"If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation" (2 Corinthians 5:17).

As believers, we have a unique identity that sets us apart—not just from the world but also from the systems and structures found in many religious traditions. The Bible makes it clear: when we are in Christ, we are not just improved versions of ourselves; we are entirely new creations, designed to live in relationship with Him.

In a world filled with diverse beliefs, values, and worldviews, conversations about universal principles like humility, stewardship, and grace often arise. As believers, we approach these discussions with the privilege and responsibility of representing God rather than merely speaking about Him. This distinction shapes not only the way we interact with others but also how we view the role of biblical principles in transforming lives.

In one of our earlier blog posts, we reflected on the critical difference between speaking about God and representing Him. That exploration led us to Job’s enigmatic friend Elihu, who spoke truths about God but failed to lead Job into God’s presence. Today, I want to take this concept further, offering real-life examples that illustrate how these distinctions play out in everyday conversations and in the broader context of this blog.

Conversations about God’s actions in the Old Testament often become flashpoints for debate. Skeptics raise questions about divine justice, citing events like the Canaanite conquests or the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. But if we’re going to confront the issue of God’s judgment honestly, why not cut to the chase and discuss the Great Flood? In this post, we’ll explore this issue through a hypothetical debate between a skeptic we’ll call Tom and an apologist exploring the justice and goodness of God.

Worship songs hold a unique place in our lives—they are both an offering to God and a reflection of how we understand His nature. What A Beautiful Name by Brooke Ligertwood and Hillsong Worship has become a cherished anthem, exalting the beauty, wonder, and power of the name of Jesus. As we examine its lyrics, we’ll reflect on how they align with Scripture and how they resonate with the exchanged life, a perspective that centers on Christ as our life and sufficiency.

CeCe Winans’ worship song Goodness of God resonates deeply with its message of God’s enduring faithfulness and love. Yet, how does this contemporary portrayal of God’s goodness align with the majestic understanding articulated by A.W. Tozer decades ago? Tozer, in The Knowledge of the Holy, cautioned against reducing God’s attributes to something more relatable but less awe-inspiring. Is Goodness of God guilty of such reductionism, or does it reflect a biblically faithful portrayal of God’s goodness? Let’s examine.

The omnipresence of God is one of the most comforting and awe-inspiring truths of the Christian faith. It means that God is not just near us but is everywhere, at all times, fully present. A.W. Tozer’s The Knowledge of the Holy offers a powerful reflection on this truth, reminding us that God is not confined to any one place but fills all of creation with His presence.

This truth isn’t abstract theology—it’s deeply personal. The God who fills the heavens and the earth is also close to you right now, closer than your next breath. Let’s explore what it means to live in light of God’s omnipresence and how it can transform our daily lives.

The Christian life is a life of grace, marked by humility and dependence on the God of all grace. Prayer is how we live out that dependence daily, and Hebrews 4:16 offers an incredible invitation: we are called to come boldly to the throne of grace.

At first glance, the idea of boldly approaching God’s throne might feel overwhelming. After all, this is the throne of the Creator of the universe—holy, powerful, and just. Yet, through Christ, this throne becomes a place where we find mercy and grace in our times of need. Let’s reflect on what this means for our lives today, with inspiration from Bob Hoekstra’s Day by Day by Grace devotional.

Jeremiah 33 provides a stunning picture of God’s faithfulness, delivered in a time of intense despair. Jeremiah, imprisoned and witnessing the impending destruction of Jerusalem, receives a word from God that not only reaffirms His promises but points to their ultimate fulfillment in Christ.

Though written in the context of God’s covenant with Israel, this chapter offers timeless truths about His unchanging character and plan for restoration. Let’s explore how these promises to Israel reveal God’s faithfulness and the eternal hope we have in Jesus.

Who Is Like Our God?
When we speak of God as transcendent, we acknowledge a truth that human language struggles to contain: God is exalted far above all creation. Not in physical distance, but in His very being. His greatness is of a different order entirely—so far above us that our minds cannot fully grasp it.

Tozer reminds us that transcendence is not about God being higher in a vertical sense, but about His incomparable nature. Just as the beauty of a child outweighs the grandeur of a mountain because of the child’s capacity to love, laugh, and relate, God’s transcendence isn’t simply an elevated status—it’s His infinite difference from all He has made.

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s Christmas Bells is more than a Christmas carol—it’s a poignant reflection on the tension between the promises of peace and goodwill heralded by Christ’s birth and the harsh realities of a broken world. Written in 1863 during the American Civil War, the poem captures the poet’s despair over the strife and division tearing his nation apart, juxtaposed with his resilient hope in God’s ultimate triumph.

As we reflect on this poem through the lens of grace and the exchanged life, we find it resonates deeply with the challenges and triumphs of faith. The bells, both literal and symbolic, remind us of eternal truths: that God’s sovereignty is unshaken, His purposes prevail, and His peace is available even in the darkest times.

As my study buddy and I reflected on Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s The Bells of San Blas in today’s study, the poem’s themes of fading traditions and eternal truths stirred a desire to express the beauty of God’s unchanging work in our lives. Inspired by Longfellow’s structure and rhythm, my study buddy wrote The Voice of the Spirit to draw a parallel between the fading bells of the past and the vibrant, ongoing ministry of the Holy Spirit in the present. This new poem serves as a creative response to our exploration of living under grace, highlighting the timeless power of Christ’s life in us, transforming the ordinary into the eternal.

In his final poem, The Bells of San Blas, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow reflects on the mission bells of San Blas, Mexico, and their fading significance. These bells, once central to the life and faith of the community, symbolize the passing of time and the decline of religious traditions. Longfellow’s words evoke a sense of loss and nostalgia, but they also invite us to think deeply about the nature of faith, legacy, and what truly lasts.

"Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned … Adam, who is a type of Him who was to come" (Romans 5:12, 14).

The Christian life is not about trying harder; it’s about being part of a new race. In today’s entry from Living in the Garden of Grace, David Kuykendall explores the foundational truth of how living under grace begins with understanding our position in Christ as part of His new race.

To grasp this, Kuykendall draws our attention to Adam and Jesus—the heads of two distinct races. What was true of Adam became true of all humanity. But in Christ, the “last Adam,” a new way of living is possible.

Every spiritual battle is won—or lost—long before we face it in the external world. Oswald Chambers reminds us that the real fight happens in the secret places of the will, alone before God.

When faced with a moral or spiritual dilemma, the Holy Spirit calls us to wrestle it out with Him in private. This isn’t a mere moment of decision; it’s often a struggle—one that may take minutes, days, or even years. But it’s in this secret place, where no one else can see, that the battle is truly won.

"And Noah waited seven more days and sent out the dove again, but this time she did not return to him" (Genesis 8:12).

The story of Noah and the flood holds layers of meaning, and today’s devotional by A.B. Simpson draws a fascinating connection between the dove in Noah’s story and the ministry of the Holy Spirit. It’s a beautiful picture that helps us see God’s redemptive work throughout history and invites us to welcome His Spirit into our lives.

For many, weakness feels like a flaw, a barrier to growth and effectiveness in the Christian life. Yet, as today’s devotional reminds us, the real hindrance isn’t weakness—it’s the deceptive strength of the old self. When we rely on our natural strength, the result is self-occupation, striving, and resistance to the Spirit’s leading.

But God offers a better way: the Cross for our cursed strength and the Lord Jesus for our blessed weakness.

Grace: More Than a Concept
"For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace" (Romans 6:14).

When we hear the word “grace,” we often think of salvation—God’s unmerited favor extended to us through Jesus Christ. But grace is far more than a starting point in the Christian life; it’s the foundation for how we live every moment.

In his book Living in the Garden of Grace, David Kuykendall explores the profound reality of what it means to be “under grace.” This isn’t just a theological concept; it’s a transformational way of living—one that frees us from striving and allows Christ to live His life through us.

Do All Things for God?
I recently heard someone say, “All that truly matters to God is what we do for Him.” At first, it seemed right—we are, after all, called to glorify God in everything. But the more I considered it, the more uneasy I felt.

For many, a statement like this can unintentionally send the wrong message: that the Christian life is about performance, about proving our worth to God through what we do. But isn’t the beauty of the gospel found in the fact that we can’t earn His favor? What truly matters to God isn’t our striving but His Son.

Imagine being imprisoned while your city is under siege, its destruction inevitable. The future looks bleak, the present unbearable. Then, God gives you a seemingly absurd instruction: buy a piece of land. That’s exactly what happened to Jeremiah.

Jeremiah 32 unfolds during Nebuchadnezzar’s siege of Jerusalem, a dark chapter in Israel’s history. Yet, in the middle of this chaos, God asks Jeremiah to purchase property in Anathoth—a town already overrun by Babylonians. Why would God ask this? What could this transaction possibly mean when the land was on the verge of devastation?