Before Hitting Send
Tweets, texts, emails, etc. – the amazing thing about social media is that it is so social. At some point, we’ve all probably sent emails and texts to people we never intended. In those messages, there may have been something they considered inappropriate or hurtful. There are others who seem to delight in using social media as an opportunity to blast, bash and tear down others. The blessing of being able to communicate with so many through social media can…
Living Out the Great Commandment
“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength. The second is this, You shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these” (Mark 12:30-31). Outside of the Lord Himself, perhaps no one exhibited the balance involved in the great commandment more than the apostle Paul. Truly loving God with our all and loving neighbor as self are so…
What Could Happen If . . .?
I guess we’ve all had “close calls” in life. Certainly, David did, and Psalm 124 is a thoughtful meditation full of praise to God for seeing him through them. Psalm 124 could well be called, “A Power Psalm” or “Omnipotence as Our Guardian” because it beautifully focuses on the truth of Romans 8:31, “If God be for us, who can be against us?” There are very troubling occasions in life when we may share the view of Jacob in Genesis…
What is an Angel?
The Word “angel” tells us something about what angels do (in the sense that they are “messengers”) but does not really tell us what they are. An observation of Scripture concerning the question, “What is an angel” gives the following responses. (1) Angels are spirit beings (Heb. 1:7, 14). See Colossians 1:16. The flesh and spirit contrast often is set forth in the Bible. God is referred to as “Spirit” in John 4:20-24. The Bible often uses the word “spirit”…
7 Ways To Enrich Your Word Power
How’s your intake? Most believers are aware that Scripture admonishes us to, “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly with all wisdom” (Colossians 3:16). We know Jesus said, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4). We must appreciate there’s a variety of rich ways to take in God’s word. When it comes to Bible intake – to internalizing God’s word and making it a part…
Long-Suffering Love
If you want to know something about love from God’s perspective, read the entirety of Scripture and it flows from every page. In 1 Corinthians 13, Paul gives 15 present-tense verbs that describe for us who love is and is not to behave itself. The foundation of the word ‘agape’ as used throughout this chapter is sacrifice. It is doing what is right and best for others before myself. How important is this? John says, “He who does not love…
Through The Years – Thoughts on Marriage
As I write these words, it’s our wedding anniversary. A few years ago (actually, it’s a little more than a few), our gracious God blessed me with the greatest treasure He’s given me outside of Jesus and the salvation to be found in Him. He blessed me with my wife and best friend. I cannot begin to count the innumerable ways her godliness, grace, and thoughtfulness have blessed my life. Through the years, one of the things I’ve learned is…
The Parable of the Frustrated Parents
Once upon a time, there was a Dad and a Mom who had two children, ages 2 and 5. Those children were loved – but they were a handful! They got up early and stayed up late. They loved to jump on their beds and on the couch. They fussed a lot when they didn’t get their way. And they couldn’t remember to obey what they were told from one moment to the next. At night you could find Dad…
Joy Beyond Measure
We must never lose sight of the joy that is to be ours as the people of God. While Satan and his forces will do everything in their power to rob us of the joy of being in Christ, God’s word gives us a number of remarkable assurances that should ever lift us up when we are down and out. Christians have— THE JOY OF SALVATION. As we trust and obey God, we do not have to lose the joy…
Things Associated With the Gospel
Too many people simply have not thought long and hard about the Gospel. As a result, people are confused – and the gospel often is assumed or reduced. Thankfully, a study of things associated with the gospel will do much to remove the confusion, faulty assumptions and misguided reductions which too often occur. Let’s highlight 20 truths/blessings associated with the gospel. Admittedly, it’s a lot to try to take in, and that precisely the point! The Kingdom of God. See…
It’s No Good Unless You Use It
Have you ever heard an expression that made you stop and think? An advertisement on the radio caused me to stop and think about things the other day. I don’t remember the name of the company, but it was likely was in the field of security. The advertisement spoke of keeping people out a home they did not belong in it. The man ended by saying that even the best door lock a person can buy is no good unless…
Suffering for His Sake
“For to you it has been granted on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for his sake.” Philippians 1:29 The work “granted” in this passage means to give graciously as an act of kindness. Suffering may be seen as a gift of God’s super-abounding grace? (Cf. 1 Pet 5:10; 2 Cor. 12:7-10.) No one goes around looking to suffer, but suffering on behalf of Jesus and His gospel is different (1 Pet. 4:15).…