By: Rodney Nulph, Associate Editor Sadly, our world is often seemingly characterized as a world filled with hate. As such, some have suggested and actively promote that all we need is love. While it is true that love is certainly needed, sometimes love can be bad. Scripture defines true love and evidences it throughout God’s wonderful will. However, it is true that God reminds that love can be bad. Love of silver is bad! The Holy Spirit was not popular when He wrote, “For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs” (1 Timothy 6:10 NASB). Love of material things is such a temptation for mankind that Jesus even gave a couple examples of those who loved “things” to a spiritual detriment. A lengthy discussion and parable took place in Luke 12 that illustrate well what the love of money can do for a person’s eternal soul. Another interesting narrative regarding the love of silver centers on a rich ruler who came to Jesus wanting to go to Heaven (Matthew 19:16ff). When Jesus, knowing the ruler’s deepest love, told him to sell his stuff and follow Him, heartrendingly, the ruler walked away! The man sold his eternal soul because his love was sorely misdirected! Love of silver is bad. Love of self is bad! At first, this may seem a bit contradictory. Jesus told us to love our …

By: Gus Nichols “For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does” (James 1:23–25 NKJV). Here the Word is a mirror for the soul. We can see ourselves as we are in the Scriptures. We  “…beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord” (2 Corinthians 3:18). Mirrors change people and cause them to clean up. You would not have kept your hair properly cut, etc., if it had not been for a mirror into which you looked and saw yourself as others see you. Just so, the Bible will clean up those who want to be clean, if they read

By: Nat Evans The greatest sermon as recognized by all was preached by the greatest preacher, our Lord Himself. The sermon of which I speak is, of course, the masterpiece called the Sermon on the Mount of Matthew 5–7. I have only room in this brief article to mention the first part of it in chapter 5—the Be-attitudes. “And seeing the multitudes, He went up on a mountain, and when He was seated His disciples came to Him. Then He opened His mouth and taught them, saying: ‘Blessed are the poor in spirit, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven’” (Matthew 5:1–3 NKJV). Verses 3–11 have long been called the Be-attitudes. Brother Franklin Camp would often point out in his class if you take away the “Be” then you will recognize that you are simply dealing with proper attitudes of heart. Brother Foy E. Wallace, Jr. pointed out in the Sermon on the Mount that you are dealing with things that point to the day of Pentecost. By this he meant that the characteristics that are found in the Sermon on the Mount would be characteristic of the members of the kingdom of God (the New Testament church) that would be established on the day of Pentecost in Acts 2. Earlier I mentioned verse 3, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” The word “blessed” means happy or to have God’s approval. So many in life are searching for happiness and peace of mind, …

By: Jared Boser The Bible often describes life as fleeting and temporary, using metaphors like a mist, a fast runner, a breath and a wisp of smoke. Job 8:9 reminds us of the brevity of life, and King David prayed for God to help him see life from a divine perspective (Psalm 39:4). We are described as aliens, pilgrims, foreigners, strangers and visitors in this world (Psalm 119:19; 1 Peter 1:17; 1 Peter 2:11). This perspective helps us remember that our time on earth is short and that we are just passing through. The Devil, however, wants us to believe that this world is our permanent home. Your identity is in eternity, and your homeland is Heaven. God calls on His children to think differently about life compared to unbelievers (Philippians 3:18–20). He warns against living for the here and the now or adopting worldly values, priorities and lifestyles (James 4:4). Instead, we are to be role models and ambassadors for Christ (2 Corinthians 5:20), focusing on the eternal rather than the temporary (2 Corinthians 4:18). As C.S. Lewis aptly put it, “All that is not eternal is eternally useless.” We were created for something much better. The fact that earth is not our ultimate home explains why followers of Christ often experience difficulty, sorrow, and rejection. We are not completely happy here because we were made for more (John 16:33; John 16:20; John 15:18–19). The Bible’s hall of fame of faith, including Noah, Abraham, Jacob and Moses, shows that …

By: Edd Sterchi Who am I? I am the person with whom you worship. I am your neighbor. I am your relative. I am your friend. I am the person next to you at work. I am sometimes in need of something, and I may never dream of asking you, but I am always glad when you’re there for me.

By: Bart Warren Do not let the ending of the story in Luke 16:19–31 escape you. The rich man was in agony. He begged for relief, but none was forthcoming. Now, he begged for a miracle for his family that he left behind. He was certain that if a messenger from the dead showed up at his father’s house his family would give up selfish ways and repent. He reasoned that his family would be faithful to the Lord and avoid torment if only Lazarus would shock them with a miraculous message from the other side. If only! We know of other cases where someone was raised from the dead, and it did not lead to a 100 percent conversion rate. In fact, there was a different man named Lazarus who was indeed raised from the dead by Jesus (John 11:43–44). The result? Some believed (John 11:45), but others wanted to kill both him and Jesus (John 11:53; 12:9–11). Most obvious and significant of all is the resurrection of Jesus. He conquered the grave and demonstrated His power, majesty and the perfection of God’s plan (Romans 1:4; 1 Peter 1:3; 3:21). Yet, many did not believe even then (Matthew 28:11–15). The signs and wonders themselves do not save; they point to the One who saves. Like the rich man’s family, you and I are not to wait on a miracle before we repent. We have been given the Word of God! We have been called through the Gospel (2 Thessalonians …

By: Mark T. Tonkery It is said that the former Queen of Denmark, Margrethe II, used to walk from the palace every morning to the shops to buy flowers and vegetables. A visitor once asked a Danish citizen, “Who guards the Queen when she walks to the shops?” The citizen replied, “We all do.” The same is true of the church. Who will help the church grow and thrive? God, certainly, but we each help (1 Corinthians 3:6–9). Paul stated in Romans 12:4, “For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function” (NKJV). We each have something to offer the church. There are no talentless people in the church! It is like the fable of “Who Flew the Kite?” “I did,” said the sticks. “I did,” said the paper. “I did,” said the boy. “No, I did,” said the wind. They all flew the kite together. If the sticks had broken, had the tail caught in a tree, had the paper torn or had the wind lulled, the kite would have come down. Each had a part to play. The application is clear. We each have work to do in the kingdom of God. If the work of the Lord is to be successful, then every member of the church must participate. We have the work of visiting, giving of our time and means, teaching, caring for children, widows and widowers, helping feed those who need food, and countless other …

By: Jonathan Jenkins As I was leaving the office one day last week, a young man was changing his oil in the church parking lot. At first thought, I wanted to tell him he could not do that there. This thought was quickly replaced with the reality that an approach like that may not be best. Instead of telling him to handle his business elsewhere, I offered kindness and asked if I could help. It turns out, he needed a smaller bucket because his bucket was too big to fit under the car. I quickly ran inside and found a bucket and a few other items and offered them to him. He was very thankful, and with a smile I introduced myself and invited him to worship. A simple and kind gesture opened the opportunity for me to invite someone to worship. Sometimes, that’s all it takes to allow God to work in someone’s life—a little bit of grace with a side of kindness. After all, it only cost me a bucket, right? There are many examples in Scripture of ordinary items used to the glory of God. 1.         Moses and His Rod (Exodus4:1–5). 2.         The Widow’s Oil (2 Kings 4:1–6). 3.         Davids Sling (1 Samuel 17:38–50). 4.         A Boy and His Lunch (John 6:5–13). 5.         Dorcas’s needle (Acts 9:36–39). What’s your bucket? Use what you have to glorify God. Like in the case of Moses, God will give you confidence that He is with you. Like in the case …

By: Robert C. Lupo If you study Matthew 13:53–58, you will read, “Now He did not do many mighty works there because of their unbelief” (Matthew 13:58 NKJV). Some mistakenly think that the unbelief of the people somehow made it difficult for Jesus to perform miracles when He was among His own people, in His own country and in His own city – Nazareth. The thought is that His power was somehow affected adversely by the unbelief of the people. This was not the case! At first, they were impressed with the Lord’s teaching, His wisdom and His miracles (v. 54; cf., Mark 6:1–6). He healed several. However, they were prejudiced against the Lord. The people were even offended at Him—believing Him to be common folk— a carpenter’s son, the son of Mary and the elder brother to others who had no powers (vs. 55–56). They were so prejudiced against Jesus that they would not have believed His word even if they had seen a miracle. The purpose for His miracles was to demonstrate that He and His message were Heaven sent (John 3:2; 5:36). Why waste God’s power on people who will not believe regardless of the proof put before them? Are there things God’s power will not accomplish in our lives because of our own unbelief? Do we believe Jesus enough for us to follow Him without reservation (John 20:30–31)? If so, let us study God’s Word so that our faith and hope in Him will only grow. …

By: Jerry Bates I feel sure that it would offend most people to even question whether they may be worse than the citizens of Sodom. Most know about Sodom and how it is repeatedly used as an equivalent for sin and evil. Therefore, most would quickly and adamantly deny that they are worse than the people of Sodom. In Ezekiel 16, the prophet sought to “cause Jerusalem to know her abominations” (16:2 NKJV). In other words, he wanted Jerusalem to realize how sinful she was. Of course, Jerusalem, like most of us, did not consider herself sinful at all. She was part of God’s chosen people and had been given many blessings. Compared to the Gentile nations around her, she thought she was good; however, God had a different opinion. To accomplish his purpose, Ezekiel presented his rebuke in the form of an allegory picturing Jerusalem as a child who had been abandoned in an open field at birth. However, God found her in this pitiful state and cared for and blessed her greatly. In vs. 10–14, we find Jerusalem being adorned with beautiful jewelry and clothing, so much so that her fame spread among the nations. However, she became a harlot (16:15). Ezekiel continued and compared Jerusalem to her “sisters,” Samaria and Sodom. He declared that Jerusalem was the worst of the three (16:46–47). I am sure that you remember Sodom was destroyed due to her sin and was often used in Scripture as a byword for evil. Samaria …

By: Robert Johnson “For it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure” (Philippians 2:13 NKJV). In this passage of Scripture, Paul spoke of what God seeks to accomplish in our lives. God’s “purpose” [NIV] is to bring us to salvation in Christ, and He can use any and every circumstance to mature our faith and to draw us closer to Him—to His will for our lives. Even in his own life, Paul said, while under house arrest in Rome, “Yes, and if I am being poured out as a drink offering on the sacrifice and service of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all” (2:17). Just as God has His will and work to accomplish in us, life in Christ is to be approached from the same perspective. There is the matter of what we do and the work or lifestyle in which we engage. One must be submissive to the will of God to have salvation. “He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him” (John 3:36). This is not only true in obeying the Gospel but in Christian living, too. God’s will must be our goal for living. “If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God” (Colossians 3:1). Actions are important, …

By: Gary Hampton Jesus prayed an anguished prayer on the cross. “And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, ‘Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?’ that is, ‘My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?’” (Matthew 27:46 NKJV). His prayer displayed faith in God. Its vocalization was a fulfillment of Psalm 22:1. Yet, He asked a haunting question that seems almost to be an accusation against the Father. Wayne Jackson explained, “It frequently is the case in Hebrew idiom that the active voice of a verb is used in the passive sense (i.e., what God is said to do, he merely permits to be done)” (NT Commentary 71–72). Why did Jesus not understand that His Father could not save Him and at the same time provide a means of salvation for lost mankind? When He gave up Heaven to come to earth, He limited Himself (Philippians 2:7; Matthew 8:10; Mark 6:6). Had He been in Heaven, He would have known precisely why His Father could not save Him. He walked the earth as a man (Hebrews 2:17–18). Jesus also prayed a prayer of commitment on the cross. He had fulfilled everything the prophets of old wrote regarding Him and prayed a simple prayer. “It is finished” (John 19:28–30). He also said, “Father, ‘into Your hands I commit My spirit’” (Luke 23:46). He then died. Our Lord was obviously not a materialist, believing there is only the material world with no spirit world. He knew the body …

By: Howard Johnson As we study the parables of Jesus, we often assume that when He explained the meaning, it was to the twelve only. At least, that is generally how I understood them. When comparing the different versions of the Parable of the Sower, I noted an interesting point. In Luke 8:4–15, Jesus told of a sower who planted seed. The seed fell on four different types of soil and produced varying results. Then, in verse 10, His disciples asked Him what the parable meant, and Jesus answered, “To you it has been given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God, but to the rest it is given in parables, that Seeing they may not see, ‘And hearing they may not understand’” (NKJV). Who is to know and to understand, the twelve or all those who follow Jesus? It is indeed all who follow Jesus. Jesus obviously taught in parables for two reasons. One reason was so those with a limited education would be able to relate to his colorful examples. The second reason was so those who didn’t quite understand would ask for further guidance in their understanding, thus showing their sincere desire to follow. This left the religious leaders of that time out of the circle of understanding unless they humbled themselves enough to ask this lowly carpenter’s son to explain the meaning of life. The point of educating all who asked, and not just the twelve closest to Jesus, is further illustrated in Mark …

By: Tony Clay Most spiritual decline does not begin with a public failure. It begins quietly. A person does not usually wake up one morning and decide to become hard, worldly, dishonest or distant from God. The change starts earlier and deeper. It starts in the heart. That is why Hebrews 3:12 gives a serious warning: “Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God” (ESV). Notice the order. The writer does not say the fall begins first in conduct. He says it begins in the heart. Before the feet go elsewhere, the heart has already moved. This matters because many of us judge ourselves mainly by visible things. We ask whether we attended, served, gave or avoided obvious sins. Those things matter. Scripture, though, keeps pressing deeper. God is concerned not only with what we did but with what is happening inside us while we do it. A heart can drift while a routine stays intact. A person can still show up to worship and slowly lose tenderness toward God. A Christian can still say the right things and begin to feed private resentment, pride, envy or unbelief. Someone can still look steady while becoming less teachable, less grateful, less honest in prayer and less eager to obey. That is why the warning in Hebrews is so important. We are told to “take care.” That means pay attention. Do not assume the heart stays healthy …