As things are brought back under Christ's rule and authority, they are restored to health, beauty, and freedom.

To fail to pray, then, is not to merely break some religious rule- it is a failure to treat God as God.

Like a surgeon, friends cut you in order to heal you.

The world can’t save itself. That’s the message of Christmas.

This is the humbling truth that lies at the heart of Christianity. We love to be our own saviors. Our hearts love to manufacture glory for themselves. So we find messages of self-salvation extremely attractive, whether they are religious (Keep these rules and you earn eternal blessing) or secular (Grab hold of these things and you’ll experience blessing now).

The cross is the place where the Judge takes the Judgment.

Jesus is the author of faith, the provider of faith, and the object of faith.