Exceptions may be good or they may be bad, depending upon how they are used. One of the main reasons, if not the primary reason, that the English language is so difficult to learn is because it is full of exceptions. Almost every rule in the English language seems to have an exception, maybe even numerous exceptions. In this case, exceptions make life more difficult. On the other hand, we come across a few exceptions in God’s Word. Fortunately for us, these make life easier, and they make our lives worth living. Without these exceptions, our lives would truly be miserable. Let us notice a few of these exceptions. Jesus stated, “…Except ye be converted and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 18:3 KJV). The rule is “ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.” Why is this so? Because of man’s problem with sin, he cannot come into the presence of our holy God (Isaiah 59:1–2). However, our gracious God offers an exception: “Except ye be converted and become as little children.” Those who manifest a humble spirit, a forgiving attitude and a simple trust in God, as little children do, will be exceptions to the rule. Sin will not bar these from entering into the kingdom of Heaven. It is a sad reality that most in this world will choose to adhere to the rule rather than to the exception. Another exception offered by our Lord is this: “Except ye repent, ye shall all

Many events from the life of Joseph exemplify the great faith that he had in God. You may recall the advances of Potiphar’s wife toward the young, vulnerable Joseph. He maintained his purity, for he knew to give in to temptation was to sin against God (Genesis 39:9). Perhaps you remember Joseph’s attitude toward his brothers who had so mistreated him. His faith in God allowed Joseph to maintain an attitude of love and concern for his brothers (Genesis 50:19-21). However, no other event in the life of Joseph shows his great faith in God as does the commandment he gave concerning his death (Genesis 50:25-26) that his bones were to be taken to that land promised by God to His people. Many great lessons can be gleaned from the injunction Joseph gave concerning his burial. First, it shows that Joseph’s faith was not dimmed. He was separated from everything and everyone he knew and loved—everyone, that is, except for God. Joseph was in an idolatrous nation where no one knew him. He could have very easily renounced his faith in God and done as he pleased, but Joseph’s faith in God would not allow him to do so. He was separated from God’s people, yet he was determined to please God, even if he were the only one in the whole nation who was willing to take this stand. His faith was his own. It was not inherited, and it was not reliant upon others. Because of this, Joseph

There have been those who have charged that the Bible is nothing more than a dead letter, that it is devoid of any power to persuade or convict, that it is lifeless. Many assert that the Scriptures are meaningless without an operation of God upon the Word or upon the student of the Word to animate it and make it come alive. There is much said about the way that the Spirit of God is moving among people or helping to enlighten them in their understanding of the Word of God. Are these allegations true? Is it the case that the Word of God, the Bible, is nothing more than a dead letter, and that God has to act upon it in some mysterious (even miraculous) way in order for His Word to speak to us today? What is being missed in this discussion is the fact that God has already acted upon His Word to make it living and active. Paul reminded Timothy that, “All Scripture is given by the inspiration of God” (2 Timothy 3:16). The word translated “inspiration” is from a compound Greek word that means “God-breathed.” That is, the Word of God comes from the very mouth or breath of God. The breath of God caused the inanimate, clay-fashioned body of man to become a living, breathing soul (Genesis 2:7). The Almighty gave life to man and life to His Word in the same way: He breathed life into them both! God, by means of the

The Old Testament required all Jewish males to appear in Jerusalem three times per year to worship and offer sacrifices. “Three times in a year shall all thy males appear before the Lord thy God in the place which he shall choose; in the feast of unleavened bread, and in the feast of weeks, and in the feast of tabernacles: and they shall not appear before the Lord empty” (Deuteronomy16:16). It was imperative that those who made the journey to Jerusalem to worship God not come before Him empty-handed. The Old Law even made provisions for those who could not afford to offer the customary sacrifice for sin of a lamb or a goat (Leviticus 5:7-11). From the wealthiest prince to the lowliest pauper, all were to come before God in worship with something to offer. Herein lies a fundamental principle of our worship to God: Worship is something that we offer, something that we bring before God, and when done in accordance with His Divine will, we know that such offerings will be acceptable to Him. The idea of worship has been lost on many within our generation. For most it is a time to be entertained. Worship has become just another spectator sport, a place to be seen or something to check off the to-do list. It is a shame to see those who claim to love the Lord coming to worship with nothing to offer. Some sit as silent as the tomb while praises are being sung