Article Library

Insight for Today

Written by Chuck Swindoll, these encouraging devotional thoughts are published seven days per week.

Articles of this Type: 2207

Transparent Humanity

That's quite a shock. The man didn't have it all together—he wasn't perfect—and (best of all) he didn't attempt to hide it! He admitted to his friends in Corinth that he was weak, fearful, and even trembling when he stood before them. I admire such transparency. Everybody does...if it's the truth. 

A Model Servant

I'll be honest; I am not very concerned about which form of church government your church may embrace. However, I am immensely interested that everyone involved in that ministry (whether a leader or not) sees herself or himself as one who serves...and one who gives.

Forgotten Words

Truth be told, even in our churches we tend to get so caught up in a success-and-size race that we lose sight of our primary calling as followers of Christ. The "celebrity syndrome" so present in our Christian thought and activities just doesn't square with the attitudes and messages of Jesus.

The Way Up Is Down

Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers in this world lord it over their people, and officials flaunt their authority over those under them. But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you must become your slave. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.”(Matthew 20:25–28)

A Servant, Not a Celebrity

For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.”(Mark 10:45)

Exactly what does our heavenly Father want to develop within us? Well, rather than getting neck-deep in tricky theological waters, I believe the simple answer is found in Christ’s own words. Read His declaration of His primary reason for coming:

“For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:45 NASB 1995)

God's Major Objective in Your Life

And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. (Romans 8:28–29)

Our world has become a large, impersonal, busy institution.

Passivity Is an Enemy

“But if you refuse to serve the Lord, then choose today whom you will serve. Would you prefer the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates? Or will it be the gods of the Amorites in whose land you now live? But as for me and my family, we will serve the Lord.” (Joshua 24:15)

When Prayer Needs Action

Don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves.(James 1:22)

In Nehemiah 13:10–14, Nehemiah faced a problem I’ll call the problem of financial fiasco. I like the way verse 10 begins: “I also discovered.” That tells me that he was looking. A leader keeps his eyes open! Nehemiah discovered something that was wrong:

Joy Heard from Afar

Many sacrifices were offered on that joyous day, for God had given the people cause for great joy. The women and children also participated in the celebration, and the joy of the people of Jerusalem could be heard far away. (Nehemiah 12:43)

Nehemiah ordered everyone on the wall and up they came by the dozens. Ezra led the first choir, while Nehemiah directed the second choir; so we have Ezra on one side of the city’s wall and Nehemiah on the other side.

Holiness Precedes Happiness

A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit saps a person’s strength. (Proverbs 17:22)

If happiness were a disease, none other would be more contagious. If you laugh often, if you’re making life fun, if you’re never very far from a smile, you’ll have no trouble encouraging people and making friends. People who really enjoy life are always, always in demand.