Our Momentary, Light Afflictions

(The following is the August 3 devotional from my Next Step Devotions book. Before reading it, I suggest you read 2 Corinthians 4 and pay close attention to verses 16-18.) What afflictions have you suffered? Have you faced physical disabilities, disease, broken relationships, or lost loved ones? Have others taken advantage of you or victimized you through …

Continue reading Our Momentary, Light Afflictions

Freedom From and To What?

(The following is the August 2 devotional from my Next Step Devotions book. Before reading it, I suggest you read 2 Corinthians 3 and pay close attention to verses 12-18.) Humans value personal freedom. Governments recognize varying degrees of liberty for citizens. Those accustomed to living in relative freedom would find it extremely difficult if given fewer …

Continue reading Freedom From and To What?

Giving Generously As God Has Given to Us

(The following is the August 10 devotional from my Next Step Devotions book. Before reading it, I suggest you read 2 Corinthians 9 and pay close attention to verses 6-15.) When Paul encouraged the Corinthians to be generous in their gift to Jerusalem Christians, it was not merely a fund-raising initiative. He knew that one’s attitude toward giving reflects …

Continue reading Giving Generously As God Has Given to Us

Love Bears, Believes, Hopes, and Endures

(The following is the July 24 devotional from my Next Step Devotions book. Before reading it, I suggest you read 1 Corinthians 13 and pay close attention to verse 7.) Paul identified several impressive qualities of love: “It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things” (v. 7). These characteristics should be evident …

Continue reading Love Bears, Believes, Hopes, and Endures