Names are important. It is difficult for us to conceive of things apart from their names. The many different names for God in the Bible describe and demonstrate His character. Jehovah (usually rendered “LORD” in the King James Version) appears often in the Scriptures. Jehovah means “the Eternal One, the Unchangeable One, the One Who was, and is, and is to come.” When Moses met God in the burning bush, he asked His name. “And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you” (Exodus 3:14). God spoke as Jehovah, the self-existent God. The Hebrew people came to consider one particular name of God as His personal name. Scholars call this name, derived from four Hebrew letters, the “tetragrammaton” (from “tetra,” four, and “gram,” letter). The Jews were so concerned about using this name in vain that they would not even pronounce it when reading the Bible aloud. (They substituted Adonai meaning Lord.) As a result, the proper pronunciation of the original Hebrew is unknown. Most scholars say “Yahweh” or “Yahveh” is likely the proper pronunciation, although Jehovah has been used since the sixteenth century. The Bible stresses the importance of respect for God by emphasizing the importance of the name of God. Solomon said, “The name of the Lord is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe” (Proverbs 18:10). The psalmist said, “He sent redemption unto …

The Passover feast was being observed by Jesus and the apostles in the upper room in the city of Jerusalem (Matthew 26:17- 30; Mark 14:12-26). The apostles had just learned several troubling facts: (1) A betrayer was among them (13:21-30); (2) Jesus was going to be leaving them (John 13:33) and (3) Peter was going to deny Jesus (John 13:36-38). In John 14-16, Jesus continued to prepare the apostles for His death by instructing them concerning the nature of His work and His kingdom. However, before He went any further, Jesus was determined to comfort them. The comfort that Jesus extended to His apostles should comfort Christians today. As you know, Christians are not immune to life’s difficulties. To name a few, Christians can swiftly be overcome with worry, grief and sorrow due to the loss of employment, health and spiritual stability. If you are facing these challenges or altogether different challenges of life, consider the words of encouragement Jesus offered in John 14:1-3. Jesus was their comforter with these words, “Let not your heart be troubled: believe in God, believe also in me” (14:1). The apostles had already started allowing the troubling facts they had attained to overcome them with worry. Jesus commanded, “Stop worrying!” One can allow the day to day troubles, both big and small, to consume the mind entirely. So much so can daily troubles consume us that they become crippling forces which prevent one from fulfilling his responsibility to God and his fellow man. How …

We live in a busy world! To some, that may sound like an understatement. Due to modernization and the proliferation of fast (and faster!) modes of transportation, mankind can get around at a high rate of speed. My wife says she can visualize the day when we each have our own little “pod” in which we can zip around in the air to where we want to go. I tell her I don’t want to see that day and don’t want to be part of it—it sounds very dangerous! Yes, in our lifetimes we have seen tremendous strides in modes of transportation that travel at high rates of speed. Not only have we seen rapid advancements in the arena of transportation, but consider the areas of technology, science and you name it! You get the picture. While these advancements have taken place in our lifetime, progress in these areas has always been made in ages past; they just weren’t what we peg as “modern” advancements. Sometimes with modernization comes the feeling that we have done something very special and that men of a particular span of time were or are highly intelligent to have accomplished the advancements mentioned. We think there is no end to what mankind has or will continue to accomplish. We tend to want to take credit for the modernization of mankind, and we want to leave God out of the picture. However, God is the One responsible for all of these things. We read in Genesis …

In elementary school, a holiday typically meant an excuse to eat homemade cupcakes at the end of the day. Further, as a young boy, I always looked forward to that cupcake. Yet, there was one holiday party that involved a quid pro quo for that delicious handheld treat—Valentine’s Day. In exchange for that sweet, you had to give a valentine to every single person in the class. I dreaded the inevitable hand cramp that would certainly come after signing “From Mark” twenty times. It was almost not worth the cupcake. So what’s the story behind the candy hearts and roses and my sore valentine writing hand? In the early records of the martyrs, three Valentines are mentioned, all dying on February 14th. These all died in third century persecutions. One Valentine, a Roman priest, is said to have sent a letter to a female friend on the day he died (February 14, 269 AD) and it was signed “from your Valentine.” By the eleventh century, a gate in Rome was named after this Valentine. However, it was in France and England a few hundred years later that February 14 became associated with couples in love, due more to the mating habits of birds rather than the third century martyr. Handmade Valentine’s Day cards were traditional in England, and that tradition continued in Colonial America. In the mid nineteenth century, the New England Valentine Company gave birth to the mass produced greeting card industry. As for Cupid (god of Desire), who today is …

How does one call upon the name of the Lord? The Bible teaches how we are to call on the name of the Lord. When the apostle Peter preached with the other eleven apostles on the Day of Pentecost after the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, he quoted the Prophet Joel when he said, “And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Acts 2:21). Many do not know how God wants them to call on Him. Paul wrote, “For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him” (Romans 10:12). Paul wrote the same as Peter did on the Day of Pentecost in Romans 10:13. After this he wrote, “How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?” (Romans 10:14). When we preach the Gospel of Jesus, people know how to call on Him (Romans 1:16). Jesus said, “… preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved …” (Mark 16:15-16). The Gospel is “the Word of faith we preach.” “…The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth” (Romans 10:8). Is this praying? No. Paul went on and said, …and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we …

Is it wrong for Christians to celebrate some of the holidays popular in our society—like giving gifts at Christmas time, allowing children to go trick-or-treating at Halloween or hunting eggs at Easter? In considering this issue, several things should be kept in view. A practice may have originated under certain circumstances, but eventually it may have lost that significance—either in whole or at least significantly. There is Bible precedent for dealing with this principle. Consider the practice of eating meat that had been sacrificed to idols previously—a very lively issue in the first century. Here is the background: A meat sacrifice would be made to an idol. After a certain portion was consumed in sacrificial flames (or by the priests), the balance would be sold as common food in the market. The controversy, therefore, arose: “Is this meat contaminated simply because it had some connection with an idol?” Paul’s answer is, “No” (1 Corinthians 8:1-13). If one has “knowledge” (i.e., that an idol is “nothing”) and his conscience is not offended, he may eat of that meat. It is not contaminated merely by its former association. Yet, there is this caution: If one is in an environment wherein some “weak” (i.e., without mature knowledge) brother is liable to be damaged, then, it would be best to refrain in that instance lest the weak brother’s conscience be wounded. It would be wrong to partake religiously of a practice that compromises one’s fidelity to the truth. The apostle deals with such a …

Your computer ever mess up? Maybe your desktop screen does not appear the same as it did yesterday. There is a great tool called “System Restore” that can get things working the way they did the other day. According to Microsoft, “System Restore helps you restore your computer’s system files to an earlier point in time. It’s a way to undo system changes to your computer without affecting your personal files, such as e-mail, documents…” This rolling back to a previous point restores the system that has a malfunction or a failure. I have used this tool on several occasions. Sometimes people need a restoring point in their lives. It is heartbreaking to see one in despair because of poor judgment, life changing mistakes and sin. Alcoholism, drug abuse, breaking the law, marital problems and the list could go on and on. Many of life’s problems cannot be changed or restored to a previous point. We reap the consequence of sin; this is a known fact of life. However, it is possible to drive a stake down, so to speak, and to start afresh. We can create a restoring point in our lives. We recognize that some problems will have penalties that will last a lifetime. A convicted murderer may spend the rest of his or her life in prison. Even this person can create a restoration point. Changing one’s status before God Almighty is the restoring point. The alien sinner is one who has never obeyed the Gospel of …

After Jesus resurrected, He appeared several times to His disciples. On one occasion, He cooked them a meal. After the meal, He asked Peter if he loved Him. The word “love” that He used was “Agape.” This is the kind of love that we Christians should have for one another as described in 1 Corinthians 13. Peter responded by saying that Jesus knew that he loved Him. The word Peter used for “love” was “Phileo.” This word means “brotherly love” like we love our good friends and brothers! Peter was saying that he loved Jesus like a brother. He was very fond and affectionate toward him. Jesus was asking for “Agape” love—a love which transcends affection and fondness! “Agape” is a love that loves regardless of “feelings” for an individual. Jesus asked Peter a second time, “Do you Agape me?” Peter said, “You know that I Phileo you!” Jesus then asked him the third time, but this time He used the word “Phileo.” Peter became “grieved” and said I “Phileo” you! Jesus knew that Peter was His friend and acknowledged that fact, but he wanted Peter to see that his love must be deeper! After each question Jesus asked Peter to feed his lambs and sheep. Jesus wanted Peter to watch over the believers and teach them to love. However, in order to lead, one must remain faithful himself! Jesus informed Peter that he would be persecuted for his love for Christ. There would be times that Peter would not “feel” love. If he were to remain faithful, he would have to …

I frequently wish I had more time, don’t you? Yet, it is true that we all have the same amount, and it keeps marching on. The old proverb says, “Time and tide wait for no man.” As much as we might try (and advertisers try to convince us otherwise), we cannot stop the onset of time. That facial cream will not keep the wrinkles away forever. Exercise and a good diet will help, but old age and its ailments will set in nonetheless. In Ecclesiastes 3, Solomon discussed “appointed time.” This does not refer to a divinely set course where every event is dictated by God. Rather, Solomon was making two observations about time. First, time needs to be used wisely. Young people feel like they have an endless supply of it. Old people recognize they don’t have much left. However, all groups need to appreciate its value. Wasting time is a horrible practice because it can never be retrieved. Solomon said, “There is nothing better for them than to rejoice and do good in one’s lifetime” (3:12). Be happy and productive! What a simple and powerful way of describing the wise use of time! Second, time needs to be used appropriately. We’ll say “think before you act.” Certainly Solomon was saying the same thing. In addition, we’ll say regarding the athlete who jumps too soon or the politician who says the wrong thing, “His timing was off.” Solomon noted that God “has made everything appropriate in its time” (3:11). Before one launches …

In our current times, we find the true concept of giving to be completely misunderstood. For many in religion the concept of giving is like paying one’s taxes. This idea is a result of the tithing of the Israelites in the Old Testament and a connection made by many a false teacher to the giving of one’s money in the New Testament. Under the Old Testament, the tithe they gave was in essence a flat tax; ten percent of everything that one had was to go to God. Today, we see that taxes are taken out of our checks and given for many government programs to help those who do not have. The problem with these programs is that we mix up taxes with giving. I believe each person ought to be ready to help his fellow man as much as he can. Furthermore, the church stands ready to help those who are needy, so as to show that we care about them as we also share the Gospel with them. I think these handout programs cause many to think there is no need to give to one in need because, “I already gave with my taxes.” However, I don’t know a single person alive who gives happily of his money to the government. In fact, many of us spend money on computer programs or accountants to find legal loopholes to keep us from having to pay the government too much. Yet, we need to understand that taxes are taken …

For several long centuries the children of Israel had endured the hard and cruel affliction of the Egyptians. It had not always been so. During the governorship of Joseph they had enjoyed freedom. However in Exodus 1:8-14 it is written, “Now there arose a new king over Egypt, who did not know Joseph. And he said to his people, ‘Look, the people of the children of Israel are more and mightier than we; come, let us deal shrewdly with them, lest they multiply, and it happen, in the event of war, that they also join our enemies and fight against us, and so go up out of the land.’ Therefore they set taskmasters over them to afflict them with their burdens. And they built for Pharaoh supply cities, Pithom and Raamses. But the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and grew. And they were in dread of the children of Israel. So the Egyptians made the children of Israel serve with rigor. And they made their lives bitter with hard bondage; in mortar, in brick, and in all manner of service in the field. All their service in which they made them serve was with rigor.” As a result of this hard affliction, the people cried out to God and He heard their cry (Exodus 3:7). At this point, God chose Moses to be His leader who would lead the people out of bondage to taste freedom for the first time in their lives. Chapters 3-12 of the …

In Job 38:22, God asked Job, “Have you entered the storehouses of the snow…?” This winter it seems that God has emptied some of His snow from His storehouses on us. We have endured another long, cold, snowy winter. Many congregations have had to cancel services, the children have had several days off from school, and the snowplow truck drivers have been very busy because of the weather. The winter weather has been very discouraging to many. Yet, Solomon reminded in Song of Solomon 2:11-12, “For behold, the winter is past; the rain is over and gone. The flowers appear on the earth, the time of singing has come, and the voice of the turtledove is heard in our land.” Solomon reminded that winter will always give way to spring. Soon the flowers will be budding, the bees will be buzzing, and we will be enjoying the sun and warmer weather. God reminds that this is the process of creation in Genesis 8:22. “While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night, shall not cease.” We still may have a snow shower or two, maybe some frost, but don’t get discouraged because winter always gives way to spring. The same is true of life; there will be moments of winter, days of coldness that are dark and dreary, and times of deadness. These times always give way to spring and new life, new beginnings, and new hope. Such is the case when one is …

One of my favorite television programs to watch is called Wild West Tech. It chronicles the technological advancements that helped shaped the old west. It can be anything from a safer train to better ways of execution. What fascinates me about this program is the willingness of the people in the 1800’s to accept these advancements to help improve their everyday lives. After all, who doesn’t want to be hung from the gallows in the most efficient way? Technology interests me, especially in preaching the Gospel. We have been given the task to take the Gospel into all the world (Matthew 28:19-20; Mark 16:15-16) whether in the local pulpit or across the ocean, and the advancements in technology help us do that. I’ve used just about all of them. I’ve written sermons using pencil, pen, typewriter, computer and most recently with the iPad. I’ve used bed sheets, chalk boards, white boards, overhead projectors and PowerPoint to give the lessons a visual effect. I’ve recorded sermons on tape, CD and the Internet. I have and will probably continue to seek out and use the latest technology in my work as a minister. However, there is something that will never change—the pure, unadulterated Gospel of Jesus Christ. The reason being is because Jesus and His Word never change. “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever” (Hebrews 13:8). “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away” (Matthew 24:35). Yes, the methods by which the Gospel …

Ecclesiastes is a book about outlook. The plot of “the Preacher” reveals the depression that inevitably results from seeking happiness in worldly possessions. This book gives Christians a chance to see the world through the eyes of a person who, though very wise, was trying to find meaning in impermanent, human things. Most every form of worldly desire is explored by the Preacher and none of it gave him a sense of meaning. In 3:14, the Preacher focuses on God and the reason man should revere [“fear”] Him. Fearing God “under the sun” includes the following. God’s Actions Are Permanent (“it shall be forever”). Things that are done by God are final. The granite peak that is being carved into a monument to Crazy Horse, the famous Sioux Indian chief, can never be undone. The dynamite blasts that carve away rock can never be replaced. It is final; it is forever. God, according to Malachi 3:6, is permanent: “For I am the Lord, I do not change.” James identifies the consistency and stability of God in 1:17; His giving of good and perfect gifts will never vary or change. God’s Actions Are Effective andComplete (“nothing can be added to it”). God’s Word penetrates the heart and molds the soul. He chose us before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless before Him (Ephesians 1:4). His Holy character provides the prime example for transformation and change. Those in fellowship with the Father are blessed with His illuminating light and Jesus’ …

In Acts 7:53, Stephen was winding up the sermon that would get him killed when he said that those listeners had “received the law by the direction of angels and had not kept it.” Such a passage makes one wonder how angels were involved in delivering the Old Law. The passage is not alone. Galatians 3:19 asks, “What purpose then does the law serve?” and then answers, “It was added because of transgressions, till the Seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was appointed through angels by the hand of a mediator.” Such passages whet the appetite of the curious. The curious, however, may never know the details; those may be relegated to the secret things that belong to God (Deuteronomy 29:29). There are some interesting passages in the Old Testament that may apply. Deuteronomy 33:2 has Moses poetically speaking of the Lord coming from Sinai and bringing a “fiery law” for the people “with ten thousands of His saints.” Likewise, Psalm 68:17 is intriguing; “The chariots of God are twenty thousand, Even thousands of thousands; The Lord is among them as in Sinai, in the Holy Place.” Recall, please, that Elisha’s servant, when finally seeing visually the help God was providing, saw it in the form of a mountain being “full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha” (2 Kings 6:17). Also, in Daniel 7:10, the vision of the Ancient of Days has a “fiery stream” issuing forth from Him and “a thousand …

Three sayings that Jesus spoke during the first three hours of our Lord’s crucifixion have been preserved. The third saying will be the focus of this article. First, note some background. Jesus knew beforehand that once He was taken, the disciples would distance themselves from Him. He had even told them, “All ye shall be offended in me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad” (Matthew 26:31). Who can forget the vehement denials of Peter? When all had forsaken Jesus, the exception reads like this: “But there were standing by the cross of Jesus his mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene” (John 19:25). Surely, words cannot express the intensity of Mary’s agony as she gazed upon her Son. There was, however, another exception. Along with the women, there was a man at the foot of the cross. “Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by whom he loved” (John 19:26). The one apostle who clung more closely to Jesus than all the rest, known as “the disciple whom Jesus loved” (John 21:20), was John. Looking down upon this little band of disciples, Jesus said, “Woman, behold thy son!” (John 19:26). The statement which follows reveals that He was not calling attention to Himself. Rather, he was calling His mother’s attention to John. He then said to John, “Behold, thy mother!” (John 19:27). The 5th commandment of the …

You may or may not have heard the expression of a video “going viral.” On the Internet, when something goes viral, it means a video is viewed by a very high number of people in just a short period of time. Six people on a BuzzFeed video went viral by expressing their answer to the statement, “I am a Christian, but I am not…” Some answers were “I am not homophobic,” “I am not unaccepting,” “I am not conservative,” “I am not ignorant,” and such like. What they are was expressed by terms like queer, gay and feminist. In answering what they wanted others to know about Christianity, they offered various traits, such as they were not crazy, that it’s about love, acceptance and being a good neighbor, and that just because some terrible people call themselves Christians doesn’t make them terrible people (https://www.denisonforum.org/cultural-commentary/1906-controversial-buzzfeed-video-goes-viral). Through the years, I’ve seen surveys or people express what being a Christian means to them. It is amazing that, in all of the answers, Christ is typically left out. It is more than ironic that Christ has been left out of Christianity, as the term Christian means “a follower of Christ,” which reveals one must turn to Christ to find out what a Christian should be. That seems to be a novel concept anymore, as being a Christian seems to mean being whatever one wants to be. That belief, however, does not coincide with Scripture, which is where we actually learn about Christ and being …

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 …

We are all familiar with the Statue of Liberty that is located on Liberty Island in New York Harbor. The copper statue measures 305 feet and 1 inch from ground level to the torch. To those seeking liberty and the American way, she (Lady Liberty) is a welcome sight. The Statue of Liberty is on the east coast of the United States. Some people want to build a Statue of Responsibility on the West Coast. Long Beach, San Diego, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Seattle are being considered for locations for this structure. The 305 foot Statue of Responsibility would be much more than just a bookend to the Statue of Liberty. The prototype of this proposed structure consists of a pair of clasped hands oriented vertically symbolizing the responsibility that comes with liberty. The original idea of the Statue of Responsibility was the vision of world renowned Viennese psychiatrist Viktor Frankl, who survived the Holocaust and went on to publish the best-selling book, Man’s Search for Meaning. In this work, published in 1946, he expressed his vision like this: Freedom, however, is not the last word. Freedom is only part of the story and half of the truth. Freedom is but the negative aspect of the whole phenomenon whose positive aspect is responsibleness. In fact, freedom is in danger of degenerating into mere arbitrariness unless it is lived in terms of responsibleness. That is why I recommend that the Statue of Liberty on the East Coast be supplemented by a Statue …

There is a very interesting statement made in 1 Peter 1:21 about which I never remember hearing anyone comment. It says, “Who through Him are believers in God, that raised Him from the dead, and gave Him glory; so that your faith and hope might be in God.” Have you ever considered the implications of that statement? It is only through Jesus that you can have the proper understanding of God and thus have the proper faith in Him. If you do not believe in the God that Jesus revealed, you do not believe in God in the Bible sense. It is amazing to discover the number of persons who claim to believe in God, but they have very little concept of the God that Jesus revealed. There are those who believe in a god who overlooks sin. He would not allow anyone to be lost eternally. Many believe in a god who either has not given a revelation of his will, or he made it too difficult to understand. Others think he does not really mean what he says. For example, when he says, “Baptism doth also now save you” (1 Peter 3:21), he really means that baptism has nothing to do with salvation. The God Jesus revealed is a God of grace. He graciously provided the way to be saved for every sinner who is willing to forsake his sin. The God that Jesus revealed is One who loves mankind enough and hates sin enough that He allowed …

In the last year, we have watched a number of riots take place and are now hearing people say that our country is falling into chaos. They say we have lost control, and our country is too far gone to mend or to save it. Some believe that ethnic backgrounds and poverty are to blame for the majority of the problems concerning violent behavior towards law enforcement. I believe they are incorrect on both counts. While poverty may be an issue of frustration, and ethnic background may be used to fracture communities, the breakdown of the home and the lack of respect for authority is the true story behind the violence. I have never been shot by law enforcement. Then again, if a police officer gives me an order, I do as he says. I was raised to respect my parents (Ephesians 6:1). From there I learned to respect teachers, officers of the law and ultimately God. The problem of rebellion in the church today is very real. While not manifested by throwing rocks and burning down buildings, its destruction is far worse in that congregations split and souls are lost. When one speaks about authority of the Word of God or of elders, many do not understand what that means. I have been asked, “What do you mean by authority?” This is why congregations are falling into sinful practices. There is no longer a desire to find authority for what we do, but rather, we have replaced authority with …

Every year around this time of the year we all hear people talking about the changes they are going to make in the New Year. While some are very good at following through with their plans, most people will stop after a few days or maybe weeks into the New Year. This time of year is not the only time that we should examine our lives, but let us look at five important things to remember when trying to plan and improve our lives for the future. Put God First Matthew 6:33 is one of the most popular verses in Scripture, but it may be one of the most unheeded verses in Scripture as well. God, His ways, His will and His church are to be priorities in our lives. We as Christians need to focus on God first and foremost, and we need to trust that the Lord will be with us no matter what. Don’t Work Alone In Psalm 23 we read the most beautiful, poetic and comforting words about God and His care for us, and yet, many of us still resist the help of the Father. Instead of trying to take on this world by ourselves, let us listen the wisdom of Proverbs 3:5-6; let us trust the Lord and make Him the Leader of our lives. Have Faith, Challenge Yourself We read in Philippians 4:13 that we can do all things through Christ who gives us strength. Do we truly believe that? Let us not just set goals …

There are a host of little known characters in the Bible, yet sometimes they are great examples. One such example is Stephanas, found only in two passages (1 Corinthians 1:16; 16:15-17). The second biblical citation reads, “I urge you, brethren – you know the household of Stephanas, that it is the firstfruits of Achaia, and that they have devoted themselves to the ministry of the saints.” Notice that Paul said that the household of Stephanas had “devoted” themselves to the ministry. Stephanas was enthusiastically dedicated to God and His work. It could also be said that he was addicted, not just him, but his whole household. We often think that any addiction is bad. Multitudes of people today are addicted to various harmful or even evil things, such as drugs, alcohol, cigarettes, etc. Many would also think that an over commitment to religion is likewise bad. The term “religious fanatic” carries a bad connotation. However, when we are truly committed to God and His ministry, addiction is good. Stephanas did not look for an excuse not to be involved in the work of the Lord, nor did he expect others to do the work. He could not sit idly by while either the work was undone or others labored. Sometimes one may say in jest, “Work doesn’t bother me a bit. I can sit and look at it all day.” When it comes to religion, that humorous statement is true far too often. It seems that the majority of church …