Tuesday, July 14, 2026

Ministry — More Important Than Life

“But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus.” (Acts 20:24)


According to the New Testament, “ministry” is what all Christians do. According to Ephesians 4:11–12, pastors have the job of equipping the saints for the work of ministry. But ordinary Christians are the ones who do the ministry.


What ministry looks like is as varied as Christians are varied. It’s not an office like elder or deacon; it’s a lifestyle devoted to making much of Christ and meeting the needs of others.


It means that we “do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith” (Galatians 6:10). Whether we are bankers or bricklayers, it means that we aim at advancing other people’s faith and holiness to the glory of God.


Fulfilling your ministry is more important than staying alive. This conviction is what makes the lives of radically devoted people so inspiring to watch. Most of them speak the way Paul did about his ministry here in Acts 20:24: “I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus.” Doing the ministry that God gives us to do is more important than life.


You may think you need to save your life in order to do your ministry. On the contrary, how you lose your life may be the capstone of your ministry. It certainly was for Jesus — only in his thirties.


We need not fret about keeping ourselves alive in order to finish our ministry. God alone knows the appointed time of our service. He will decide when our death is not an interruption of our ministry, but the last act of our ministry.


Henry Martyn was right when he said, “If [God] has work for me to do, I cannot die.” In other words, I am immortal until my work is done. Therefore, ministry is more important than life.


John Piper 

The Way of Cain or the Way of the Cross

“Woe to them! For they have gone in the way of Cain, have run greedily in the error of Balaam for profit, and perished in the rebellion of Korah.” JUDE 1:11

 

PONDER THIS


There are only two religions in the world—the true and the false. That’s all. We like to divide religions up and say there’s Confucianism, Buddhism, Islam, and all these other different kinds of religions. And then we take Christianity and subdivide it. We say there’s Baptist, Methodist, Presbyterian, Episcopalian, Catholic, and so forth. But there are only two religions: the true and the false. One is the way of Cain and the other is the way of the cross. What is the way of Cain? The way of Cain is religion without the blood sacrifice and without the atonement. You may say, “Pastor, we don’t have to worry about that. We hear about the blood very often.” If so, thank God for a church that’s based on the Book, the blood, and the blessed hope.


How do you respond to the idea that there are only two religions?

What are some ways you might be distracted from the truth of the Bible?


PRACTICE THIS


Journal today about traits of the truth of Christ and traits of every other belief system. How do these contrast?


LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

July 14

Luke 10:17-24


[17] The seventy-two returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name!” [18] And he said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. [19] Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you. [20] Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”


[21] In that same hour he rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. [22] All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, or who the Father is except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.”


[23] Then turning to the disciples he said privately, “Blessed are the eyes that see what you see! [24] For I tell you that many prophets and kings desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.”


1 Thessalonians 3:7-13


[7] for this reason, brothers, in all our distress and affliction we have been comforted about you through your faith. [8] For now we live, if you are standing fast in the Lord. [9] For what thanksgiving can we return to God for you, for all the joy that we feel for your sake before our God, [10] as we pray most earnestly night and day that we may see you face to face and supply what is lacking in your faith?


[11] Now may our God and Father himself, and our Lord Jesus, direct our way to you, [12] and may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, as we do for you, [13] so that he may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.


Psalm 139


To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David.


    [1] O LORD, you have searched me and known me! 

    [2] You know when I sit down and when I rise up;

        you discern my thoughts from afar. 

    [3] You search out my path and my lying down

        and are acquainted with all my ways. 

    [4] Even before a word is on my tongue,

        behold, O LORD, you know it altogether. 

    [5] You hem me in, behind and before,

        and lay your hand upon me. 

    [6] Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;

        it is high; I cannot attain it.


    [7] Where shall I go from your Spirit?

        Or where shall I flee from your presence? 

    [8] If I ascend to heaven, you are there!

        If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there! 

    [9] If I take the wings of the morning

        and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, 

    [10] even there your hand shall lead me,

        and your right hand shall hold me. 

    [11] If I say, “Surely the darkness shall cover me,

        and the light about me be night,” 

    [12] even the darkness is not dark to you;

        the night is bright as the day,

        for darkness is as light with you.


    [13] For you formed my inward parts;

        you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. 

    [14] I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.

    Wonderful are your works;

        my soul knows it very well. 

    [15] My frame was not hidden from you,

    when I was being made in secret,

        intricately woven in the depths of the earth. 

    [16] Your eyes saw my unformed substance;

    in your book were written, every one of them,

        the days that were formed for me,

        when as yet there was none of them.


    [17] How precious to me are your thoughts, O God!

        How vast is the sum of them! 

    [18] If I would count them, they are more than the sand.

        I awake, and I am still with you.


    [19] Oh that you would slay the wicked, O God!

        O men of blood, depart from me! 

    [20] They speak against you with malicious intent;

        your enemies take your name in vain. 

    [21] Do I not hate those who hate you, O LORD?

        And do I not loathe those who rise up against you? 

    [22] I hate them with complete hatred;

        I count them my enemies.


    [23] Search me, O God, and know my heart!

        Try me and know my thoughts! 

    [24] And see if there be any grievous way in me,

        and lead me in the way everlasting!


2 Chronicles 3


[1] Then Solomon began to build the house of the LORD in Jerusalem on Mount Moriah, where the LORD had appeared to David his father, at the place that David had appointed, on the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite. [2] He began to build in the second month of the fourth year of his reign. [3] These are Solomon’s measurements for building the house of God: the length, in cubits of the old standard, was sixty cubits, and the breadth twenty cubits. [4] The vestibule in front of the nave of the house was twenty cubits long, equal to the width of the house, and its height was 120 cubits. He overlaid it on the inside with pure gold. [5] The nave he lined with cypress and covered it with fine gold and made palms and chains on it. [6] He adorned the house with settings of precious stones. The gold was gold of Parvaim. [7] So he lined the house with gold—its beams, its thresholds, its walls, and its doors—and he carved cherubim on the walls.


[8] And he made the Most Holy Place. Its length, corresponding to the breadth of the house, was twenty cubits, and its breadth was twenty cubits. He overlaid it with 600 talents of fine gold. [9] The weight of gold for the nails was fifty shekels. And he overlaid the upper chambers with gold.


[10] In the Most Holy Place he made two cherubim of wood and overlaid them with gold. [11] The wings of the cherubim together extended twenty cubits: one wing of the one, of five cubits, touched the wall of the house, and its other wing, of five cubits, touched the wing of the other cherub; [12] and of this cherub, one wing, of five cubits, touched the wall of the house, and the other wing, also of five cubits, was joined to the wing of the first cherub. [13] The wings of these cherubim extended twenty cubits. The cherubim stood on their feet, facing the nave. [14] And he made the veil of blue and purple and crimson fabrics and fine linen, and he worked cherubim on it.


[15] In front of the house he made two pillars thirty-five cubits high, with a capital of five cubits on the top of each. [16] He made chains like a necklace and put them on the tops of the pillars, and he made a hundred pomegranates and put them on the chains. [17] He set up the pillars in front of the temple, one on the south, the other on the north; that on the south he called Jachin, and that on the north Boaz.


2 Chronicles 4


[1] He made an altar of bronze, twenty cubits long and twenty cubits wide and ten cubits high. [2] Then he made the sea of cast metal. It was round, ten cubits from brim to brim, and five cubits high, and a line of thirty cubits measured its circumference. [3] Under it were figures of gourds, for ten cubits, compassing the sea all around. The gourds were in two rows, cast with it when it was cast. [4] It stood on twelve oxen, three facing north, three facing west, three facing south, and three facing east. The sea was set on them, and all their rear parts were inward. [5] Its thickness was a handbreadth. And its brim was made like the brim of a cup, like the flower of a lily. It held 3,000 baths. [6] He also made ten basins in which to wash, and set five on the south side, and five on the north side. In these they were to rinse off what was used for the burnt offering, and the sea was for the priests to wash in.


[7] And he made ten golden lampstands as prescribed, and set them in the temple, five on the south side and five on the north. [8] He also made ten tables and placed them in the temple, five on the south side and five on the north. And he made a hundred basins of gold. [9] He made the court of the priests and the great court and doors for the court and overlaid their doors with bronze. [10] And he set the sea at the southeast corner of the house.


[11] Hiram also made the pots, the shovels, and the basins. So Hiram finished the work that he did for King Solomon on the house of God: [12] the two pillars, the bowls, and the two capitals on the top of the pillars; and the two latticeworks to cover the two bowls of the capitals that were on the top of the pillars; [13] and the 400 pomegranates for the two latticeworks, two rows of pomegranates for each latticework, to cover the two bowls of the capitals that were on the pillars. [14] He made the stands also, and the basins on the stands, [15] and the one sea, and the twelve oxen underneath it. [16] The pots, the shovels, the forks, and all the equipment for these Huram-abi made of burnished bronze for King Solomon for the house of the LORD. [17] In the plain of the Jordan the king cast them, in the clay ground between Succoth and Zeredah. [18] Solomon made all these things in great quantities, for the weight of the bronze was not sought.


[19] So Solomon made all the vessels that were in the house of God: the golden altar, the tables for the bread of the Presence, [20] the lampstands and their lamps of pure gold to burn before the inner sanctuary, as prescribed; [21] the flowers, the lamps, and the tongs, of purest gold; [22] the snuffers, basins, dishes for incense, and fire pans, of pure gold, and the sockets of the temple, for the inner doors to the Most Holy Place and for the doors of the nave of the temple were of gold.


2 Chronicles 5


[1] Thus all the work that Solomon did for the house of the LORD was finished. And Solomon brought in the things that David his father had dedicated, and stored the silver, the gold, and all the vessels in the treasuries of the house of God.


[2] Then Solomon assembled the elders of Israel and all the heads of the tribes, the leaders of the fathers’ houses of the people of Israel, in Jerusalem, to bring up the ark of the covenant of the LORD out of the city of David, which is Zion. [3] And all the men of Israel assembled before the king at the feast that is in the seventh month. [4] And all the elders of Israel came, and the Levites took up the ark. [5] And they brought up the ark, the tent of meeting, and all the holy vessels that were in the tent; the Levitical priests brought them up. [6] And King Solomon and all the congregation of Israel, who had assembled before him, were before the ark, sacrificing so many sheep and oxen that they could not be counted or numbered. [7] Then the priests brought the ark of the covenant of the LORD to its place, in the inner sanctuary of the house, in the Most Holy Place, underneath the wings of the cherubim. [8] The cherubim spread out their wings over the place of the ark, so that the cherubim made a covering above the ark and its poles. [9] And the poles were so long that the ends of the poles were seen from the Holy Place before the inner sanctuary, but they could not be seen from outside. And they are there to this day. [10] There was nothing in the ark except the two tablets that Moses put there at Horeb, where the LORD made a covenant with the people of Israel, when they came out of Egypt. [11] And when the priests came out of the Holy Place (for all the priests who were present had consecrated themselves, without regard to their divisions, [12] and all the Levitical singers, Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun, their sons and kinsmen, arrayed in fine linen, with cymbals, harps, and lyres, stood east of the altar with 120 priests who were trumpeters; [13] and it was the duty of the trumpeters and singers to make themselves heard in unison in praise and thanksgiving to the LORD), and when the song was raised, with trumpets and cymbals and other musical instruments, in praise to the LORD, 


    “For he is good,

        for his steadfast love endures forever,”


    the house, the house of the LORD, was filled with a cloud,  [14] so that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud, for the glory of the LORD filled the house of God.

Monday, July 13, 2026

What Moves You to Minister?

For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. (Galatians 6:8)


Faith has an insatiable appetite for experiencing as much of God’s grace as possible. Therefore, faith presses toward the river where God’s grace flows most freely, namely, the river of love.


What other force will move us out of our contented living rooms to take upon ourselves the inconveniences and suffering that love requires?


What will propel us . . .


to greet strangers when we feel shy?


to go to an enemy and plead for reconciliation when we feel indignant?


to tithe when we’ve never tried it?


to speak to our colleagues about Christ when we are timid?


to invite new neighbors to a Bible study?


to cross cultures with the gospel?


to create a new ministry for alcoholics?


to spend an evening driving a van?


to invest a morning praying for renewal?


None of these costly acts of love just happens. They are impelled by a new appetite — the appetite of faith for the fullest experience of God’s grace. We want more of God. And we want this more than we want our private, disturbance-free security and comfort.


Faith loves to rely on God and see him work miracles in us. Therefore, faith pushes us into the current where the power of God’s future grace flows most freely — the current of love.


I think this is what Paul meant when he said that we should sow to the Spirit (Galatians 6:8). By faith, we should put the seeds of our energy in the furrows where we know the Spirit is at work to bear fruit — the furrows of love.


John Piper 

Contend for What God Has Revealed

“Likewise also these dreamers defile the flesh, reject authority, and speak evil of dignitaries.” JUDE 1:8

 

PONDER THIS


In today’s verse, Jude called the apostates dreamers. He was talking about conjecture, imagination, something dreamed up. In the Book of Jude, verse 3, the Bible says we should “contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints.” Jude was talking about God’s Word. There is a battle for the Bible. There is a fight for the faith. We should earnestly contend for the faith. This means we must refute the “dreams” or the imaginations of men because they are not something God has revealed. This is something people have dreamed up—their own subjective religion. They have their own existential ideas rather than the revealed Word of God.


How has today’s devotion reminded you of the importance of knowing and contending for the truth of the Bible?

What are some ways we contend for the truth of the Bible? How does the Bible defend itself?


PRACTICE THIS


Write out as many ways you can think of that the Bible defends itself. How does this give you further confidence in God’s Word?


LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

July 13

Luke 10:1-16


[1] After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them on ahead of him, two by two, into every town and place where he himself was about to go. [2] And he said to them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest. [3] Go your way; behold, I am sending you out as lambs in the midst of wolves. [4] Carry no moneybag, no knapsack, no sandals, and greet no one on the road. [5] Whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace be to this house!’ [6] And if a son of peace is there, your peace will rest upon him. But if not, it will return to you. [7] And remain in the same house, eating and drinking what they provide, for the laborer deserves his wages. Do not go from house to house. [8] Whenever you enter a town and they receive you, eat what is set before you. [9] Heal the sick in it and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’ [10] But whenever you enter a town and they do not receive you, go into its streets and say, [11] ‘Even the dust of your town that clings to our feet we wipe off against you. Nevertheless know this, that the kingdom of God has come near.’ [12] I tell you, it will be more bearable on that day for Sodom than for that town.


[13] “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. [14] But it will be more bearable in the judgment for Tyre and Sidon than for you. [15] And you, Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven? You shall be brought down to Hades.


[16] “The one who hears you hears me, and the one who rejects you rejects me, and the one who rejects me rejects him who sent me.”


1 Thessalonians 3:1-6


[1] Therefore when we could bear it no longer, we were willing to be left behind at Athens alone, [2] and we sent Timothy, our brother and God’s coworker in the gospel of Christ, to establish and exhort you in your faith, [3] that no one be moved by these afflictions. For you yourselves know that we are destined for this. [4] For when we were with you, we kept telling you beforehand that we were to suffer affliction, just as it has come to pass, and just as you know. [5] For this reason, when I could bear it no longer, I sent to learn about your faith, for fear that somehow the tempter had tempted you and our labor would be in vain.


[6] But now that Timothy has come to us from you, and has brought us the good news of your faith and love and reported that you always remember us kindly and long to see us, as we long to see you—


Psalm 138


Of David.


    [1] I give you thanks, O LORD, with my whole heart;

        before the gods I sing your praise; 

    [2] I bow down toward your holy temple

        and give thanks to your name for your steadfast love and your faithfulness,

        for you have exalted above all things

        your name and your word. 

    [3] On the day I called, you answered me;

        my strength of soul you increased.


    [4] All the kings of the earth shall give you thanks, O LORD,

        for they have heard the words of your mouth, 

    [5] and they shall sing of the ways of the LORD,

        for great is the glory of the LORD. 

    [6] For though the LORD is high, he regards the lowly,

        but the haughty he knows from afar.


    [7] Though I walk in the midst of trouble,

        you preserve my life;

    you stretch out your hand against the wrath of my enemies,

        and your right hand delivers me. 

    [8] The LORD will fulfill his purpose for me;

        your steadfast love, O LORD, endures forever.

        Do not forsake the work of your hands.


2 Chronicles 1


[1] Solomon the son of David established himself in his kingdom, and the LORD his God was with him and made him exceedingly great.


[2] Solomon spoke to all Israel, to the commanders of thousands and of hundreds, to the judges, and to all the leaders in all Israel, the heads of fathers’ houses. [3] And Solomon, and all the assembly with him, went to the high place that was at Gibeon, for the tent of meeting of God, which Moses the servant of the LORD had made in the wilderness, was there. [4] (But David had brought up the ark of God from Kiriath-jearim to the place that David had prepared for it, for he had pitched a tent for it in Jerusalem.) [5] Moreover, the bronze altar that Bezalel the son of Uri, son of Hur, had made, was there before the tabernacle of the LORD. And Solomon and the assembly sought it out. [6] And Solomon went up there to the bronze altar before the LORD, which was at the tent of meeting, and offered a thousand burnt offerings on it.


[7] In that night God appeared to Solomon, and said to him, “Ask what I shall give you.” [8] And Solomon said to God, “You have shown great and steadfast love to David my father, and have made me king in his place. [9] O LORD God, let your word to David my father be now fulfilled, for you have made me king over a people as numerous as the dust of the earth. [10] Give me now wisdom and knowledge to go out and come in before this people, for who can govern this people of yours, which is so great?” [11] God answered Solomon, “Because this was in your heart, and you have not asked for possessions, wealth, honor, or the life of those who hate you, and have not even asked for long life, but have asked for wisdom and knowledge for yourself that you may govern my people over whom I have made you king, [12] wisdom and knowledge are granted to you. I will also give you riches, possessions, and honor, such as none of the kings had who were before you, and none after you shall have the like.” [13] So Solomon came from the high place at Gibeon, from before the tent of meeting, to Jerusalem. And he reigned over Israel.


[14] Solomon gathered together chariots and horsemen. He had 1,400 chariots and 12,000 horsemen, whom he stationed in the chariot cities and with the king in Jerusalem. [15] And the king made silver and gold as common in Jerusalem as stone, and he made cedar as plentiful as the sycamore of the Shephelah. [16] And Solomon’s import of horses was from Egypt and Kue, and the king’s traders would buy them from Kue for a price. [17] They imported a chariot from Egypt for 600 shekels of silver, and a horse for 150. Likewise through them these were exported to all the kings of the Hittites and the kings of Syria.


2 Chronicles 2


[1]  Now Solomon purposed to build a temple for the name of the LORD, and a royal palace for himself. [2]  And Solomon assigned 70,000 men to bear burdens and 80,000 to quarry in the hill country, and 3,600 to oversee them. [3] And Solomon sent word to Hiram the king of Tyre: “As you dealt with David my father and sent him cedar to build himself a house to dwell in, so deal with me. [4] Behold, I am about to build a house for the name of the LORD my God and dedicate it to him for the burning of incense of sweet spices before him, and for the regular arrangement of the showbread, and for burnt offerings morning and evening, on the Sabbaths and the new moons and the appointed feasts of the LORD our God, as ordained forever for Israel. [5] The house that I am to build will be great, for our God is greater than all gods. [6] But who is able to build him a house, since heaven, even highest heaven, cannot contain him? Who am I to build a house for him, except as a place to make offerings before him? [7] So now send me a man skilled to work in gold, silver, bronze, and iron, and in purple, crimson, and blue fabrics, trained also in engraving, to be with the skilled workers who are with me in Judah and Jerusalem, whom David my father provided. [8] Send me also cedar, cypress, and algum timber from Lebanon, for I know that your servants know how to cut timber in Lebanon. And my servants will be with your servants, [9] to prepare timber for me in abundance, for the house I am to build will be great and wonderful. [10] I will give for your servants, the woodsmen who cut timber, 20,000 cors of crushed wheat, 20,000 cors of barley, 20,000 baths of wine, and 20,000 baths of oil.”


[11] Then Hiram the king of Tyre answered in a letter that he sent to Solomon, “Because the LORD loves his people, he has made you king over them.” [12] Hiram also said, “Blessed be the LORD God of Israel, who made heaven and earth, who has given King David a wise son, who has discretion and understanding, who will build a temple for the LORD and a royal palace for himself.


[13] “Now I have sent a skilled man, who has understanding, Huram-abi, [14] the son of a woman of the daughters of Dan, and his father was a man of Tyre. He is trained to work in gold, silver, bronze, iron, stone, and wood, and in purple, blue, and crimson fabrics and fine linen, and to do all sorts of engraving and execute any design that may be assigned him, with your craftsmen, the craftsmen of my lord, David your father. [15] Now therefore the wheat and barley, oil and wine, of which my lord has spoken, let him send to his servants. [16] And we will cut whatever timber you need from Lebanon and bring it to you in rafts by sea to Joppa, so that you may take it up to Jerusalem.”


[17] Then Solomon counted all the resident aliens who were in the land of Israel, after the census of them that David his father had taken, and there were found 153,600. [18] Seventy thousand of them he assigned to bear burdens, 80,000 to quarry in the hill country, and 3,600 as overseers to make the people work.

Sunday, July 12, 2026

Faith Expels Guilt, Greed, and Fear

The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. (1 Timothy 1:5)


Paul is aiming at love. And one of the essential sources of this great effect is sincere faith. The reason faith is such a sure source of love is that faith in God’s grace expels from the heart the sinful powers that hinder love.


If we feel guilty, we tend to wallow in self-centered depression and self-pity, unable to see, let alone care about, anyone else’s need. Or we play the hypocrite to cover our guilt, and so destroy all sincerity in relationships, which makes real love impossible. Or we talk about other people’s faults to minimize the guilt of our own, which love does not do. So, if we are going to love, the destructive effects of guilt must be overcome.


It’s the same with fear. If we feel fearful, we tend not to approach a stranger at church who might need a word of welcome and encouragement. Or we may reject frontier missions as a vocation, because it sounds too dangerous. Or we may waste money on excessive insurance, or get swallowed up in all manner of little phobias that make us preoccupied with ourselves and blind us to the needs of others. All of which are the opposite of love.


It’s the same with greed. If we are greedy, we may spend money on luxuries — money that ought to go to the spread of the gospel. We don’t undertake anything risky, lest our precious possessions and our financial future be jeopardized. We focus on things instead of people, or see people as resources for our material advantage. So love is ruined.


But faith in future grace produces love by pushing guilt and fear and greed out of the heart.


It pushes out guilt because it holds fast to the hope that the death of Christ is sufficient to secure acquittal and righteousness now and forever (Hebrews 10:14).


It pushes out fear because it banks on the promise, “Fear not, for I am with you. . . . I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand” (Isaiah 41:10).


And it pushes out greed because it is confident that Christ is greater wealth than all the world can offer (Matthew 13:44).


So when Paul says, “The aim of our charge is love that issues from . . . sincere faith,” he is speaking of the tremendous power of faith to overcome all the obstacles to love. When we fight the fight of faith — the fight to believe the promises of God that kill guilt and fear and greed — we are fighting for love.


John Piper