If you love Me, you will keep My commandments — JOHN 14:15 — Astrit A. | Albania This verse is short but contains a massive truth. Jesus presents it as a condition. If the first part of the sentence is true, then the second part will also be true. If we love Him, we will keep … Read More
Albania
Faith, Works, and Dead Bodies
For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead. — JAMES 2:26 — Astrit A. | Albania Have you ever seen a dead body? Because the soul has departed, the body is lifeless, unable to rise or do the things that it used to do. Without the soul, … Read More
I Will Uphold You
Do not fear, for I am with you; do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand. — Isaiah 41:10 — Astrit A. | Albania In this verse, God encourages Israel not to be afraid … Read More
God’s Perfect Word
God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, in these last days has spoken to us in His Son. — Hebrews 1:1-2 — Astrit A. | Albania Many understand that God spoke in the past but have questions about whether He continues to speak … Read More
A New Dawn in Albania
So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God’s household… Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together into … Read More
The Christian Verdict: Not Guilty
Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. — Romans 8:1 — Genci C. | Albania This royal pronouncement, like a trumpet blast from heaven, seizes the attention. No condemnation! This means that there is absolutely no punishment or remaining debt for us to pay. Our sins have been … Read More
Don’t Wait for a Bolt from Heaven
Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery which has been kept secret for long ages past, but now is manifested, and by the Scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the eternal God, has been … Read More
The Danger of Abandoning God
For this reason God gave them over to degrading passions; for their women exchanged the natural function for that which is unnatural, and in the same way also the men abandoned the natural function of the woman and burned in their desire toward one another, men with men committing indecent acts and receiving in their … Read More
A Perfect Exercise of Power
Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered the whole Roman cohort around Him… After they had mocked Him, they took the scarlet robe off Him and put His own garments back on Him, and led Him away to crucify Him. — Matthew 27:27, 31 — Genis M. | Albania … Read More
The Commission of a Compassionate King
Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Therefore beseech the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest.” — Matthew 9:37–38 — Genis M. | Albania Here we have a window into the heart of God’s appointed King, the Good Shepherd Jesus Christ. … Read More
Albania
Albania The gospel first came to Albania (New Testament Illyricum) through Paul’s missionary efforts (Rom. 15:19). After decades of Catholic and then Islamic domination, in the 1940’s, communist dictator Enver Hoxha declared the nation atheistic, brutally wiping out all religion. When the regime collapsed in 1991, religious freedom returned and Islam took back its … Read More
Hearts Corrupted and Hearts Cleansed
For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, slanders. — Matthew 15:19 — Genis M. | Albania These words from the lips of Jesus are wise and penetrating. He exposes false teaching while supplying the exact truth necessary for the moment. The religious leaders taught that a person … Read More
Priceless Treasures from God
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. — Galatians 1:3 — Genci C. | Albania Grace and peace, the two key words of the apostle Paul’s greeting, are found together in most of Paul’s letters. They function as important reminders of the essentials of Christianity. Sadly, sometimes we … Read More
United by Love, Ruled by Peace
Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful. — Colossians 3:14–15 — Astrit A. | Albania Love is a characteristic that needs to be continually present in … Read More
God’s Love for the World
For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. — John 3:16 — Astrit A. | Albania This is perhaps the most universally well-known Bible verse, and for good reason! God’s love for the world is truly a thing to … Read More
A Word of Warning
He will say, “I tell you, I do not know where you are from; depart from Me, all you evildoers.”. — Luke 13:27 — Astrit A. | Albania Throughout history, during the time of the Old Testament and also now in the church age, the people of God have been accompanied by others who think such … Read More
Near to the Brokenhearted
The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. — Psalm 34:18 — Astrit A. | Albania God never rejects a person who is humble before Him. Those who are brokenhearted should be greatly encouraged that God is near to them. Those who are crushed in spirit should expect … Read More
Passing the Torch: Albanian Student Becomes School Dean
Historians have described Albania prior to the end of the Cold War as the most closed off, most hostile to religion of any of the European Communist countries. Dictator Enver Hoxha succeeded in getting article 37 put in the Albanian constitution. It read in part, “The State recognizes no religion, and supports atheistic propaganda in … Read More
