Martin Valleskey

12I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me trustworthy, appointing me to his service. 13Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief. 14The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.1 Timothy 1:13-14 I don’t really follow horse racing, but I recently saw the replay of this year’s Kentucky Derby...

May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. (2 Corinthians 13:14) We might be tempted to think that understanding God should be simple. Then we open the Bible and God is far beyond an easy human explanation. God is one. “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one” (Deuteronomy 6:4). And then God reveals himself as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. One God. Three persons. We call this the Trinity. “How can...

Therefore I want you to know that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus be cursed,” and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit. (1 Corinthians 12:3) When has your faith been tested? For early Christians, that question could mean life or death. There was a real test. In the days of the Roman Empire’s persecution of Christians, believers were commanded to worship false gods and curse Christ. Refusal could mean imprisonment or worse. Yet many...