God's sovereignty prevails amid human folly: He acts as He pleases, directs kings' hearts, shows mercy on His terms. Even poor choices can advance His plan.

Our spiritual development is like the creation of a pearl. Just as the oyster coats an irritant with a mother of pearl, we begin as an irritant in God's creation.

Laodiceanism is the attitude that dominates the end time. It is a subtle form of worldliness that has infected the church, and Christ warns against it strongly.

Godly righteousness demands humility, a readiness to admit shortcomings, a yieldedness to correction, and a willingness to be refashioned.

The myriad opinions of the crowd concerning Jesus were all conditioned from their perspectives and traditions, but hardly ever from God's perspective.