Many things in life are overly complicated. Thankfully, walking with the Savior is not. He meets us where we are, shows us His grace, and sends us on His mission filled with His resurrection joy and strength.

Knowing full well what lay before Him, the Lord Jesus proceeded to the cross undaunted. His resolve to glorify His Father resulted in our salvation, as well as in all the strength we need to live undaunted Christian lives as we trust in Him by faith.

From the outset, the early church made it a priority in their discipleship to intentionally develop and maintain relationships that connected believers to one another.

We all have times when we feel far from God. He can seem distant and remote, and at such times it may surprise us to learn that He is actually the one most interested in drawing us back into fellowship with Himself. Through His ultimate Mediator and the blood of His covenant we can enjoy personal access to the Living God both now and forever.

Sometimes the Promised Land seems a long way off. Many obstacles fill our path and we wonder if we will ever enter God’s rest. But God assures us that he goes before us and with us, preparing the way in his power and timing through the One who allowed himself no rest until our salvation was secured.

Holidays dinners, birthday parties, and other special feasts do three things: they help us remember important events from the past; they connect us to those events in personal, ongoing ways; and they create anticipation for even greater celebrations to come. In the same way, God instituted three annual feasts to help His people remember His saving grace, experience it afresh in every generation, and look forward to the Savior who would one day host a celebration like no other.

The short answer to the question “Am I my brother’s keeper?” is, yes! God calls us to look out for the welfare of those around us, realizing that our actions have a direct impact on the community in which we live. Just as God showed us grace when we were slaves to sin, so we, too, are to reflect the grace of His Son to those around us.

Whether we intend to damage someone else’s property or not, God expects us to take full responsibility for our actions. We have a duty to restore what was lost based on the eighth commandment. But what about when our offense is against God himself and what has been lost is our own righteousness? In that case, restitution can only be made by a perfect substitute who is willing to take personal responsibility for our sin, and who has done so on the cross.

At first glance, the list of crimes and punishments in Exodus 21 scarcely seem applicable to our lives. Upon further examination, however, they reveal the heart of a God who desires justice and peace among His people that is consistent, proportional, contextual, and merciful. Such justice is made possible only through the One who faced the ultimate punishment we deserved so that we might experience His infinite grace.

David acknowledges not only that the LORD has delivered him from troubles, but that God also enables David to gain victory over his enemies (Psalm 18:50). This biblical teaching of divine sovereignty and human responsibility helps us to grow in our sanctification.