Short Christian Reflections | Why Does God Let Us Experience Trials and Refinement? (Part 1)

May 25, 2019

By Li Tong

Many Christians feel confused: God is love and He is almighty, so why does He allow us to suffer? Could it be that He has abandoned us? This question always used to puzzle me, but lately, through prayer and seeking, I’ve gained a bit of enlightenment and light. This has resolved my misunderstandings of God, and I’ve come to understand that suffering is not God casting us aside, but instead is very carefully arranged by God in order to purify and save us. These trials and refinement are God’s greatest grace for us!

Christian Testimonies—Confidence in God Helped Me Stand Testimony When My Family Opposed My Belief

Christian Testimonies—Confidence in God Helped Me Stand Testimony When My Family Opposed My Belief

January 23, 2019

By Xiufen, Singapore

The editor’s word: On the path of believing in God, we often encounter different kinds of situations and barriers. Sometimes due to small faith, we’ll be timid and hang back, and don’t know how to cope with the difficulties ahead. When the author of this article faced her family opposing her belief in God, it was God’s word that guided her to see through Satan’s schemes and follow God unswervingly. The following article will tell you her true experience.

With the Grace of God I Found a True Home

With the Grace of God I Found a True Home

Mar 4, 2019

By Xiaolin, United States

I Hate Dad—He Ruined Our Family

Crash … Bang …

“Dammit, say that one more time and I’ll make you sorry! …”

The clamor of fighting broke through the peaceful silence of the night, startling my sister and I awake. We realized our parents were fighting again. Since our mom found out that our dad was seeing another woman, she smiled less, and at any mention of him her eyes filled with discontent and sorrow. From then on they never stopped fighting—I couldn’t even remember how many times they had argued. When my sister and I ran into their room crying, we just saw dad reaching out to hit mom. Crying, I dragged at dad’s arm as hard as I could, but he was too strong and I couldn’t hold him back. That night, he broke two of her ribs. She couldn’t withstand such a life of suffering any longer, so after she healed she left home and got a job in another area.

What Is True Repentance?

What Is True Repentance?

Feb 25, 2019

By Liu Shuo

At a meeting of co-workers, Wang Wei, Ma Tao and Hu Zhi sat engaged in Bible study.

Wang Wei smiled and spoke to the group, saying, “Co-workers, let’s begin by reading a couple of verses of scripture. The Lord Jesus says, ‘Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand’ (Matthew 4:17). ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent you, and believe the gospel’ (Mark 1:15). We can see from the Lord’s words that, if we want to enter God’s kingdom, then we must confess our sins to God and repent. We’ve believed in the Lord for years, however, and although we often confess our sins to Him, we are still capable of committing sin and we live within a vicious cycle of confessing and sinning. It seems as though we still don’t understand what true repentance is, and so we are not yet free of sin. Therefore, being clear on what true repentance is is extremely important to our ability to enter into the heavenly kingdom. Today, let’s delve into this issue together.”

I Now Know What the Meaning of Life Is

I Now Know What the Meaning of Life Is

Feb 14, 2019

By Jinqu, South Korea

“God chose me from a vast ocean of people, miraculously arranging that I come to His side. His kind words warmed my heart, His earnest calls woke me up from my dream. That familiar voice, that beautiful countenance have not changed from the very beginning. In God’s family I taste the sweetness of His love. I lean close to Him and do not want to part again. Without God, the days were hard to bear. I staggered along with each step full of pain. Only with God’s hidden protection did I reach today. And now with God’s words by me I am satisfied” (“Attachment to God” in Follow the Lamb and Sing New Songs). Whenever I hear this beautiful and melodic hymn, I am filled with gratitude to God. It was God who saved me from the abyss of money and caused me to no longer work so desperately hard, and I said farewell to the days of selling my life for money …

By Grasping These Four Points, Our Relationship With God Will Become Ever Closer

By Grasping These Four Points, Our Relationship With God Will Become Ever Closer

Feb 3, 2019

By Xiaomo, China

The Bible says, “Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you” (James 4:8). As Christians, only by drawing closer to God and having real interaction with God can we maintain a normal relationship with God and obtain the work of the Holy Spirit. It is just like two people associating with each other, who can only keep their close relationship going for a long time by being more open with each other, communicating more when they encounter issues, and by understanding and respecting each other.

What Warning Does the Lord Jesus Not Keeping the Sabbath Day Hold for Us?

What Warning Does the Lord Jesus Not Keeping the Sabbath 

Day Hold for Us?

Feb 1, 2019

By Li Qing, China

Early one morning, as I was practicing my spiritual devotions, I saw this written in the Bible: “At that time Jesus went on the sabbath day through the corn; and his disciples were an hungered, and began to pluck the ears of corn and to eat. But when the Pharisees saw it, they said to him, Behold, your disciples do that which is not lawful to do on the sabbath day.

What Is God’s Will Behind the Parable of the Master and Servant?

What Is God’s Will Behind the Parable of the Master and Servant?

Jan 18, 2019

By Wang Yan, China

Ever since we were baptized and returned to the Lord, we have often heard our pastors and elders say, “The apostle Paul said, ‘I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: From now on there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but to all them also that love his appearing’ (2 Timothy 4:7–8). As long as we forsake everything, work, suffer and expend for the Lord, and endure to the end, when the Lord returns, we will gain the crown of glory and be lifted up into the kingdom of heaven.”

Why Do Christians Still Sin After Being Saved?

Do You Know the True Significance of the Lord Jesus’ Redemption?

Jan 20, 2019

By Xiaomo, China

The mention of “Jesus’ Redemption” always fills us with gratitude to the Lord. Two thousand years ago, to redeem us from the hands of Satan, the Lord Jesus was crucified and sacrificed for the sins of humanity, thereby forgiving all our sins. When we sin, as long as we repent and confess our sins to the Lord, our sins are forgiven, and we enjoy peace and joy. But recently, some brothers and sisters have been confused: Although our sins are forgiven by the Lord, we have never been able to escape the bondage of sin, we often lie and deceive, we are stuck in the cycle of sinning and confessing, and we cannot keep the Lord’s teachings. The Bible clearly tells us, “For if we sin willfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remains no more sacrifice for sins” (Hebrews 10:26). We know clearly that we can sin involuntarily despite knowing our actions go against God’s will, and that if we merely repent without changing, the sacrifice for our sins is useless. Like this, can we truly be directly raptured into the kingdom of heaven when the Lord comes? But there are also some brothers and sisters who believe that although we often sin, the Lord has forgiven our sins and does not see us as sinners, and when the Lord returns, we will be raptured into the kingdom of heaven! So, will we be raptured into the kingdom of heaven? Let’s explore the issue together.

How Can One Find Happiness? A Retired Physician’s Experience Tells You

How Can One Find Happiness? A Retired Physician’s Experience Tells You

Jan 10, 2019

By Tian Tian, China

Editors’ Note: What is true happiness? Many people might think, “Success and making a name for yourself, and being looked up to and admired by others is happiness.” Here, a relatively well-known physician realizes in her waning years that despite having high status and being looked up to by many people, she wasn’t happy. Having gained these things held no significance at all for her. Why did this famous doctor reach this conclusion? And what new understanding of real happiness did she gain? Read on to find out her experience …

How God’s Words Helped Her Overcome the Temptation of Losing Her Wealth

How God’s Words Helped Her Overcome the Temptation of Losing Her Wealth

Dec 26, 2018

Qin Miao

“The factory’s out of business, it’s been closed.”

Hearing that urgency in her younger brother’s voice over the phone, Lianying felt for a moment like something had exploded in her head and then her heart leapt into her throat. How could that be possible? She hoped she had heard wrong. Half-aware, she asked: “The factory … closed? What on earth happened?”

What Salvation Is and How It’s Gained From God

What Salvation Is and How It’s Gained From God

Jan 1, 2019

By Jun ying

What is salvation? How can we gain salvation from God? This is an important question for every one of us and it is something we all long for; it is directly related to whether or not we can enter the kingdom of heaven. This piece we have for you today gives us an answer. Let’s come to an understanding together of what God’s salvation really is!

Today’s Devotion: Do You Worship God in Spirit and in Truth?

Today’s Devotion: Do You Worship God in Spirit and in Truth?

Jan 3, 2019

By Xian xin

The Lord Jesus said, “When the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeks such to worship him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth” (John 4:23–24). The Lord requires that we worship God in spirit and in truth, for only in that way can we win His praise. But what exactly does worshiping God in spirit and in truth entail? Some brothers and sisters believe that insistently praying and reading the Bible every day is worshiping God, and some believe that attending meetings on time and going to church every week is worshiping God, and there are some who believe that toiling and working for the Lord, and giving things up and expending themselves for the Lord is worshiping God, and so on. There are many ways to practice worshiping God, but are we worshiping Him in spirit and in truth? Does God praise our practices? Let’s fellowship this together now.

Song About Jesus | "Emulate the Lord Jesus" | Jesus Christ Is My Beloved

Song About Jesus | "Emulate the Lord Jesus" | Jesus Christ Is My Beloved

I

Jesus completed God’s mission,

the redemption work of all man

by giving His cares to God’s will,

without selfish purpose or plans.

What Does It Mean to Have Humanity?

Brothers and sisters, peace be with you! The majority of us understand “normal humanity” as, if nothing else but, living harmoniously with others, having a loving heart, tolerance and acceptance for others or being kind and charitable.

The Word of God | "You Ought to Live for the Truth Since You Believe in God"

The Word of God | "You Ought to Live for the Truth Since You Believe in God"

Introduction

Almighty God says, "believing in God is not so simple as man may say. As God sees it, if you only have knowledge but do not have His word as life; if you are limited only to your own knowledge but cannot practice the truth or live out the word of God, then this is proof still that you have no heart of love for God, and shows that your heart belongs not to God.

God’s Work and Man’s Work

God’s Work and Man’s Work

How much of the work of man is the work of the Holy Spirit and how much is man’s experience? Even now, it can be said that people still do not understand these questions, which is all because people do not understand the working principles of the Holy Spirit.

Worshiping God | Gospel Music Video "Come Before God Often"

Introduction

Worshiping God | Gospel Music Video "Come Before God Often"

Come Before God Often

Take the chance when you have time, sit in silence before God.

Read His word, know His truths, right the transgressions in you.

Trials come, take them on; know God’s will and you’ll have strength.

Tell Him what things you lack, share His truth always.

The Loss and Gain of Gatherings

August 8, 201757

Guozi, USA

My name is Guozi, and I’m a high school student studying abroad in the USA. I was born in a Christian family, and my mother accepted the work of Almighty God in the last days when I was one year old. I remember when I was very young that my mother would always say to me: “God created heavens, earth, and everything that exists.

Christian Life | How to Appropriately Deal With Other People?

Christian Life | How to Appropriately Deal With Other People?

September 25, 20188

Siyuan

One day, Brother Chen in the church came to me. He said he wanted to practice spreading the gospel in his spare time and offer some of his strength to the gospel work. Due to my past interactions with Brother Chen, I knew that he had a very arrogant disposition. I had some prejudices and biases against him.