Insights by Jonathan Merigala

Paul finds two things: (1) that in an unwatchful moment he still falls in an area over which he already has light (conscious sin); and (2) that sometimes he has fallen short of the Christian standard and realized it only after he has fallen (unconscious sin). The one who is not interested in total perfection […]

Romans 7:14-25 is an important passage for those seeking to press on to perfection. Paul is speaking there about his experience as a born-again Christian, for an unconverted man does not say, “I joyfully concur with the Law of God in the inner man” (Romans 7:22). Paul’s letter to the Romans is written in a […]

You must be alert about temptations wherever you go. Provocative television-images and pictures and articles in books and magazines can be a great snare. Remember that whatever you once choose to place in your mind will remain there forever. You can be forgiven if you repent but there will always be repercussions. You can never […]

Jesus told Peter that Satan had requested permission to sift him. This was similar to the way Satan asked God for permission to sift Job in the Old Testament. Satan cannot do anything to us (even tempt us), without God’s permission. But when Peter was going to be sifted, Jesus assured him that He would […]

Without faith, it is impossible to please God, no matter what else you may have. Adam’s and Eve’s failure in the garden was a failure of faith. If they had only trusted in the perfect love and wisdom of God, when they were tempted by the attractiveness of the fruit, even if they could not […]

Paul said he gained Christ only after he had given us everything in this world and counted it all as “rubbish” (Philippians 3:8). Jesus said that in order to buy the pearl of great price, the merchant had to sell all he had (Matthew 13:46). How then have many “Christians” today managed to gain Christ […]

Be wise in your conversations with other people- especially with Christian Pharisees. Steer clear of all useless conversation. Some people may be eager to know private details you and your family. Don’t satisfy their curiosity. Just tell them, “I would rather not talk about those things”. Jesus told us to be “harmless as doves as […]

When moving with your friends or colleagues, you must have the courage to break away from them if you discover they have a shaky moral conscience. Even if that means having to be alone in your room, break away from your friends at the right time. Ask God for the courage to say “no” to […]

The flesh is basically lazy, pleasure-loving, and comfort-loving. Do not be deceived by it. You must refuse the impressions that come to you through your senses when seeking to find God’s will. There is as much of a difference between your way of thinking and God’s thoughts as there is between heaven and earth. God’s […]

Humility and the fear of God always go together. The mark of a genuinely humble person is that he fears God as well. And the proof that we genuinely fear God is that we will have low thoughts about ourselves. Jesus was filled with the Spirit of the fear of God, and this made Him […]