In the letter to the church in Philadelphia in Revelation 3:7-13, we read the second of two letters that contains only praise and encouragement from Jesus for the church. Although the church in Philadelphia looked weak, it was actually strong, because it had done the one simple thing that all churches and all Christians must do: keep Christ’s word. Jesus’ instruction to them (and to us) was correspondingly simple: hold on to what you have.
Through a series of mistakes by the disciples, Jesus taught them and us what following him is not.
Saul’s two acts of foolishness contrasted with his son’s two acts of faith, and they changed the course of history.
After Jesus gave his disciples very troubling news, he told them in John 14:1-14, "Let not your hearts be troubled." He went on to...