Ray Ortland is quoted as having said, “There is a hell before Hell; a heaven before Heaven.” Proverbs warns against death multiple times, but rarely does it point to the actual event. So this discussion of life and death is bigger than simply, “Do you have a pulse or not?”
It’s one thing to know “about” God, but you don’t truly know him until you risk it.
The pivotal moment in the story of Esther is not the moment(s) of heroism and courage. It's a little less sexy than that, and a lot more ordinary.
The God of heaven and earth not only invites us to pray, he almost begs us to. Why would he do that if our prayers didn’t matter?
Like a Cubs fan living in St Louis, those who follow a suffering Savior should not be surprised when they suffer.
Peter writes that we are to arm ourselves with the same attitude of Christ when it comes to suffering – that we would rather suffer than sin.
Just like you don’t start a building project without finding out how much it will cost, Jesus tells his disciples to count the cost of following him.
After speaking to those under authority, Peter turns for the first time to someone IN authority: husbands.