God’s Blessings Are Past, Present, and Future

(The following is the August 25 devotional from my Next Step Devotions book. Before reading it, I suggest you read Ephesians 1 and pay close attention to verses 3-14.) Christians rightly anticipate a glorious future when God will fulfill his remaining promises to us. We base these expectations on the truth of his Word. We also rejoice in his …

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Works of the Flesh vs. Fruit of the Spirit

(The following is the August 22 devotional from my Next Step Devotions book. Before reading it, I suggest you read Galatians 5 and pay close attention to verses 16-23.) Few Bible lists contrast with each other as clearly as those in Galatians 5, comparing works of the flesh with the fruit of the Spirit. We should carefully consider both, …

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A Snapshot of a Healthy Church

(The following is the August 16 devotional from my Next Step Devotions book. Before reading it, I suggest you read 2 Corinthians 13 and pay close attention to verses 11-13.) Paul spent much time with the Corinthian church in person and via correspondence. As a high-maintenance congregation with many troubles and strained interactions with Paul, the relationship between him …

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Christ Became Poor, So Now We Are Rich

(The following is the August 9 devotional from my Next Step Devotions book. Before reading it, I suggest you read 2 Corinthians 8 and pay close attention to verses 1-15.) Paul appealed to the Corinthians to give generously to the collection for poor Christians in Jerusalem, telling them of the generosity of the Macedonian churches. Even though Macedonian Christians …

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