Peter wrote to Christians scattered abroad urging them to live godly lives despite the persecution they were enduring. They were to be aided in this through the work of men selected to serve in the various churches as shepherds watching out for the flock. He said: The elders who are among you I exhort, I who am a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that will be revealed: Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly; nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock; and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away. (1 Peter 5:1-4) The writer to the Hebrews seemed to be speaking in regard to the same group of men when he instructed, “Remember those who rule over you who have spoken the word of God to you, whose faith follow, considering the outcome of their conduct” (13:7). A few verses later, he also stated, “Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you” (13:17). The combination of these verses makes it clear that shepherds lead (the real meaning of the word “rule”) by example.

The question that serves as a title for this article is, admittedly, an unusual one. I cannot remember anyone ever asking me. It is, however, a good question. The answer might help each of us stay on track to read our Bibles through in a year. My Bible has 1,096 pages, with 843 in the Old Testament, 248 in the New Testament, 3 blank pages and 2 title pages. Reading it from “civer to civer,” as the old woman said, requires me to read three pages per day, not counting the blank and cover pages. It is really simple to complete the task. I can usually read three pages while I eat a leisurely breakfast. I use the Bible app on my phone to keep track of my progress. Reading the Bible from the app on my phone also means that I almost always have my Bible with me. Waiting in lines or at doctors’ offices is much less frustrating when I can delve a little further into the Word of God. My annual trek through God’s Word has caused me to have a deeper appreciation of some passages. It has helped me to see the correlation between Old Testament shadows and New Testament substance. God’s patience and His unfolding plan are clearer because of my growing knowledge of the entirety of truth. How many pages are in your Bible? Will you join me in reading it all the way through in each year? I guarantee it will help make

Most people have wished for a “do-over,” but once the mistake is made, we have to learn to live with it. Those reaching the point of knowing the difference between right and wrong will choose to do wrong at times (Romans 3:10, 23). The good news is that Jesus made it possible for us to be delivered from eternal death (Romans 7:24-25). Anyone can be a new creature in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17). His blood was shed for man’s redemption (Ephesians 1:7). He shed it in His death on the cross (John 19:31-35). Paul explained how one can reach Christ’s death and the cleansing blood found there. “Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life” (Romans 6:3-4). Those baptized into Christ have been cleansed from their past sins (Acts 2:38), but they still need to be on guard against temptation (James 1:13-15). Denying that we have any problem with sin is really not an option. John said, “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us” (1 John 1:8). Thankfully, the Father has provided the solution. “My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if

L.L. Brigance was a Gospel preacher and educator. He helped prepare outlines for N.B. Hardeman. They are found in the “Tabernacle Sermons” that were presented in the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, Tennessee from March 28 through April 16, 1922. I have found his outlines to be very helpful in understanding important subjects like one he titled, “The Facts of Life.” Life is made up of time. Benjamin Franklin said, “Dost thou love life? Then do not squander time, for that is the stuff life is made of.” James put it a little differently, but his point was the same. He wrote, “Whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away” (4:14). Paul also urged Christians to use time wisely (Ephesians 5:15-17). Life needs a purpose. Brigance cited a poem from an unknown author, which said, “Half the wrecks upon life’s ocean If some star had been their guide Would have safely reached the harbor But they drifted with the tide.” Paul compared life to the Olympic Games in his first letter to Corinth. He stressed that Christ’s followers are not just practicing like someone shadow boxing. Daily devotion to pursuit of the prize demands daily sacrifice and self-control (9:25-27). Life goes beyond the grave. Henry Wadsworth Longfellow penned the following words. “Life is real! Life is earnest! And the grave is not its goal; Dust thou art, to dust returnees,

Brotherly love is proof of one’s discipleship (Romans 12:10; Ephesians 4:32; Hebrews 13:1; John 13:35). Christians should be examples to one another in the area of showing respect and honor. A Christian should not long for personal honor, but should give honor to his brethren. Christians should not be lazy, but give their best by serving the Lord in all they do (Colossians 3:22-24, 17). The hope of heaven, enhanced by constant prayer, should give joy even in hard times (1 Peter 1:8; Philippians 4:4). Every Christian should use his blessings to help brethren and others in need (Matthew 25:41, 45; Galatians 6:10; James 1:27). Each should be ready to take in strangers, providing for their needs (Romans 12:11-13; Matthew 25:40; Hebrews 13:2). Christ’s followers will suffer persecution, yet they must return good for evil (2 Timothy 3:12; Matthew 5:44-45; Luke 23:34). Shepherd says, “It is the duty of the Christians so to teach and so to live as to commend himself to every man’s conscience in the sight of God (II Corinthians 4:2), and thus compel the inward respect of even the wicked for his sincerity and consistency.” Members of the body should rejoice in one another’s triumphs and suffer in one another’s pain, achieved by being of one mind. Believers should not be carried away with seeking high social position, but they should associate with the humble, not being proud of their own wisdom (Romans 12:14-16; Matthew 8:20). Disciples of Jesus should not allow evil actions of others

“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 6:10-12). Paul wrapped up his letter to Ephesus by reminding the brethren that they were fighting a battle. It is significant that the word translated “be strong” is in the passive voice, which indicates that Christ’s followers do not strengthen themselves but receive strength from the Lord. Winning the battle will require each Christian soldier to put on the Lord’s armor since our enemy is the devil. The word for “devil” is diabolos, the chief of the demons who is a slanderous accuser. He is the leader of the enemy forces and seeks out any area of weakness to exploit (1 Peter 5:8). That is why we need God’s armor, not some of our own making. The Almighty knows exactly what we need to defeat the enemy and to win the victory. The apostle saw God’s children in hand-to-hand combat with the forces of evil. “Wrestle” likely describes “two soldiers who in the midst of battle faced off one against the other for a very personal hand-to-hand combat” (Ray Summers, Ephesians: Pattern for Christian Living, 141). Paul was stressing the very personal nature of this

People recognize the need for strength to carry on in difficult times. The problem is that there are so many competing voices giving different directions for where to find such strength. The singer of Israel wrote the longest psalm or chapter in the Bible pointing to the only real source of strength. It is no wonder that the very first Psalm pronounced a blessing on the man whose “delight is in the law of the Lord, And in His law he meditates day and night” (1-2). Daily Bible reading should be the habit of every child of God. The strength it gives is unsurpassed and will sustain the Christian throughout his earthly existence. May God bless us all as we seek to fully implement Christ’s will in our lives.

The following report appeared on the Fox News website on Sunday, September 4, 2016. “Pope Francis declared Mother Teresa a saint on Sunday, praising the tiny nun for having taken in society’s most unwanted and for having shamed world leaders for the “crimes of poverty they themselves created.” (https://www.foxnews.com/world/2016/09/04/thousands-gather-for-canonization-mother-teresa.html). Reading the article led me to ask one question, the answer to which I found on a website devoted to telling the stories of saints recognized by the Roman Catholic Church. The author said, “What is the definition of a Roman Catholic saint? Simply speaking, a saint could be said to be anyone who is currently residing in heaven. The Catholic Church, through the process of canonization, officially recognizes this fact” (https://www.roman-catholic-saints.com). The answer left me confused. Paul wrote letters “to all who are in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints” (Romans 1:7) “to the church of God which is at Corinth, to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all who in every place call on the name of the Lord, both theirs and ours” (1 Corinthians 1:2); “to the saints who are in Ephesus” (Ephesians 1:1); “to all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi” (Philippians 1:1) and “to the saints and faithful brethren in Christ who are in Colosse” (Colossians 1:2). The apostle to the Gentiles did not think saints were only those already in heaven. A saint is one who has been sanctified or set apart for God’s

The headline was shocking. “More than 5,000 Mississippi third-graders could be held back this year for low reading scores” (Skinner). There is nothing trivial about this problem. Virtually everything we do in life requires the skill of reading. The church may well be facing a reading problem of its own. Teachers urging students to turn to a particular book, chapter and verse are far too often met with blank stares. This is sad when one considers that even some four-year-olds can memorize the books of the Bible. The problem is not in a general lack of ability. Young people and adults easily learn the vital statistics for each player on their favorite teams, full recipes for dishes and intricate shortcuts for reaching that special fishing hole or getting to another level in their favorite game. The real causes must be found elsewhere. True growth in knowledge of the Bible begins at home. Paul commanded, “And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord” (Ephesians 6:4 NKJV). The word translated “and” at the beginning of this verse “suggests that both children and fathers have God-given responsibilities in the relationship” (Lockhart 308). Children are to obey and honor, while fathers are responsible for training. Timothy’s grandmother and mother must have felt this was a similarly important task for mothers (2 Timothy 1:5). Teaching at home needs to be subsidized by solid Bible classes. The spread of the church to

There is one body, the church (Ephesians 4:4; 1:22-23). The Holy Spirit, working through earthly proclaimers of truth, causes people to be baptized into the one body (1 Corinthians 12:12-13). All of us recognize that the human body has many members, with each having a role to play, like tongue, ear, finger, toe, etc. “For in fact the body is not one member but many. If the foot should say, ‘Because I am not a hand, I am not of the body,’ is it therefore not of the body? And if the ear should say, ‘Because I am not an eye, I am not of the body,’ is it therefore not of the body?” (1 Corinthians 12:14-16). The answer to both questions is clearly, “No!” Every member of the physical body plays an important role that would be sorely missed if not present. The spiritual body of the church similarly has many members within it, and each has a role to play. Paul said each member of the church or body fulfills an important function. “If the whole body were an eye, where would be the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where would be the smelling? But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased. And if they were all one member, where would the body be?” (1 Corinthians 12:17-18). Different functions must be performed by various members of the body to have it working as a harmonious whole. The

The people of the world are known for wearing as little clothing as possible during bare season [not to be confused with “bear season,” comparable to “deer season.” ~ Louis Rushmore, Editor]. Women and girls go into public places wearing shorts and the briefest of tops. Some assemble with the saints wearing short skirts and low cut blouses. Men and boys work in their yards or go to softball fields or the fitness center in brief shorts without even a shirt. Both genders go to beaches in attire that is only appropriate in the bedroom. There seems to be little thought given to modesty and the effect our dress can have on others, or on our positive Christian example. As Jesus taught, lust is a problem men must avoid. “But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart” (Matthew 5:28). Women can help their brothers by being chaste or pure and dressing in a way that does not call [inordinate] attention to themselves, especially in gatherings of the saints (Titus 2:3-5; 1 Timothy 2:8-9). Women also struggle with lust, who now comprise the fastest growing group viewing porn on the Internet. God instructed priests in His service to be sure to be properly clothed. He had Moses write, “Nor shall you go up by steps to My altar, that your nakedness may not be exposed” (Exodus 20:26). The covering of Aaron’s sons was to “reach from the

Our Lord said, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:34-35). It is impossible to walk in the light while hating one’s brother (1 John 2:9-11). John explained that love for God is shown through loving one’s brethren. Claiming to love the unseen God while hating our very visible brothers is foolish (4:20-21). John went so far as to say that the brother who had what another brother needed and withheld it did not have the love of God in him (3:16-19)! Love is an essential ingredient in Christian service (1 Corinthians 13:1-3). Paul concluded his discussion of love by saying, “And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love” (1 Corinthians 13:13). The apostle closed the letter urging the Corinthian brethren to, “Let all that you do be done with love” (16:14). Effective love in God’s family must be practiced to the fullest. Peter said, “have fervent love for one another.” Vine says “fervent” means strained or stretched out. Imagine one of your children has fallen in a river and is floating downstream toward a waterfall. As you run down the bank, you see a limb extending out over the river. You climb out on the limb and reach down, only to discover you cannot quite reach out far

Paul compared the church to a body (Romans 12:4-5). The members of a physical body are sympathetic to one another. The whole body hurts when a toe is stubbed or a finger is smashed (1 Corinthians 12:24b-26). Christians’ care for one another is seen in thoughtful actions taken toward others within the family of God. Weak brethren should not condemn the strong, nor should the strong look down upon the weak and count them unworthy of their fellowship. Both should recognize that God will judge all according to His law, so all must submit to His authority. Each will answer to God and should not condemn others in matters of opinion. Senseless arguments over unanswered questions risk causing a brother to stumble (Romans 14:10-13; 1 Corinthians 8:12; Isaiah 45:23). Paul’s prayer stressed the need to strive for unity and the good of the brethren, following the example of the Savior (Romans 15:5-7). Unity is achieved both through inward feelings and outward expressions of praise and devotion toward God. Paul pleaded with Christians at Philippi to complete his joy by being united in thought, love, work and purpose. Even elders are not to be self-willed (Philippians 2:2-4). Christians agree on biblical principles. That agreement can form the basis of a working relationship, which produces like-mindedness. Selfish ambition or promotion of a party spirit for personal gain should be avoided to prevent division (1:16). Christ’s followers should be humble or lowly minded (1 Peter 5:6). Disciples should learn to appreciate, even look

Jesus said His followers would endure persecution (Matthew 5:10-11). He urged those following him to not fear those who could, at most, kill the body but not destroy the soul, but rather fear God, who could cast both soul and body into hell (Matthew 10:28; Luke 12:4). These passages reveal that persecution can range from angry, insulting criticism and false testimony all the way to death. The Lord indicated persecution began not long after the creation of the world when Cain killed Abel because of his offering by faith (Matthew 23:35). The Savior’s Sermon on the Mount served to remind the listeners that God’s Old Testament spokesmen had suffered persecution (5:12). A brief summary of things they endured is found in Hebrews 11:36-38. God’s Son said persecution is an inevitable result of giving up all for the sake of the Gospel (Mark 10:29-30). He described those with stony ground hearts as stumbling because of persecution (Matthew 13:20-21). Following Peter’s confession of Jesus as the Son of God, our Lord forewarned His disciples of His impending persecution and death (Matthew 16:21; Mark 8:31-33). He spoke of those upcoming events again during a stay in Galilee (17:22-23). Persecution of the early church began with casting Peter and John in prison and bringing them before the Sanhedrin. They were threatened and warned not to teach again in the name of Jesus. Rapid church growth led to all of the apostles being arrested, imprisoned, put on trial, beaten and warned not to preach in

The care of believers for one another shines brightly in the assemblies of the saints. The writer to Hebrew Christians, who were evidently considering going back to serve God under the Law of Moses, gave specific directions concerning their assemblies. “And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching” (Hebrews 10:24-25). Christian assemblies stir up love and good works through singing, which Paul saw as a great means of teaching. “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord” (Colossians 3:16). Christ’s followers can also be stirred to confess their trespasses while gathered together. Others of like faith can then pray for each other (James 5:16). Gathering around the Lord’s Table is a wonderful reminder of the unity Christ’s followers have in His one spiritual body, the church (1 Corinthians 10:16-17). Hearing messages from God’s Word likewise challenges and provokes Christian growth. God’s Son came to earth focused on man’s need to conquer death (Philippians 2:6-8). His followers are enjoined to follow His example by focusing on one another. Jesus’ disciples should serve others. Christians should demonstrate love for one another as Jesus demonstrated love for us. Forgiveness is a natural outflow

Paul proclaimed Jesus as the ultimate example of exhibiting the mind of a servant. The apostle followed that example in serving the church in Philippi. He was able to broaden his service to the various churches by sending faithful messengers to them. It was the apostle’s hope that it would be the Lord’s will that Timothy could soon be sent to check on the welfare of the church at Philippi. His purpose would be to deliver word from Paul to them and report back to the apostle the things he had seen in the church. Paul expected the report to be good, as he said it would comfort him (Philippians 2:1-19). Timothy was the one upon whom Paul could depend to be concerned only for the welfare of the church (Philippians 2:20). He told the Corinthian brethren, “Now if Timothy comes, see that he may be with you without fear; for he does the work of the Lord, as I also do” (1 Corinthians 16:10). Paul’s confidence in Timothy can be seen as he described him as a fellow worker, “true son in the faith” and a brother who had preached among the Corinthians (Romans 16:21; 1 Timothy 1:2, 18; 2 Timothy 1:2; 2 Corinthians 1:1, 19). Concern for the church at Thessalonica drove Paul to choose to be left alone in Athens and to send “Timothy, our brother and minister of God, and our fellow laborer in the gospel of Christ, to establish you and encourage you concerning your

It is easy to let the urgent push out the important. Stephen R. Covey suggested that each ought to envision his funeral. Imagine there will be one speaker from family, one from friends, one from work and one from church. Try to “hear” what each speaker would say about you if your funeral was today (The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People. New York: Simon and Shuster, 1997). Honestly ask how you could live so as to eliminate those things you would not like to hear and add those you would like to hear. Covey also suggested the most effective people begin with the end in mind. Paul expressed that very idea in Philippians 3:13-14. He focused on a single goal, heaven (1:21-24). Such living allowed him to face death with confidence (2 Timothy 4:6-8). Looking ahead to the end enabled great men and women of faith to live as wanderers in tents rather than to reside in more permanent structures. Their longed-for homeland was not on earth, but in heaven (Hebrews 11:13-16). Joseph was able to turn aside the advances of Mrs. Potiphar and not seek vengeance on his brothers (Genesis 39:9; 50:20). Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-Nego trusted God to deliver them. Daniel centered his attention on pleasing God and prayed in violation of the new law (Daniel 3:16-18; 6:10, 20-22). Many other examples of faithful service could be cited (Hebrews 11). These serve to show us the power of looking at one’s own funeral before deciding what course

Love will cover a multitude of sins (1 Peter 4:8). This is partly accomplished through forgiveness. Christians forgive because God sent His Son to die so that we might be forgiven (Colossians 2:12-13; Ephesians 4:32). True love includes a readiness to forgive, like that displayed by Jesus when He said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do” (Luke 23:34). Of course, they still had to repent, but Jesus had already exhibited a willingness to forgive before they acknowledged their sins and turned away from them by putting Him on in baptism (Acts 2:22-23, 36-38). Love “does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth” (1 Corinthians 13:6). Stephen exhibited the same characteristic as his Lord when he was being stoned to death. Luke reports that while he was being stoned, “he was calling on God and saying, ‘Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.’ Then he knelt down and cried out with a loud voice, ‘Lord, do not charge them with this sin’” (Acts 7:54-60). Such a forgiving attitude will cause brothers to go in search of their straying brother in hope of getting him to come home to God in repentance. “Brethren, if anyone among you wanders from the truth, and someone turns him back, let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins” (James 5:19-20). Those who are spiritual will humbly seek to restore them and will

God gave each member of the family a role to play. Each one playing his or her part will make a difference in the family, as can be seen in Paul’s instructions to the saints in Ephesus. Christian wives are to place themselves under the control of their husbands as one means of showing that they are yielding to the Lord (5:22). God made man the head of the family, foreshadowing the relationship of Christ to the church. Jesus demonstrated His love for the church by giving His life for her. Husbands should be ready to sacrifice their lives for their wives (5:23-25). The self-sacrificing nature of the Savior is a perfect example for each husband to follow. Wives whose husbands are willing to die for them have little trouble with submission. Children are instructed to keep on obeying their parents (6:1-3). The only limitation to this is the expression “in the Lord,” which means a child may refuse to obey his or her parents if asked to do something wrong in the sight of God. The fifth of the Ten Commandments reads, “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the Lord your God is giving you” (Exodus 20:5). Paul described it as the “first commandment with promise” because obeying and honoring one’s parents is well-suited to developing a character that will cause one to live a long life on earth. Obedience requires one to grow in self-control, self-discipline, recognition of

Christians should regularly pause to give thanks for God sending His Son to earth. There are many blessings we could not know if He had not come. For instance, if Jesus had not come to earth, there would be no Gospel. The Gospel is God’s power to salvation (Romans 1:16). Paul described it when he wrote, “For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures” (1 Corinthians 15:1-4). If Jesus had not come, there would be no church. Jesus told His disciples that He would build His church on the rock, the foundational fact that He is the Christ, the Son of God (Matthew 16:18). Paul instructed, “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word” (Ephesians 5:25-26). There would be no hope if Jesus had not come. “To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Colossians 1:27; Romans 5:1-2). There would be no forgiveness if the Lord had not come. Redemption from sin and forgiveness are only found in Jesus’ blood (Ephesians 1:7). Paul’s instructions on forgiveness include, “And be kind to one another, tenderhearted,

Thomas Edison’s laboratory burned in December, 1914. Looking at the ruins the next morning, he said, “There is great value in disaster. All our mistakes are burned up. Thank God we can start anew.” Jesus came to earth to make it possible for all of us to begin anew. Paul proclaimed, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new” (2 Corinthians 5:17). That new life begins with being baptized into Christ (Galatians 3:27). Worldly people, like the frustrated child, say, “I can’t.” Those in Christ say, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13). Paul explained how that was possible. Despite quite a list of accomplishments in the Jewish religion, he wrote, “But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ” (Philippians 3:4-7). Reliance upon worldly possessions will not help one start anew. The rich young ruler had done the right things externally, but he allowed money to be the god of his heart. Jesus urged him to sell all that he had, give the money to the poor and follow Him. The young man went away in sorrow. Anyone who would spend eternity with God must be fully devoted to Him (Luke 18:18-27). Those who have lost loved ones feel all alone. When they start anew, they trust in God’s promise, “‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.’ So we may boldly say: ‘The Lord

Our loving God sent His Son to die for us. That explains why He has “given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness” (2 Peter 1:3). Our goal should be to increase in learning (Proverbs 1:5; 9:9). The rich man learned the importance of knowing and obeying God’s will. He thought his brothers, who had ignored Moses and the prophets, would listen to one who returned from the dead. Abraham said, “If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rise from the dead” (Luke 16:19-31). God’s Word teaches us to reverence Him (Deuteronomy 4:10; Psalm 34:11). Israel’s kings were to make a copy of the law, read it and learn to fear. The people participated in reading the law every seven years so they and their children could learn to fear the Lord and keep His commandments (Deuteronomy 14:22-23; 17:14-20; 31:9-13). Learning the Lord’s will for our lives protects us from our enemies (Psalm 27:11). “The counsel of the Lord stands forever, The plans of His heart to all generations. Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, And the people whom He has chosen as His own inheritance” (Psalm 33:11-12). The singer wanted the Lord to teach him his path (Psalm 25:3-4). Psalm 119 praises the Word of God through the alphabet. The singer desired to learn God’s will (7, 12, 26, 33, 64, 71, 108). Moses was to teach Israel statutes and judgments (Deuteronomy 4:14). Ezra

It is amazing how much time Americans spend on eating. We either prepare the food or discuss where we are going to eat. Then, we eat. Afterward, we discuss how it was and what we might do to make it even better the next time. There are even television channels devoted to food. Christians need to realize that what we put into our stomachs is not as important as what we put into our minds. Jesus said, Do you not yet understand that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and is eliminated? But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart and they defile a man. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies. These are the things which defile a man, but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile a man. (Matthew 15:17-20) Each child of God would be blessed by devoting time to consideration of what he is feeding his mind. The best “restaurant” for the mind is not found in popular music, magazines or television programs. Instead, it is found in a diligent search through God’s Word to discover how to be a proper workman for him (2 Timothy 2:15). Those who have been risen with Christ must put their focus on “those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth” (Colossians 3:1-2). Paul gave

Bearing with one another goes hand in hand with forgiveness. Paul told the saints in Ephesus, “I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love” (Ephesians 4:1-2). Similarly, he told the Colossian saints, “Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do” (3:12-13). Christians endure with fellow members of the family of God by refusing to speak evil of each other (James 4:11). Christian were warned against grumbling and blaming others for their problems, even though such might have been natural as they endured the great external pressure of persecution. James said such blaming of one another would lead to condemnation. Instead, he told them to always be prepared for the judge’s return by picturing Jesus at the door ready to enter. They would not want to be guilty of wrongful or harsh judgment knowing the Judge was ready to come at any time (James 5:9). Forbearance likewise might be encouraged by following James’ instruction to “Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much” (5:16). Literally, he was instructing his readers to “keep on confessing” their

One of the most difficult things for most of us to do is to forgive some wrong, whether real or imagined, committed against us. In my reading, I discovered a “formula for forgiveness” that I have found very helpful. It is taken from Paul’s great statement in Philippians 3:12-14. The first thing I need to do is recognize my own vulnerability to sin. Paul said it this way, “Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected…” (Philippians 3:12). In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus gave His followers a model of prayer in which He taught them to ask God to, “Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors” (Matthew 6:11-12). Since I believe God inspired every word of Scripture, it seems significant that Jesus would use the word “and,” a coordinating conjunction, between asking for “daily bread” and asking for forgiveness. It seems He may have seen these two needs as occurring with roughly the same frequency. Immediately after giving the model prayer, the Lord went on to state, “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses” (Matthew 6:14-15). Clearly, our Lord saw each of us would violate (sin against) the will of God and need to be cleansed. That the apostle Paul recognized the truthfulness of this within his own life is clear from his

In A 3rd Serving of Chicken Soup for the Soul, Jack Canfield and Mark Victor Hansen repeated a story they had found in The Sower’s Seeds. Thomas Edison’s laboratory was virtually destroyed by fire in December, 1914. Although the damage exceeded $2 million, the buildings were only insured for $238,000 because they were made of concrete and thought to be fireproof. Much of Edison’s life’s work went up in spectacular flames that December night. At the height of the fire, Edison’s 24-year-old son, Charles, frantically searched for his father among the smoke and debris. He finally found him, calmly watching the scene, his face glowing in the reflection, his white hair blowing in the wind. “My heart ached for him,” said Charles. “He was 67 – no longer a young man, and everything was going up in flames. When he saw me, he shouted, “Charles, where’s your mother?” When I told him I didn’t know, he said, “Find her. Bring her here. She will never see anything like this as long as she lives.” The next morning, Edison looked at the ruins and said, “There is great value in disaster. All our mistakes are burned up. Thank God we can start anew.” Three weeks after the fire, Edison managed to deliver his first phonograph. I must confess, the more I read about Thomas Edison, the more I am impressed with the attitude he had. Unfortunately, not everyone has the same attitude. Many people are being held back by faulty thinking. Thankfully, for

Most parents anxiously watch, with baby book in hand, to see that their children do everything on time. When should a child first roll over, crawl, take his first steps and speak his first word? At what point should he go on to eat cereal, mashed vegetables and meat? The list is endless. If a child achieves any of these a few days early, parents rejoice and brag. If a few days late, they make a speedy appointment with the doctor. The writer of Hebrews gave a brief description of the way young Christians ought to develop. He saw the full-grown Christian as one who could teach others God’s Truth. He said it began with going from drinking milk, representative of the simpler parts of the Truth, to feeding on the meat of God’s Word, or the more complex teachings. Of course, the Hebrew brethren had failed to go on to meat eating and were unprepared to teach! “For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food” (5:12). Jesus pronounced a blessing on those who would “hunger and thirst after righteousness.” He said they would be filled (Matthew 5:6). During the temptations in the wilderness, the Lord told Satan, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God’” (Matthew 4:4). Feeding

In many areas of life, children teach through their simple examples. An author, unknown to me, wrote the story of her little girl who showed the love of a true friend. One day my young daughter was late coming home from school. I was both annoyed and worried. When she came through the door, I demanded in my upset tone that she explain why she was late. She said, “Mommy, I was walking home with Katy and halfway home, Katy dropped her doll and it broke into lots of pieces.” “Oh Honey,” I replied, “You were late because you helped Katy pick up the pieces of her doll to put them back together?” In her young and innocent voice, my daughter said, “No, Mommy, I didn’t know how to fix the doll. I just stayed to help Katy cry.” I believe her actions demonstrate precisely the type of love Jesus commanded His disciples to have for one another. Immediately after they left the place where Jesus washed the disciples’ feet, He explained that He would soon be glorified and go to a place they could not come. So, He told them, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:31-35). Peter, who was present to hear the Lord’s words, later wrote, “And above all things have fervent

The story is told of a Texas rancher who bought ten adjoining ranches and tied them together to form one giant spread. A friend asked him the name of his new mega-ranch. The rancher had wanted to keep part of each of the ten names of the ranches he had acquired as a reminder to everyone of the clout he had shown through his purchase. So he named his new ranch enterprise The Circle Q – Rambling Brook -Lazy H – Double Fork – Sleepy T – Triple O – Bent Arrow – Flying J – Rocking K – Crooked Creek Ranch. His friend, notably impressed, said, “Wow! I bet you have a lot of cattle!” “Not really,” explained the rancher. “Not that many survive the branding” (copied from a church bulletin). Unfortunately, like the farmer in this story, our society seems to have made the advancement and glorification of self its primary goal. The men and women who are set forth as role models are the ones who have “pulled themselves up by the bootstraps.” In such a climate, a servant is someone who works for you, not a role to be desired. Our Lord saw things in a wholly different light, as can be seen in an incident recorded in John 13. Jesus knew who He was, from whence He came and where He was going (verse 3). Despite the fact that He knew He was God, our Savior could aptly be described as the ever-loving servant. John

My good friend John Klimko does a lot of counseling. He has observed that a number of the troubled people he sees have similar problems. Many of them have begun to think that they can resolve any problem without the assistance of the Almighty. Too, they have concluded the Bible is out of date, which has led them to regard its teachings as nothing more than archaic nonsense. Nothing could be further from the truth. The Bible contains insight into the mind and heart of the Creator. While man may have to adjust his thinking as new discoveries are made, God knows His creation. Further, God, who loved man enough to send His own Son to die for him, has “given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness” (2 Peter 1:3). So, Solomon said, “A wise man will hear and increase learning, And a man of understanding will attain wise counsel” (Proverbs 1:5). He also wrote, “Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser; Teach a just man, and he will increase in learning” (Proverbs 9:9). The importance of knowing and obeying God’s will is vividly portrayed in Abraham’s conversation with the rich man in Luke 16. After realizing there was nothing that could be done to ease his own torment, the rich man asked that Lazarus be sent back to earth to warn his five brothers lest they join him in torment. Abraham told him, “They have Moses and the prophets; let

A good friend of mine once told me of an experience that changed his life. It seems he had played an important role in organizing an annual youth rally. Each year, the rally continued to grow in attendance. Then, one year he got so wrapped up in the details that he forgot to pray. The day of the youth rally arrived and the crowds were far below expectations. His first instinct was to blame God, but then he remembered he had not included Him in the plans. He immediately went into a room alone, got down on his knees and asked God to forgive him. He then asked God to bring about whatever good possible within the group assembled. My friend told me that was the best youth rally of all. The young people seemed to get deeper into the studies conducted and numbers of them responded to the Lord’s invitation. He said from then on he tried to always begin planning by going to God in prayer! The lesson learned from that youth rally is one I need to remember every day of my life. It is important for me to take time to pray. Yet, as I hurry from place to place trying to fulfill all of my commitments, there just does not seem to be a convenient time to pray. Daniel’s solution was to set aside three specific times each day for prayer. In fact, so dedicated was Daniel to that routine that his enemies tried to

Sin Stands between Man and God A careful reading of Genesis 3 leaves one with the distinct impression that man and woman, prior to violating God’s will, were able to walk with God. Apparently, God came during the cool of the evening to walk with man in the Garden of Eden. Unfortunately, sin spoiled that relationship. Adam and Eve were cast out of the Garden, and that close fellowship with God was lost. However, God longed for man to once again be in a close relationship with Him. In fact, even before forming the world, God formulated a plan for restoring lost mankind in case he should fall into the snare of sin (Ephesians 1:7-11; 3:8-13). To achieve His purpose, the Almighty had to find a way to rid man of sin, since it is sin that separates between man and God. “Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; nor His ear heavy, that it cannot hear. But your iniquities have separated you from your God; and your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He will not hear” (Isaiah 59:1-2). Every man or woman, who has reached an age where he or she can discern right from wrong, must admit his or her guilt for sin (Romans 3:10, 23). Sin’s paycheck is eternal separation from God (Romans 6:23). Life Is in Christ’s Blood Medical science has caused us to realize the life of our physical bodies is in the blood. Of course, God

Perhaps the most impressive prophecies concerning the Messiah are those specifically involving His death, burial and resurrection. Many of these are quite detailed, yet Jesus’ life fully fulfilled them! His triumphant entry into Jerusalem riding on the foal of a donkey was foretold in Zechariah 9:9 and fulfilled in Matthew 21:17. That one of His own disciples would betray Him was foretold in the Psalms (41:9; 55:12-14) and clearly fulfilled by the actions of Judas (John 13:18-30). Additionally, the prophet named the price which would be paid for Jesus and the ultimate use of that price (Zechariah 11:12-13; Note: Jeremiah was sometimes used to describe his work along with the others that followed). Not only did Judas receive the correct amount, but he also threw it down in the Temple, and the Jewish leaders used it to purchase a potter’s field in which the poor could be buried (Matthew 26:14-15; 27:3-10). Zechariah also knew Christ would be forsaken by His disciples (13:7), which, unfortunately, they did (Matthew 26:31, 55-56). God also knew, and foretold well in advance, that His Anointed would be accused by false witnesses (Psalm 27:12; 35:11). The chief priests and elders examined many false witnesses looking for a basis on which to accuse God’s Son (Matthew 26:57-62; Mark 14:55-61). Further, there can be no doubt that the trials Jesus went through were a complete mockery of justice. The Jewish trial alone violated many of the specific rules for trials among the Jews, such as not being conducted

A simple study of Jesus as the fulfillment of prophecy will lead one to a deeper faith in the Bible. The passages discussed below are by no means exhaustive. The Birth of the Christ Prophetic accounts of the birth of the Christ are so detailed as to leave no doubt God was behind the writing. In Genesis 3, God told the serpent, “And I will put enmity between you and the woman, And between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, And you shall bruise His heel” (verse 15). A partial explanation of how this could be is found in the writings of the prophet Isaiah. He wrote, “Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call His name Immanuel” (7:14). A child born of a virgin would be uniquely the seed of woman. As the angel of the Lord told Joseph, Jesus was that child. “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 1:18-25). God also told man that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2). The hand of God was obviously involved in Jesus being born in that prophesied city. Mary and Joseph were residents of the city of Nazareth, but Caesar Augustus decreed that all the world should be registered. Joseph took Mary to Bethlehem “because he was of the

The Word Was God Today, someone’s son is simply his male descendant or one he has adopted to fill that role. However, Jesus was called the Son of God for another reason. To be sure, He was God’s Son by birth (Luke 1:34-35), but the title “Son of God” most often refers to Jesus being of the same nature as God. When Jesus called God His Father, the Jews understood that He was claiming to be God (John 5:17-24). John, in his account of the life of Christ, told us Jesus was God come down to earth. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made” (John 1:1-3). John said that the Word was with God at the beginning and was God. That all things were made by Him is proof that He is God, since God was the Creator (Genesis 1:1; cf. Colossians 1:16-17). This Word, that was God, John plainly showed to be Jesus (John 1:14). Jesus’ Deity Was Confirmed by the Father On two separate occasions, the Father testified to Jesus’ Sonship. After Jesus’ baptism, “a voice came from heaven, saying, ‘This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.’” On the mount of transfiguration, after Peter suggested making tabernacles for Moses, Elijah and Jesus, “a bright cloud overshadowed them; and suddenly a voice came

Paul told Timothy to “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15). This verse clearly points out our need to study. Study will help us know what to do to be approved of God through obedience to his will. Paul’s words to the young preacher also let us know there is a right and a wrong way to divide Scripture. We must carefully study the truth so that we may rightly divide its teachings and be acceptable in God’s sight. Before the World Was Formed God planned His creation before He began to create. His plan included the free moral agency of man, which meant that man could sin and fall away from God. Thus, God prepared for the eventuality of man’s fall before He framed the world. In speaking of our redemption by the precious blood of the Savior, Peter wrote, “Who verily was fore-ordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you” (1 Peter 1:18-20). Paul agreed with Peter and said God chose for the saved to be in Christ all along, but did not send Him until the time was right. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should

Robert Ingersoll, an atheist, paid tribute to his deceased brother, Ebon C. Ingersoll, in Washington, D.C. on May 31, 1879. He said, Life is a narrow vale between the cold and barren peaks of two eternities. We strive in vain to look beyond the heights. We cry aloud, and the only answer is the echo of our wailing cry. From the voiceless lips of the unreplying dead there comes no word; but in the night of death hope sees a star and listening love can hear the rustle of a wing. He who sleeps here, when dying, mistaking the approach of death for a return of health, whispered with his latest breath, “I am better now.” Let us believe, in spite of doubts and dogmas and tears and fears that these dear words are true of all the countless dead. Contrast Ingersoll’s baseless longing for hope with Peter’s words to Christians confronting persecution. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time (1 Peter 1:3-5). The word “blessed,” according to Thayer, means “praised.” God is particularly to be praised because of his great mercy that leads to men

People in our multicultural society speak of Jesus as simply a good man, or a prophet. God called Him His Son after John baptized him. “A voice came from heaven, saying, ‘This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased’” (Matthew 3:13-17). Peter’s suggestion of erecting tents for Moses, Elijah and Jesus led to the Father confirming, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!” (Matthew 17:1-4). The Jews understood that the Father calling Jesus His Son makes Him equal with God (John 5:18)! The writer of Hebrews penned, “Who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high” (1:3). Vine indicates this means that Jesus was the shining forth of God’s glory and the very image of His substance. He went on to quote Psalm 45:6-7 and said the Father was calling Jesus, God. John the Baptist’s role was to prepare the way of the Lord (John 1:23; Isaiah 40:3). Jesus understood Malachi 3:1 to refer to John (Matthew 11:7-10). The context of that passage includes Malachi 2:17, where it is seen that the Lord whose way was to be prepared was the God of Judgment. John the Baptizer let his audience know that he came to prepare the way of Jesus, the Son of God (John 1:29-34). Paul

Paul wanted to get to Jerusalem before Pentecost, so he called for the elders of the church at Ephesus to meet him at Miletus. He reminded them of the struggles he faced while in Asia. He had served the Lord with a humble attitude, even being moved to tears at times and surviving more than one Jewish plot against his life. Yet, he had faithfully declared the truth to them publicly, in the synagogue and the school of Tyrannus and teaching in one house, then another. His preaching extended to Jews as well as to Greeks regarding the need for repentance and faith. The apostle told them he was compelled to go on to Jerusalem, despite knowing he would be arrested and trials would follow. Paul’s greatest concern was not for his safety but with completing the special ministry Jesus had given him, preaching the kingdom. He never expected to see the faces of those elders again. He called them to faithfully witness the content of his preaching at Ephesus. He had preached the whole truth, thus relieving himself of any responsibility for those who might have remained in sin. He charged them to watch out for their own spiritual wellbeing, as well as watching out for every sheep in God’s flock at Ephesus. This was specifically because they had been given oversight, or made bishops, over the flock purchased with Jesus’ blood. False teachers, even from within the eldership, would draw away disciples, thus watchfulness was imperative. Paul urged

Jesus used illustrations from daily life to help His hearers understand the nature of His kingdom. The Parable of the Sower demonstrates this point and helps us grasp a number of lessons important to followers of Christ. The Lord said, “The seed is the word of God” (Luke 8:11). Farmers might have to be careful with their money, but they will never scrimp on seed. The reason is simple, the only way to have a harvest is from seed sown. Seed left in a bag in the shed does not produce. Neither will God’s Word left unscattered produce a harvest. Paul said, “I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase” (1 Corinthians 3:6). The Lord said the farmer does not know how the seed sprouts and grows (Mark 4:26-29). The soil in which God’s Word grows is the human heart. It is not our place to decide which heart contains which type of soil. We know some hearts are like the packed earth of a footpath. Other hearts have shallow topsoil. Still others have hearts filled with the weeds of the cares, riches and pleasures of this life. Some have hearts filled with good soil ready to take in the seed and produce fruit to the glory of the Almighty (Luke 8:12-15). The oldest known mature seed to sprout is the seed of the Judean date palm. It was found in Herod the Great’s fortress at Masada and is believed to be 2,000 years old (https://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2008/06/080612-oldest-tree.html). God’s seed does

A fresh start is sometimes more than desirable, it is a necessity. Circumstances may require us to abandon our old ways and begin anew. Lessons learned, both good and bad, invite modifications in attitude and action. Challenges once in the distance may now be at hand, waiting to be tackled. The children of Israel and their new leader, Joshua, came to such a time as they prepared to enter the Promised Land. Moses, who led them for forty years, was about to die. The Jordan needed to be crossed and nations conquered before God’s people could be at peace in their new home. Moses delivered a message to all Israel, telling them that God would destroy the nations then living in Canaan, and they would dispossess them. God’s humble servant told the people, “The Lord will give them over to you, that you may do to them according to every commandment which I have commanded you. Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the Lord your God, He is the One who goes before you. He will not leave you nor forsake you” (Deuteronomy 31:1-6). The words of their aged leader to Joshua, their new leader, sound much the same. “Be strong and of good courage, for you must go with this people to the land which the Lord has sworn to their fathers to give them, and you shall cause them to inherit it” (31:7). The message for the church should

Hurting Christians are often heard to say, “I just do not know what people do who do not have church family.” They say this because they are experiencing the wonderful comfort of having brothers and sisters come to offer whatever help they may be able to give in a time of need. The hugs, expressions of concern and prayers at such a time sustain in ways beyond the imagination. Paul’s first letter to the struggling church at Thessalonica is filled with reminders of the relationships we have in God’s family. They were being tormented, but Paul wanted them to focus on family. He thought of them as his brothers in Christ and wrote, “Knowing, beloved brethren, your election by God” (1:4; 2:1). He pictured his own approach to them as being with the gentleness of a mother nursing her child (2:7). He also approached them as a caring father urging his child on to better living. “You are our witnesses, and God also, how devoutly and justly and blamelessly we behaved ourselves among you who believe; as you know how we exhorted, and comforted, and charged every one of you, as a father does his own children” (2:10-11). His concern for the Thessalonians reached such an intensity that he “sent Timothy, our brother and minister of God, and our fellow laborer in the gospel of Christ, to establish you and encourage you concerning your faith” (3:2). The entire statement overflows with affection, especially his description of Timothy as “our brother.”

A complaint arose among Hellenists, likely converts from among the Greek speaking Jews scattered throughout the world. They felt their widows were not being cared for as well as the widows of the Hebrews in the daily distribution. Whether the charge resulted through an accidental or intentional oversight is not known. At the very least, the perceived problem obviously threatened the peace and unity of the young church (Acts 6:1). The apostles said it was inappropriate for them to cease devoting their full energies to the Word in order to serve tables. They directed the Christians to look among their own number to find seven men qualified to carry out the work. It is good for men who will manage monetary affairs or hold positions of authority to be selected by the people they will serve. The men had to be known as good men, full of the Holy Spirit, which may have meant they possessed miraculous gifts or it may have referred to fully displaying the fruit of the Spirit. They also would need “skill in the management of affairs,” which Thayer says is the definition of “wisdom.” The apostles would appoint the seven selected to attend to this important matter. They planned to continue to focus on prayer and ministering to others with the Word of God (Acts 6:2-4; Galatians 5:22-26). The multitude of believers thought the apostles had a good solution. They chose Stephen, Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas and Nicolas, a proselyte from Antioch, all Greek

Some of our religious neighbors only partake of the Lord’s Supper on a quarterly or annual basis. Others partake of it various days of the week and at special events, like weddings. Let us pause to consider what God’s Word says about the matter. Luke’s casual comment that Paul and his company stayed seven days in Troas enlightens us as to the custom of worship in New Testament times (Acts 20:6-7). They came together on the first day of the week to break bread. Paul and his company were there on every day of the week, yet they partook of the Lord’s Supper only on the Lord’s Day. Even though an inspired apostle spoke on that occasion, mention of that fact takes a back seat to remembering the Lord’s death. The first day was also the day Jesus was raised and the day His church was established (Mark 16:9; Acts 2; Leviticus 23:15-16). Gus Nichols wrote a good article on the frequency of our Lord’s Supper observance. He quoted 1 Corinthians 11:20-22 and said, “If a schoolteacher should say to some naughty boys, ‘You did not come here to learn,’ she would be understood to mean that they should have come for that purpose. Hence the apostle’s meaning is clear when in reproving the church he said they had not assembled to eat the Lord’s Supper.” Early Christians assembled to partake of the Lord’s Supper. Jews understood God’s instructions to, “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy” (Exodus 20:8)

An online survey for Match.com (https://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/healthscience/2013/February/Singles-Survey-Reveals-Casual-Views-on-Sex/) demonstrates the need for moral leadership. The inclination may be to ask the Centers for Disease Control and the President of the United States to sound the alarm. Such action would be in line with the huge emphasis placed upon the need to get control of the spiraling cost of healthcare, but it might also be a subtle form of passing the buck. God’s people should not follow the lead of Adam in the Garden of Eden or Cain in his flippant response, “Am I my brother’s keeper?” Christians should be motivated to answer the call for moral leadership. There is a clear correlation between the rise in casual sex (44% of women and 63% of men say they have had one night stands) and epidemic numbers of sexually transmitted diseases (19 million new cases every year, with half being young people between the ages of 15 and 24). The monetary cost of treating this problem is more than $16 billion per year, while the spiritual cost is far greater. This is not the time for handwringing. The body of Christ must, instead, step through the open door of opportunity. First, dads and moms need to teach their children that sexual relations are a delightful gift from God that can only reach their full potential of enjoyment in marriage. “Marriage is honorable among all, and the bed undefiled; but fornicators and adulterers God will judge” (Hebrews 13:4). Second, they need to hear that sexual

Paul, knowing the importance of continued teaching and encouragement, approached Barnabas about visiting the brethren in all the cities in which they had previously preached. Barnabas strongly desired to take his cousin (Colossians 4:10 NKJV, ASV, NIV, ESV), John Mark, on the journey. Paul did not want to go with the man who had left them at Perga (Acts 15:36-38; 13:13). Paul and Barnabas were so firm in their opinions, even to the point of being provoked to anger, that they had to separate. God used the disagreement between these two great men of faith to produce two teams to go preach the Gospel. Barnabas went with John Mark to Cyprus, his homeland (Acts 15:39; 4:36). Paul took Silas, one of the leading men among the brethren at Jerusalem (Acts 15:22). They went through Syria and Cilicia to southern Galatia, strengthening the churches along the way (Acts 15:40-41). “The one redeeming note in this otherwise unhappy and regrettable episode is that neither party to the dispute permitted it to hinder the work of God” (James Burton Coffman, Commentary on Acts 305). Paul later referred to Barnabas as a good example of one who worked to support himself while preaching. He also described John Mark as one who was useful in ministry (1 Corinthians 9:6; 2 Timothy 4:11). Disagreements between brethren can be the devil’s tool to bring good works to a standstill. The Christian who allows some painful incident to become his/her excuse for sitting on the stool of do-nothing gives Satan the victory.

Parents wishing to protect their children growing into adulthood must keep vigilant watch on the reading material filling the minds of their offspring. One young mother looking for a welcome home gift for her 13-year-old daughter went to a bookstore. She discovered “hundreds of lurid and dramatic covers.” The books were filled with “vampires and suicide and self-mutilation” (Gurdon). Many of the books written for young people aged 12 to 18 contain kidnapping, incest, brutal beatings and intimate relations between minor aged young men and other males (Gurdon). The safest way to protect your children is to be proactive by reading a book before your they read it or sitting down to read books with them. This would even be a good practice regarding the textbooks our young people bring home from school. The only way to know what is going into the minds of your children is to keep track of what they are reading, watching and songs to which they listen. The wise man told his son, “Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it spring the issues of life” (Proverbs 4:23). He also said, “For as he thinks in his heart, so is he. ‘Eat and drink!’ he says to you, But his heart is not with you” (23:7). Jesus, in the Sermon on the Mount, said, “Blessed are the pure in heart, For they shall see God” (Matthew 5:8). Our Lord, in a discussion with the Pharisees, stated, “Brood of vipers! How can you,

Professional beekeepers say that you never want to “rob a hive” (remove the honeycomb to extract the honey) on a rainy day. On rainy days the bees are typically in a bad mood because they are stuck in the hive. They really do not like the rain. However, pick a sunny day because on sunny days the bees are out working, and they are always the happiest when they are working. Our Creator knew that man needed work to do, so He assigned Adam to “tend and keep” the Garden of Eden (Genesis 2:15). Paul understood this principle, as is evidenced in his words to the brethren in Thessalonica. For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat. For we hear that there are some who walk among you in such a disorderly manner, not working at all, but are busybodies. Now those who are such we command and exhort through our Lord Jesus Christ that they work in quietness and eat their own bread. (2 Thessalonians 3:10-12) Raymond Kelcy noted that Paul used the imperfect tense, which means the apostle repeatedly commanded them. The ones who habitually refused to earn a living were to be refused aid by their brethren. Unfortunately, the same people who refuse to do anything to help themselves often fill their hours telling others how to do their business. It really is impossible to remain idle. Those who do not busy themselves taking care

Peter and John were brought before the Sanhedrin, the highest political force among Jews, on the day after the lame man was healed. They asked the apostles how they had healed the lame man. Peter, “filled with the Holy Spirit,” answered with a defense of Jesus’ power as the resurrected Lord. Through Jesus, the one they rejected and crucified, the man was made well. He quoted Psalm 118:22 to show that they had rejected the very stone chosen by God to be the head of the corner. Anyone who would ever receive spiritual healing or salvation would only do so under the authority of Jesus Christ (Acts 4:5-12). The council saw that Peter and John, who had not been trained by the rabbis, dared to interpret Scripture with great boldness. It was evident “they had been with Jesus.” All Christians should live so that others can say the same about them. Most damaging of all, the council could not refute the miracle because the formerly lame man stood before them and reports of the healing were widespread. Neither were they able to refute Peter’s arguments for the resurrection of Jesus, but they needed to stop the preaching of Jesus before more of the people turned to follow Him. They threatened the apostles again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus (4:13-18). The apostles said the council had no authority to countermand God’s command. They were compelled by the power of the things

The author of the Book of Acts is the same as the author of Luke (Luke 1:1-4; Acts 1:1-3). Luke has been generally accepted as the author of Luke for centuries. The “we” passages of Acts show the author was a companion of Paul (16:10-17; 20:5-21:18; 27:1-28:16). Luke was with Paul when he wrote Colossians (4:14) and Philemon (24). The author had a special interest in diseases (Luke 4:38; 5:12; 6:6; 8:43-44, 55; 9:38ff.; 22:50-51), which might be explained by his being a physician (Colossians 4:14). Luke’s loyalty to Paul can be seen in his staying with the apostle during very trying times (2 Timothy 4:9-12). The recipient of the book was a man named Theophilus, meaning “one who loves God.” He is addressed as “most excellent” in Luke. This was a title used for some in service of the Roman government (Acts 23:26; 24:3; 26:25). One author suggested Theophilus was Luke’s benefactor. He may have become a Christian between the writing of Luke and Acts, since the title is dropped in the latter. Acts could be described as a continuation of the story of “all that Jesus began both to do and teach” (1:1). The church is, after all, the body of Christ (Ephesians 1:22-23). McGarvey wrote, “Much the greater part of Acts may be resolved into a detailed history of cases of conversion, and of unsuccessful attempts at the conversion of sinners.” Such a statement of purpose fits nicely with the Lord’s marching orders. He told the apostles,

The church does not have a proper name. Instead, there are numerous descriptions applied to it throughout the New Testament. One of my favorite descriptions is found in Paul’s letter to the Galatian churches when he spoke of “the household of faith” (6:10). The word translated “household” means, “belonging to a house or family, domestic, intimate: belonging to one’s household, related by blood, kindred” (Thayer). This particular verse refers to “professors of the (Christian) faith” (Ibid). All of Christ’s followers comprise the family of God. Paul had the same idea in mind when he wrote to Timothy (1 Timothy 3:14-15). The actions of the early church are the actions of a sharing family. The nearly three thousand souls who were added to the number shared what they had. Luke reported that they sold their possessions so the money could be given to those in need (Acts 2:44-45; 4:34-35). Loving family members act when they see other family members in need (1 John 3:17-18). The Lord’s parable of the judgment depicted him dividing the sheep from the goats. Those bidden to come inherit the kingdom prepared from the foundation of the world heard the Master say they fed Him when He was hungry, gave Him drink when He was thirsty, took Him in when He was a stranger, clothed Him when He was naked and visited Him when He was sick and in prison. When they asked when they had ever seen the Lord in those conditions and responded in that

In the last two hundred years, it has been far from unusual for a new religious body to appear. Most of these new groups have claimed that God has given them some new revelation, and it is their purpose to carry it to the world. Events such as these may cause one to question his own faith and wonder if he really does have the complete revelation from God in the Bible. In other words, does he have the essential ingredients necessary to form a belief that will bring about salvation? The New Testament does not leave any indication that there is a revelation to follow. “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correcting, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17). Peter plainly indicated that all of man’s spiritual needs are provided for in the Scriptures. If this were not the case, he could not have gone on to say, “Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble” (2 Peter 1:3-4, 10). John by inspiration said that we have all that is necessary to receive eternal life (John 20:30-31). Paul was convinced he had preached the Gospel and warned against anyone who preached anything contrary to it (Galatians 1:6-9). He also admonished the Corinthians to “stand fast in the faith” (1 Corinthians

There can be no doubting the role Old Testament prophesy plays in helping one to understand and fully appreciate the New Testament, in general, and Jesus Christ, in particular. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said, “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill” (Matthew 5:17). After His resurrection, He explained to the two disciples on the road to Emmaus, “These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me.” After helping them to understand more fully, the Lord went on to say, “Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem” (Luke 24:44-47). Modern man may have limited his view of prophesy to the books that were written by prophets like Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, etc. Clearly, the Lord did not see these as the only prophetic writings. Instead, His words indicate He viewed all of the Old Testament to be prophetic in nature (John 5:37-39). A full understanding of the writings of the Old Testament can only come to one willing to explore the meaning as revealed in the New Testament. The Greek word

The following was printed in These Times, September, 1962. The name of the author was not given. One day the world awoke to find that the Book of books had disappeared. All traces of its influence had vanished. Much of the music of the world was silenced. The mighty oratories were no longer to be heard. The hymns expressing the hopes and fears, the longings of human hearts, had died away. Christmas and all the rejuvenating carols were gone. Many of the masterpieces were no more; others had great parts of the music missing. Libraries looked as if millions of devouring moths had descended upon the printed pages. Books of Shakespeare, Milton, Bunyan, Tennyson, Longfellow, Tolstoy, Dostoevski, and hundreds of others were wellnigh unintelligible, due to many omissions. Law books no longer made sense, for fundamental principles had been eliminated. The Magna Charta of Britain, the Constitution of the United States, the American Declaration of Independence, the Bill of Rights, and all the great statements of liberty and human rights everywhere in the world were wiped blank except for a few commonplace words now utterly lacking in significance. But the loss of the Book cut even deeper. Values became blurred; human life grew cheap. Men became tools to be used. Life grew drab and meaningless, and man had only himself to worship. Restraints fell off the human conscience, and all the brutal instincts of the animal in man were unleashed. With the Bible lost, a veritable Hades had broken loose

Before we start to study the Bible, we need to recognize that it is God’s Word. Such recognition will help us to study with a more serious attitude. The Bible Claims to be Inspired The Bible lays claim to inspiration. Paul told Timothy, “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17). Paul used the Greek word theopneustos in the place where we find “inspiration.” Theo means “God” and pneustos means “breathed,” thus, God breathed, or God breathed out. The idea is that God spoke, since we exhale or breathe out through the vocal cords to speak. Peter explained inspiration when he wrote, “For prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit” (2 Peter 1:21). The writer of Hebrews must have recognized this as he often penned God said a certain thing, when we know man did the actual writing (see Hebrews 1:5, 8; 5:5-6). Many Old Testament writers claimed inspiration, as did some New Testament writers (see Isaiah 1:1-2, 10, 24; Jeremiah 1:1-2; 2:1; Ezekiel 1:1-3; 1 Thessalonians 2:13; 2 Peter 3:2). Jesus considered Old Testament Scriptures inspired and used them as authoritative (Matthew 4:4, 7, 10). His whole purpose in coming to earth was to do God’s will by fulfilling Old Testament prophecy (Matthew 5:7-18; John 15:25). The New

It is not unusual to be challenged today by someone who has either been brought up to disbelieve or has had bad experiences in life. He or she may ask the Christian to “prove to me there is a God!” Of course, “No one has seen God at any time” (John 1:18). Neither has anyone tasted, touched or smelled Him. Some in the Old Testament heard Him, but none of us has. We cannot isolate God in a test tube or examine Him under a microscope. We must use some other means to show God is. The Creation Proves There Is a God The greatest evidence of God’s existence is found in His creation. “The heavens declare the glory of God; And the firmament shows His handiwork” (Psalm 19:1). Creation exhibits a design that must be the work of a designer. Most have no trouble understanding that any house, or other structure, had a designer or architect, who drew up a plan for its construction. In the same way, the world around us displays a design that denies an origin of mere chance. Bert Thompson and Wayne Jackson, in their book A Study Course in Christian Evidences, on page 25, wrote, Did you realize, for example, that the human body is composed of multiplied trillions of cells? In the nucelus [sic] of each cell, hundreds of thousands of genes are present. Each gene consists of a complex chemical called deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA). DNA has a complicated code for the mapping out

One in six Americans move each year, with the average citizen of the United States moving 11.7 times over his lifetime. Since my dad preached, I have helped make up for some of you that have lived in the same house since birth. Teresa and I lived in: Jackson, TN; Henderson, TN; North Little Rock, AR; Mobile, AL; Valdosta, GA; Cookeville, TN; Knoxville, TN; and Jackson, MS. Our current move presented us with a most unusual opportunity. Thanks to the gracious hospitality of Drew and Morgan Dulaney, we were able to settle into our work in Jackson before our house sold in Knoxville, with most of our “stuff” remaining there. The couple buying our house have an almost newborn baby. Three days after signing a contract to sell our house to them, our real estate agent asked if they could move in early. Teresa and I discussed it and decided it was what we would want someone to do for us, so we said yes. This has resulted in the formation of an unusual friendship. They and their real estate agent have repeatedly thanked us. Several of our good sisters in Christ, who are helping pack everything up, have gotten to know the couple and their baby well. They and their agent have no church home. Their impression of us and our many brethren has resulted in the real estate agent and the couple expressing an interest in attending the Karns church of Christ. Paul believed God could open doors

Though it might seem to be improper for polite conversation, compassion is usually the English translation for splanchnizomai meaning properly “to be moved as to one’s bowels, hence to be moved with compassion, have compassion, (for the bowels were thought to be the seat of love and pity)” (Thayer 584). It is a fitting description for Jesus, as is seen by the fact that inspired men used it twelve times (Matthew 9:36; 14:14; 15:32; 18:27; 20:34; Mark 1:41; 6:34; 8:2; 9:22; Luke 7:13; 10:33; 15:20). Jesus taught about compassion in answer to the lawyer’s question, “And who is my neighbor?” The Samaritan, in contrast to the priest and the Levite, saw the man who had been wounded and left for dead and had compassion on him. It was displayed in his pouring oil and wine on his wounds, bandaging them, setting him on his own beast of burden, taking him to an inn and caring for him (Luke 10:25-37). The Master also described the compassionate father of the prodigal running to him, falling on his neck and kissing him, before killing the fatted calf for a celebratory feast (Luke 15:11-24). Jesus demonstrated compassion toward the hungry, sick, demon possessed and bereaved. He had compassion on the hungry multitudes, which led Him to feed the four thousand (Matthew 15:32-38; Mark 8:1-9). Our compassionate Lord touched and healed the leper (Mark 1:40-42). He cast unclean spirits out of those who were demon-possessed (Mark 5 5:1-20; 9:14-29). Jesus raised the son of the widow of