of the participants interrupted. He said, indignantly, “It sounds like James is saying we should […]