God sees us as we are, loves us as we are, and accepts us as we are. But by His grace, He does not leave us as we are.

If you aren't constantly astonished at God's grace in your solitude, there's no way it can happen in public.

In Ephesians 5, Paul shows us that even on earth Jesus did not use his power to oppress us but sacrificed everything to bring us into union with him. And this takes us beyond the philosophical to the personal and the practical. If God had the gospel of Jesus's salvation in mind when he established marriage, then marriage only 'works' to the degree that approximates the pattern of God's self-giving love in Christ.

Elder brothers obey God to get things. They don't obey God to get God himself — in order to resemble him, love him, know him, and delight him.

Like a baby learning language, we learn how to communicate with God by listening to His words first.

All Christians have opportunities to serve those who might never come to church or listen to a sermon.

Religion operates on the principle 'I obey-therefore I am accepted by God.' But the operating principle of the gospel is 'I am accepted by God through what Christ has done-therefore I obey.'