“Forever, O Lord, thy word is settled in heaven.”  The previous quotation is couched in Psalms 119:89 and was written by the sweet singer of Israel, King David, by inspiration of the Holy Spirit.  Psalm 119 is a Psalm of David, which no doubt was written during his darkest hour.  King Saul was consumed with jealousy, making every effort to find the young man to destroy him, for the people’s love of David was greater than their love for King Saul. Psalm 119 is permeated with warnings and exhortations for us to consider soberly when facing adversity.  David was facing his darkest hour and the one place where he could find peace and solace was in the law of God.  David said “teach me good judgment and knowledge: for I have believed thy commandments” (Psalms 119:66).  Facing trials and difficulties in this life demands that we consult God and His revealed Word.  David also said, “thy law of thy mouth is better unto me than thousands of gold and silver” (Psalms 119:72). This young man was wise beyond his years, attaching great value to the law of God and showing that it superseded “gold and silver”.  People often exhibit a marked lack of value for the Word of God, and far too many in our modern age fail to take advantage of this great artesian well of truth.  David frightfully said, “the wicked have waited for me to destroy me, but I will consider thy testimonies” (Psalm 119:95). This young man, facing his enemies and fearful of his

Many symbols will represent a movement that crystallizes the guiding principle of such a sacrifice under consideration. The Statue of Liberty represents the freedom that our ancestors and immigrants sought so desperately as they passed through Staten Island in New York. The Lincoln and Washington monuments serve to represent two great presidents, which illustrate the freedom and independence we presently enjoy. We can see God’s love for humanity epitomized through the cross of Christ. Sin, hate and humiliation were symbolic of the cross during biblical times. It was never looked upon in a positive way as so frequently practiced today. We often see crosses atop places of worship and even worn around one’s neck, thus placing it in a hopeful or favorable way. Paul, the apostle chose not to boast in the cross, but to exalt it, which was a symbol of suffering and shame during the Roman Empire. Paul writes, “But far be it for me to glory (boast), save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ…” (Galatians 6:14). What does the cross mean to us today? It played a great role during the New Testament age and equally so today. 1. The cross reminds us of the horror of sin. The letter “I” in the word sin is the real problem. The Bible states, “All have sinned and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). Paul further writes, “There is none righteous, no not one” (Romans 3: 10). Sin is the only thing that can separate

His name was Bobby who came from a Christian home in Southern Mississippi. He was nineteen years old, married to a beautiful young Christian woman and had a year old son. Bobby’s mother was a faithful Christian and taught Bobby along with his siblings the tenets of Christianity and the basic principles of right and wrong. This young adult, with all the advantages that one might have, died in a jail cell hanging himself to death. Bobby was obsessed with a drug addiction that he could not conquer. The writer visited him one evening before his incarceration and attempted to show how fortunate he was to have a wife and son that loved him along with his parents and siblings that cared desperately for his well being. Bobby replied, “The drugs are so powerful that I cannot give them up.” Trying to talk to someone that has his body poisoned with an illegal substance is a pointless exercise. What a heartbreaking circumstance when we cannot persuade such pitiable young man to see that he is self-destructing. One of the saddest events in this preacher’s ministry of thirty years was to preach the funeral sermon on behalf of the family, friends and scores of brethren to Bobby. There has never been a more emotion charged atmosphere than the one just described. We are not the judge and cannot change the state of anyone that has crossed the chilly waters of Jordan to the other side. It should be stated that our

We have all heard the expression “The Blame Game” in a variety of ways and in a number of different settings. Today men and women will go to any extreme to be free from the obligations enjoined upon them by God’s Word. Paul addressed the Galatians, “Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ” (Galatians 6:2). It is stated in an unqualified fashion that we must support and/or be in position to give assistance to a brother or sister that stands in need, either physically or spiritually. Jesus in a poignant way stated, “for I was hungry, and ye did not give me to eat; I was thirsty and ye gave me no drink; I was a stranger, and ye took me not in, naked, and ye clothed me not; sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not” (Matthew 25:42-43). What a tragic commentary on the individual that was negligent in his duty to which Jesus would state, “Verily I say unto you, inasmuch as you did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not unto me” (Matthew 25:44). Blaming others in an effort to justify our omission to bear one another’s burden is the height of hypocrisy. Let us observe ways in which we play “The Blame Game.” 1. THE BLAME GAME IS PLAYED WHEN HUMAN TRAGEDY, ILLNESS OR DEATH OCCURS. Countless times when faced with human suffering, illness or death, we hear scores of individuals cry-out, “It is God’s

“Forever, O Lord, thy word is settled in heaven.” The previous quotation is couched in Psalms 119:89 and was written by the sweet singer of Israel, King David, by inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Psalm 119 is a Psalm of David, which no doubt was written during his darkest hour. King Saul was consumed with jealousy, making every effort to find the young man to destroy him for the people’s love of David was greater than their love for King Saul. Psalm 119 is permeated with warnings and exhortations for us to soberly consider when facing adversity. David was facing his darkest hour and the one place where he could find peace and solace was in the law of God. David said “teach me good judgment and knowledge: for I have believed thy commandments” (Psalm 119:66). Facing trials and difficulties in this life demands that we consult God and his revealed Word. David also said “thy law of thy mouth is better unto me than thousands of gold and silver” (Psalm 119:72). This young man wise beyond his years attached great value to the law of God showing that it superseded “gold and silver.” There is a marked lack of value attached to the Word of God, and far too many in our modern age fail to take advantage of this great artesian well of truth. David frightfully said, “the wicked have waited for me to destroy me, but I will consider thy testimonies” (Psalm 119:95). This young man facing his enemies and fearful of his own mortality was confident in the testimonies of God. We too, when facing trials and tribulations of any magnitude, will find God’s Word to be helpful and soothing to