Maturing as Christians

Biblically, the most important thing in life is becoming like Jesus Christ—a process of where your character is transformed to reflect His love, peace, joy, holiness, and righteousness. This focus prioritizes eternal character over temporary earthly accomplishments, treating you as a human "being" rather than a human "doing." You are an unceasing being with an eternal destiny. Your worldly successes and outward achievements will all pass away, but your soul and the life you h

Psalm 119:103-105, emphasizes that God's Word is a source of delight, wisdom, and guidance. The passage (v. 103) describes God's promises as "sweeter than honey," providing spiritual nourishment. It leads to understanding (v. 104) that enables believers to reject false ways, while acting as a "lamp" for immediate steps and a "light" for the overall path (v. 105). Be encouraged! ~Dr. Robert L. Taylor, Th.D., Bible teacher & expositor

Psalm 119:101-102, “I have restrained my feet from every evil way, So that I may keep Your word. I have not turned aside from Your judgments, For You Yourself have taught me.” These words highlight a proactive commitment to holiness, where the psalmist deliberately avoids sinful paths (v. 101) and stays faithful to God’s Word (v. 102) because God Himself has taught him. It emphasizes that obedience requires actively restraining oneself from temptation and relying on divine in

Based on what we know about his academic and professional achievements, Cole Tomas Allen was a person who approaches problems conceptually, seeking understanding through study and reasoning rather than just action! So why do what he’s alleged to have done? Because he’s one of those multitude of angry, annoyed, disappointed, discouraged, and frustrated Americans at everything that the president and his administration says and does. Trump is the host, announcer, and ringmaster

Psalm 119:99-100, “I have more insight than all my teachers, For Your testimonies are my meditation. I understand more than those who are old, Because I have complied with Your precepts.” The teachings of those without God may be very impressive in their expositions of human wisdom, but the discerning Bible-believing Christian can claim these words of the psalmist! True insight comes from practical application and obedience to God’s Word. Be encouraged! ~Dr. Robert L. Taylor,

Psalm 119:98, “Your commandments make me wiser than my enemies, for they are ever with me.” These words emphasize that internalizing and obeying God's Word provides superior, practical wisdom. This divine wisdom surpasses human ingenuity or scheming adversaries because it is constantly applied to life. The wisdom gained from God's Word is not only intellectual; it is practical, providing better insight into life’s decisions. Be encouraged! ~Dr. Robert L. Taylor, Th.D., Bible

Psalm 119:97, “O how I love Your law! It is my meditation all the day.” These words express a deep, passionate affection for God's Word, viewing it not as a burden but as a cherished guide. It shows a deeply personal, loving relationship with God’s instructions. The continuous biblical meditation is the regular, active thinking and reflection on Scripture to understand God's heart and apply it to life. The goal is to move from simply knowing to being changed by God's truth,

Biblically, love for God's Word grows from a duty into a delight through a process of time, daily engagement, and relying on His strength. A maturing love for the Word requires active obedience, even when challenging, as part of a deeper relationship with God. Ultimately, this maturation process shifts the focus from merely reading for information to engaging for transformation. Be encouraged! ~Dr. Robert L. Taylor, Th.D., Bible teacher & expositor

In our passage, Paul expands powerfully on this great truth of living the crucified life! The crucified life means that we walk in newness of life. The crucified life is a life of being dead to sin. I remember reading and laughing at a cartoon that I saw many years ago where two women are talking and one woman says, “Well, I haven’t actually died to sin, but I did feel kind of faint once!” I believe that cartoon captures how many believers feel about Romans 6:2, where Paul sa

Biblically, God's goodness is inherent to His character, not a result of favorable circumstances or outcomes. God’s goodness isn’t defined by what He does for you, but by who He is! In other words, He is good regardless of what He does for us. This perspective asserts that God's nature is absolute goodness (Psalm 34:8, 25:8), which remains constant even during hardships, differing from conditional human definitions of goodness based on prayer outcomes. Be encouraged! ~Dr. Rob