As stewards of the gospel, Christians are called to share in Christ's afflictions in order to take His gospel to the nations.

Dr. Bitner reads through the letter of James in its entirety in this special morning devotion.

In the story we see the hopelessness of seeking salvation through the law and the beauty of salvation found in Jesus Christ. He is the merciful king who seeks, saves, and loves us.

James compares two forms of God’s law, the royal law that condemns us for just one sin and the law of liberty by which God shows us mercy. We who are under the latter law must speak and act mercifully.

James teaches how hearing God’s word and responding to it ought never be separated and how seeing and remembering who we are as sinners and objects of God’s grace draws the two together.

At the halfway point of my ministry career, Lord willing, I will reflect on a few hard lessons learned about ministry and myself as I relate to Simon P in the gospel of Luke.

For a church facing cultural and doctrinal pressure it is easy to be sharp in doctrine but dull in love for the lost. Eating of the tree that gives life is the promised solution held out by the risen Christ. 

In this devotional we explore what it means to pray for our Father's kingdom to come and his will to be done. We recognize that we are asking that the kingdom which Jesus inaugurated in his first coming will be consummated in his second coming. We are praying for our Father to grow us in grace and conform us to the image of Jesus in our affections, actions, and volitions. May we love and serve him and our neighbors faithfully and fruitfully through the Spirit.

This devotional explores the first petition of the Lord's Prayer, “Hallowed be your name.” When we make this request we are asking for God's grace to enable us to rightly honor the Lord for who he is, what has done, and what he is doing in and through us. We ask that what we think, do, and say will be informed by his words and works and directed towards his glory.