Think about the expectations, both cultural and personal, that you have tried to meet. Think about the expectations you’re trying to meet now. What do you think it would be like to be free of such expectations?

Not a few of us want to get the right formula and do it right and feel very wonderful. One of the problems with such an approach is that getting the right formula and doing it right never excludes the possibility of disaster. Deep down, we know this; therefore, rarely do we feel very wonderful.

What were you made for—and how can you know if you’re truly living that purpose? On the night before His crucifixion, Jesus gave His disciples a profound answer. At its heart, it’s simple: we are created to be a people of love for our neighbors and the nations. Are you becoming a person of love?

In Esther 9, the story seems to resolve with God’s people victorious over their enemies—but it also raises new questions. What do we do with a salvation that comes through violence? Why does the Old Testament contain so much of it? And how should we understand all of this in light of Jesus’ teaching, and even more, his death and resurrection? As we walk through Esther 9, we’ll also wrestle with these questions and consider what they mean for following Jesus today.

We each face battles in life that we must walk through. Though we are not always assured victory in the present battles, we have present hope and eternal victory in Christ. How do we find hope in the Lord as the battle approaches? Esther and the Jewish people find hope as they prepare to face their enemies.

In Esther 7, the story reaches its climax: Esther speaks, Haman panics, and their fates are reversed. But behind the narrative lies a deeper question—who truly decides who lives and who dies? To answer this, we must consider the hidden ways of God’s kingdom and the unexpected power of the cross.

What—or, more precisely—who is the Holy Spirit? In Galatians 4:1-7, Paul makes a significant contribution to our understanding of the Holy Spirit that is particularly relevant to those of us who are discouraged by our spiritual progress.

In Galatians 3:15-29, Paul turns his attention to two promises that God made to Abraham, one concerning land and the other concerning family. Those promises have ramifications for us today: home, a place to live, and family, people to live with.

There are good reasons for doubt. However, there are even better reasons for faith. In Galatians 3:1-14, the apostle Paul highlights two reasons for continuing in faith, with allegiance to Christ.

It’s easy to say you want to live for God. But as we all know, it’s one thing to say it and another thing to live it. If we are going to live for God, we need some help. The apostle Paul gives us some in Galatians 2:15-21.