By definition, if man contributes anything toward acceptance by God, he loses everything. God expects man to be the recipient, not the originator. Jesus paid it all, not 99% of it. Paul wrote, "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast"

Giving to God should come from the firstfruits of a person's labor rather than from what is left after the bills are paid.

Believers should be more concerned for God's opinion of them than for what human opponents might do to their bodies.

The Lord longs to exalt His people as trophies of His work in them.

Although God's people find many successes in the world, they must not fall prey to a spirit of pride. We succeed not because of our moral superiority but because of the faithfulness of our divine intercessor and because of the great mercy of God.

Spiritual strength is connected to faithful obedience to God's commands.

Recalling what our lives were like before Jesus Christ entered them will help keep our daily problems in perspective.