When you think of “sinners” who might be excluded from God’s kingdom, does anyone come to mind? If so, you may be entering dangerous territory. The Pharisees were certain of their own seat at God’s table, convinced that the tax collectors and prostitutes had no such place. But Jesus came precisely for the people the religious crowd wrote off. He welcomes the broken, the fallen, the forgotten with open arms the moment they repent and turn to Him. God’s grace reaches farther than our judgments, and we may be surprised by those who are on heaven’s guest list!

When Victory is Followed by Defeat
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Throughout history, many victories on the battlefield have been immediately followed by crushing defeat. This is a syndrome called Victory Disease. It is brought on when the euphoria of winning dulls the senses and creates a feeling of invincibility. The same thing happens in the Christian life. We’re standing one day and crawling the next. We must never let down our guard, especially in moments of triumph.


