When someone places their trust in Jesus Christ as their Saviour, something important happens. According to Scripture, the Holy Spirit comes to live within that person. While God the Father and Jesus the Son remain in heaven, the Holy Spirit works here on earth, living in every believer.
The Holy Spirit has many roles, but one key purpose is to bring comfort. This means that those who follow Christ are never truly alone. They do not need to search outside themselves for peace or strength in hard times, because God’s Spirit already lives within them.
Unlike the rest of the world, believers have access to comfort that doesn’t depend on outside circumstances. The presence of the Holy Spirit offers a steady and lasting sense of peace that comes from God.
I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, so that He may be with you forever;
In First Corinthians 13, often called the love chapter, Paul names three lasting virtues: faith, hope, and love. He ends by saying that love is the greatest of them all. This raises the question: Why does Scripture place love above the others?
Faith and hope are vital for life today. Faith helps us trust in what we cannot see, and hope looks forward to what God has promised. But one day, both will no longer be needed. In eternity, we will see God clearly, leaving no room for doubt or questions. The things we once hoped for will be fully present. Faith and hope will have served their purpose and come to an end.
Love, however, never ends. It is eternal. Love is not only lasting; it is also the most godlike quality. Could this be why Paul points us toward love as the highest virtue?
In addition to all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity.
In John 12:25, Jesus gives a striking statement: those who love their life will lose it, but those who hate their life in this world will keep it for eternity. This does not mean despising life in a bitter way. Instead, it describes giving up self as the highest priority.
To “hate” your life in this sense is to surrender it fully to Christ, treating it as something you no longer own. It is a choice to set aside selfish ambitions and live for God’s purposes and will. This surrender begins with confessing Jesus as Lord, worshipping him, and submitting to his direction.
When a person does this, they gain the eternal life that God promises. In giving up control to Christ, we receive a life that far surpasses anything we could achieve on our own.
For whoever wants to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.
Some people today are comfortable with what they already know about God, their faith, or the Bible. But true spiritual growth doesn’t come from staying still. It comes from a heart that longs to keep learning and growing.
For every person who follows Christ, there is a strong inner pull. We have a deep desire that doesn’t go away. We want to understand God more. While we can feel joy and peace in our relationship with Him, we are also meant to want more of Him. This doesn’t mean we are unhappy with God; rather, it means we are drawn to a closer, fuller connection with Him.
It is possible to feel both content with God’s presence and yet eager to go deeper. We are called not to settle, but to keep seeking and discovering who He is.
that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death;
Southern Gospel artist Steve Ladd is wrapping up another eventful month filled with ministry opportunities, studio work, and precious family moments as he approaches the two-year mark of his return to solo artistry.
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Ladd spent early October in South Carolina, where he provided music for a four-night community revival series. The unique event featured services at a different church each evening, and Ladd expressed gratitude for both the spiritual atmosphere and the warm hospitality he received. “We were so blessed by not only the services, but also the hospitality of such a sweet bunch of people,” Ladd shared in his recent newsletter update.
The artist made a trip to Nashville this month for a special recording session with his son, Haven Ladd. The collaboration resulted in a new Christmas single titled “No Other Child,” set to release on all streaming platforms November 28th.
Haven, who graduated from Belmont University this past summer with a degree in music production, served as producer for the track. “He truly outdid himself on this one,” the proud father noted. Haven teamed up with Steve’s wife, Maegan, to provide background vocals for the recording.
Between travel and recording commitments, Ladd has been savoring time with his grandchildren. Recent highlights include watching grandson Odin start eating baby food and granddaughter Ari losing her two front teeth just in time for the holiday season. The family enjoyed Halloween festivities together, with Ladd sharing that the grandchildren “bring more joy than they will ever know.”
Ladd closed out the month with a trip to West Virginia, where he visited his brother Johnny. Even the family dog, Toby, was excited about the reunion, though Ladd jokes that the frequent travel may be starting to wear on his canine companion.
As he approaches U.S. Thanksgiving and marks two years since returning to solo ministry, Ladd expressed amazement at how his career has been blessed. “God has been so good to us,” he reflected, noting that supporters who pray for his family remain at the top of his gratitude list. Steve acknowledged his struggle with timely newsletter updates and jokingly suggested making more consistent communication a New Year’s resolution.
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