VITAL Life Application Devotions

Ezra 1:1-3 New International Version Cyrus Helps the Exiles to Return 1 In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, in order to fulfill the word of the Lord spoken by Jeremiah, the Lord moved the heart of Cyrus king of Persia to make a proclamation throughout his realm...

God created a world in which people were free to love him or not love him. By creating human beings in his image and likeness, God gave them a unique quality of relationship with each other and with him. God entrusted them with freedom, which included the possibility...

Some people assert that Christianity is a religion of weaklings. That flawed belief ignores the determined grit of everyday Christians pressing on to obey Jesus. It also overlooks the enormous sufferings believers have endured for their faith. Need details? You can...

Titus reminds us that God’s grace extends to every single human being. Salvation is freely offered—like a gift. And when we receive this gift, this same grace at work in our lives teaches us to live in a manner that pleases the Lord. With the power of the Spirit...

We know what it is like to walk in darkness. We know what it is like to live in the shadow of death. But we also are beginning to experience what it is like to see. The darkness of denial is giving way to the light of honesty in our lives. Of course, when you have...

Money is frequently the last stronghold we relinquish to God’s control. We give ourselves a false sense of security if we can manage our expenses and keep budgets. But if an unforeseen illness or accident happens, then suddenly we realize we’re not in control anymore,...

Jesus is right now—this very minute—working on a place in heaven for all who believe in him. The place will have lots of rooms and will last forever. Sometime in the future Jesus will return to earth, gather all believers of all time, and bring them to this place of...