What a blessing it is to be “in Christ” and daily live our lives unto Him who loved us and gave Himself for us! The apostle Paul developed and maintained a “can do” and an eager attitude as a Christian. “I can do all things through him who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13 ESV). What can I do for Jesus? Ours is a life of becoming someone greater than we used to be. Ours is a life of radical change and transformation so, as we develop, others can say, “I see an increasing likeness of his Father in him.”

One of these days you and I will be part of the greatest assembly ever when we appear before the Judge of all the earth to give account of the deeds we have done while living in our physical bodies (2 Corinthians 5:10). Talk about a moment of truth! What a moment of revelation as the hidden secrets of our hearts are exposed and judged (Romans 2:16)! By His mercy, for some, God has given the gift of today to experience forgiveness and begin a new life in Christ (Romans 6:4). For others, God has given the gift of today with the opportunity to repent and be restored to fidelity. For the rest, God has given the gift of today with the occasion to serve with joy, expressing to Him our deep love and gratitude. Love and gratitude are the greatest of motivators. We see it in our filial relationships: Moms and Dads go to the greatest lengths to care for and to comfort their new-born babies, to provide for and to nurture their young sons and daughters as they develop into adulthood. Grown children, with hearts of love and gratitude, will do everything in their power to help and comfort their parents as they face the sometimes difficult challenges of their golden years. However, there is another relationship that is more vitally important to us than even this blood kinship. It is a unique spiritual relationship with our Heavenly Father that was made possible by the blood of Jesus

God, our Creator and spiritual Father, has many amazing qualities that cannot be fully fathomed, adequately described, measured or appreciated. He is transcendent, the God above all. From our hearts we worship Him as we stand in awe before Him. It has been suggested that God’s greatest attribute is His character of holiness. Nothing else would matter if God wasn’t holy. All through human history God has not merely declared His holiness, but He has demonstrated it too many times to count. The Father, Jesus Christ and the Spirit of God are all infinitely holy (Isaiah 6:3). The natural response to God’s grace is one of holiness (Titus 2:11-14). Jesus suffered and died for you and me not only to save us, but to set us free from the stranglehold of sin and enable us to be holy now. Being called out of the world and translated into the kingdom of heaven, we are to renounce ungodliness, evil lusts and to live soberly, righteously and godly the remainder of our days. My friend, Jesus didn’t go through the shame and anguish of Calvary to give us immunity from an ongoing lifestyle of practicing unrighteousness (1 John 3:5-10). We must not buy into an old doctrine that says what we do in our bodies has no bearing on our spiritual being or our relationship with God. The Christian’s standard is one of holiness. If you and I think like the world, speak like the world, dress like the world and pursue

Autumn is a beautiful time of the year especially with the leaves changing their colors. For that reason, for many it is a favorite time of the year to travel. This can also be a busy time of the year as we try to keep the lawn clean and neat with all the falling leaves. Have you thought lately about the execution of God’s wisdom and power, or the blessing He bestowed on us in creating trees on the third day of creation? We may often take them for granted, but trees have so many useful purposes both for man and wildlife. For instance, trees provide shade, protecting us and our houses from the heat of direct sunlight. Trees supply us with shelter from strong winds during storms. Trees provide building materials for all sorts of things including the construction of our furniture and houses. Trees provide fuel for building fires to cook at a campsite, or to keep us warm during the cold months of winter. Finally, trees provide us with food, a variety of nuts, berries and other fruit to enjoy. When God finished His work on the third day, having made grass, plants and trees, He saw that it was good (Genesis 1:12). As Jesus lived and walked here among men, He used all kinds of things to teach and draw spiritual applications. Even so, Jesus compared the lives of men and the nature of the inner person with fruit-bearing trees. Concerning trees, Jesus well understood that

After executing his plot to avenge his sister Tamar’s rape (2 Samuel 13:1-14) by the slaying of Amnon (13:28-29), Absalom left for Geshur in Syria for three years (13:38). He stayed there until finally given permission to return to his own house, being aided by Joab (14:1-23). Over a period of time, Absalom gave a lot of energy to endearing himself to the people of Israel. He became quite the politician as he, among other things, built himself up while promoting dissatisfaction toward David and his staff, suggesting they were incapable of settling their disputes in an equitable way. By his actions Absalom “stole the hearts of the men of Israel” (2 Samuel 15:1-6). Absalom wanted to be the King, and he led a rebellion against King David. Absalom would do whatever necessary to become king even if it meant murdering his own father. Absalom was able to garner a significant following, which included the elders of the people (2 Samuel 17:4). Set the actions of Absalom in contrast with those of a man by the name of Ittai, the Gittite. Such a vast number of Israel had cast their lot to follow and crown Absalom to succeed his father that David was fearful for their lives and began to lead out of Jerusalem those loyal to him. Then said the king to Ittai the Gittite, Wherefore goest thou also with us? return to thy place, and abide with the king: for thou art a stranger, and also an exile.

Some suppose God is in control of everything and that He manipulates every detail of our lives. When things are going well, God may get the credit; if things are not going so well, He is likely to get the blame. The belief for some is that God instigates every illness, tragic accident, catastrophe, death and even foreordains whether or not a given person will be saved in heaven or lost forever in torment. Some are “comforted” in the knowledge they always have someone else to blame. Is God responsible for every evil thing, or is there a culprit laughing in the shadows while he creates distrust in the hearts of the impressionable? We need to be careful what we accuse God of doing! Perhaps this kind of thinking prompted a church marquee recently that said, “God may disappoint you, but He will never fail.” This writer has disappointed himself, others and especially God, but never has God disappointed. If God never fails (and He doesn’t) then how could He disappoint? God is always good all of the time. His goodness, however, does not preclude the sometimes necessary task of disciplining His children (Hebrews 12:5-11), but that is done out of love and care. Is God guilty of breaking our hearts? God is in total control of only those things over which He has chosen to be in total control. We live presently in a world where God has chosen to exercise varying degrees of control. While He is the Sovereign of

One of the sentries who stood guard at the Tomb of the Unknowns when Hurricane Isabel slammed the Atlantic coast in 2003 was later asked by a reporter why he didn’t seek shelter from the storm. The reporter asked a question about his “silly, purposeless, personal risk” to which the valiant soldier replied, “I wouldn’t expect you to understand. It’s an enlisted man’s thing.” “When practically every government employee in Washington was beating a hasty retreat to avoid the aftereffects of Hurricane Isabel, a small group of men decided their commitment to duty, honor and country was more important than personal safety or comfort” (Texarkana Gazette). People around us, be it family, close friends or neighbors, often do not understand. They can’t understand our thought processes as our hearts are internally developing “the mind of Christ” (Philippians 2:5; 1 Corinthians 2:16). They can’t understand the radically different way we approach life with new values and priorities. They can’t understand our calm in the midst of the storms of life. They can’t understand the peace and confidence with which we approach death (Psalm 23:4; Philippians 4:7). They can’t understand why we rise early on Sunday morning with our families to go to Sunday School and worship our Father above (John 4:23). They can’t understand why we return on Sunday evening for worship and fellowship with the saints. They can’t understand why we go to midweek Bible Study on Wednesday, or why we would assemble three or four week nights for an

Fire ants are a significant, costly problem across the southeastern United States. One means of extermination is by mixing equal amounts of powdered sugar and baking soda, sprinkling it where the ants are visible. The ants love the sugar but are unable to separate the baking soda from the composition, and the chemical reaction in their bodies brings death. Equally deadly to the Christian, spiritually speaking, is the combination of Gospel truth with foreign elements of human or satanic origin. Evil workers in the disguise of “angels of light” (2 Corinthians 11:13-15) often supply their adherents a portion of the sweet as they speak about the love, mercy, grace, power and promises of God. However, they are eager to supplement with portions of opinion, human tradition, philosophy and feel good options for a semi-spiritual – carnal blend. Like the ant, so many are either unable or unwilling to distinguish the good from the harmful. Time and again the Scriptures sound the warning to God’s faithful children not to be duped by error or avoid deception by false teachers (cf. 1 Timothy 4:1-8). Paul grieved over the harmful influence certain people were gaining in Galatia while altering or perverting the Gospel of Christ (Galatians 1:6-9). He knew how life-threatening the danger was (and continues to be). In Philippians 3:18 Paul used a word that meant “to sob” or “wail aloud” when he had warned of false brethren (Judaizing teachers) who opted for and promoted a blend of Judaism and Christianity. They

Millions of people around the globe have been and continue to be influenced by the theological slant of a 16th century reformer named John Calvin. Calvin, influenced by such notables as Augustine, Ulrich Zwingli and Martin Luther, presented views of God and the salvation of man in his Institutes of the Christian Religion. If Calvinism was congruent, or equal to “the Doctrine of Christ,” then we would be discussing Christ and his doctrine, and we may never have heard of the term “Calvinism.” Unfortunately, all too many have bought the assumption that to speak of Calvinism is the same as speaking of Christ and His doctrine. Yet, they are not the same. All men must determine who they are going to follow. Why is there the human tendency for us to either worship or follow after the doctrines of uninspired, mere mortal men? True Christians must follow none other than Jesus Christ, allowing His Word to abide in us. Will we hear Calvin, Krishna or Christ? God says, “Hear my Son” (cf., Matthew 17:5; Hebrews 1:2). Calvinism has its own distinct way of viewing God. With an improper view of God’s sovereignty, Calvin took it to the extreme by claiming that God makes all the choices and is responsible for everything that happens. Calvin says before the foundation of the world, God chose specific individuals (he foreknew and foreordained) to be among the “elect.” On the other hand, those specific individuals he did not predestine to be among the elect are

Confidence is important in every area of life. When we were young babies, it was helpful as we took those first steps in learning to walk. If we lacked it, we preferred to crawl and perhaps did so a bit longer than others. As an older child, upon receiving the first bicycle, again confidence became an issue as we learned to ride. For some in later years, there were training wheels that helped us keep our balance. Taking those wheels off could often be an agonizing decision for both child and parent. In both of the examples above, it becomes apparent there is a correlation between one’s experience and one’s confidence. If the experience is one that is good and positive, confidence grows stronger and there is encouragement to try another step. However, if there is serious failure initially, then one’s confidence takes flight as on the wings of a dove. Confidence is so greatly needed in our spiritual lives, too. We should be interested in knowing whether the message falling upon our ears is truly from God. Is the speaker or writer speaking as the oracles of God (1 Peter 4:11; 1 Thessalonians 2:13)? Upon determination the message is truly the message of God, confidence is needed in our hearts as we take those first steps in answering the call of the Gospel. We need confidence that God will keep His promise in cleansing our sins and forgiving our unrighteousness upon our obeying the truth of the Gospel. This

In unison, we join with the psalmist when he declared his desire to praise our majestic Creator as we acknowledge we are “fearfully and wonderfully made” (Psalm 139:14). God made us so as to have emotions, and then, through non-verbal communication, express these through a variety of facial expressions that are created by involuntary muscle movements or muscle positions in the skin. At times, we communicate positive messages, but sometimes quite the opposite. A smile, for instance, can show approval; it also can indicate a sense of well-being and inner joy. It is easily distinguished from an angry look, a snarl or scowl. A number of emotional expressions enable us to “talk” to a foreign citizen without speaking a word. When God commissioned Jeremiah and prepared him for his prophetic office, He anticipated the difficult challenges Jeremiah would face in discharging his responsibility to faithfully declare God’s message to a wayward people. God comforted the young man when He said, “Be not afraid of their faces: for I am with thee to deliver thee, saith the Lord” (Jeremiah 1:8). God knew beforehand what Jeremiah would be up against sometimes while preaching: hard looks, consternation or hatred. Just as verbal communication proceeds from the heart (Matthew 15:18-19), so does the non-verbal. Facial expressions convey so much to others. What is the nature of the messages we are sending to others within the body of Christ during the week or during times of meeting in the assembly? Do we convey that we

There are numerous female personalities who are characterized favorably in Holy Scripture. Details of their lives fill all our hearts with delight and encouragement as we struggle with many of the same temptations and challenges they encountered. Whether Bible characters are male or female, we can always learn from examples of faith, courage, love, compassion, moral purity and dedicated, zealous service to our Lord and Master. One such person of interest in early Christian history is a God-fearing lady of Thyatira by the name of Lydia. Paul, being accompanied by his missionary team in Philippi, made contact with this business lady, who was a seller of purple. Luke recorded how the place of their meeting was on a river bank as she and her companions, apparently having become proselytes of the Jewish faith, had come to worship God. Therefore, Lydia held important knowledge about the one true and living God Who created this magnificent universe and had given promise to bless all nations through the seed of faithful Abraham. No doubt it was through God’s providential working that the two were brought together to bring about such thrilling results. Paul, Silas and Luke sat down and conversed with them about the manifestation of God’s grace through Jesus Christ, that Jesus of Nazareth was the fulfillment of the messianic prophecies. Lydia and her household came to learn that Jesus was Prophet, Priest and King, and that, as Priest, He has offered Himself for the sins of the world upon that old

As Americans, we prize knowledge and understanding. We ardently pursue knowledge in many fields. For instance, we want our doctors to have the latest information and be up-to-date on the newest findings through scientific research, etc. We do not accept ignorance on the part of our doctors. We will not spend much time and money going to one that is incompetent. Why would we assume God accepts our ignorance about the way of life? There were terrible consequences to the people’s rejection of knowledge, which led to their judgment by the Lord. They were rejected by God and destroyed (Hosea 4:6). What a contrast is Timothy in the New Testament: “And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus (2 Timothy 3:15; cf. 3:13-17). The Holy Bible is God’s revelation from his infinite mind to our finite minds. Man has no higher purpose than to vigorously pursue spiritual wisdom from above and walk in heaven’s light. You are invited to contact us indicating your interest in learning more of God’s will.

Paul, the great evangelist and apostle of Jesus Christ, was born in Tarsus, a city of Cilicia (Acts 22:3), and he became a Roman citizen by birth just as so many of us are American citizens by birth. On an occasion recorded by Luke in Acts 22, the Jews created a stir as Paul had entered the city of Jerusalem. He was rescued by the Roman officers, and they were preparing to scourge him in attempt to obtain information. However, there were rights Paul held as a Roman citizen. So he asked, “Is it lawful for you to scourge a man that is a Roman, and uncondemned?” (Acts 22:25). In his investigation of the matter, the chief military officer told Paul he had purchased his own citizenship with “a great sum.” Irrespective of one’s national citizenship, far more important are the incomparable blessings and privileges that come to all those who are citizens of the heavenly kingdom through the new birth. Having been “born again” (John 3:3-5), we are presently the Sons of God (1 John 3:1-2). What greater honor can be bestowed upon an individual? You and I have been made “kings and priests” unto God by our brother who is “the prince of the kings of the earth” (Revelation 1:5-6). Being a citizen of the kingdom of heaven, you and I are free from the captivating power of sin. Through the Gospel, the Prince of life has delivered us from the prince of this world and the kingdom

An elder once shared with a prospective new minister matters pertaining to the makeup of the congregation for which he served as one of the overseers. He lamented the fact the congregation was not that well united. He went on to describe what he saw as the presence of a number of cliques within the church. During the interview process, the elder asked the preacher what he would do in his approach to create one united body and work toward the elimination of the cliques. The preacher began to share his thoughts with the group of elders that were gathered around the table. He began to suggest how he would take some time either teaching or preaching from the Scriptures the doctrine of unity. Remarkably, the preacher was quickly cut off by the elder, who then stated, “You’re too idealistic.” The preacher left the meeting wondering what the “right answer” might have otherwise been. Was the elder looking for some type of modern day gimmick or ideas that were the fruit of human philosophy? It is terribly sad that we live in a day when sometimes even the leaders of the Lord’s church no longer look to the Lord or no longer appeal to Bible solutions to life’s or the church’s complex problems. If members of the family of God no longer want to hear from Christ and what He has to say about the unity of believers, then to whom will they turn? How can there be a real

Religious teachers have come and gone, but hands down, Jesus is the greatest teacher ever to walk upon the face of the earth. Unlike the scribes of His day, Jesus spoke with the highest authority because His message was direct from the Father (John 7:16-18). No divine spokesman ever spoke with higher authority than God’s Son. When the Judgment Day comes, and it shall, every accountable person will be judged. Jesus said, “He that rejecteth me and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day” (John 12:48; cf. vs. 49-50). Any doctrine that teaches or implies that accountable, saved people may habitually practice unrighteousness, and yet maintain God’s favor, is a doctrine that has not proceeded from the throne of God. Any doctrine that suggests there will be additional opportunities to prepare for heaven after death or upon Jesus’ return is a doctrine whose source is not from heaven. Any doctrine that proposes that all that is necessary to go to heaven is to be born into the world, or simply agree with God that Jesus is His only begotten Son, is a doctrine whose origin is not the Father. “…[P]repare to meet your God…” (Amos 4:12).

With current events here and abroad, we are reminded how fragile and uncertain life is (James 4:13-14). Often anxiety is associated with the unknown. Then, there is the question of “Why?” Some questions seem to go unanswered. Perhaps many of them have been answered and are waiting to be discovered in Scripture. From a study of the Holy Bible… I know that God cares for you and me. I know he will provide basic necessities of life for His dear children (Matthew 6:25-34; 7:9-11). I know that my redeemer is alive and well. I know He completed the work His Father gave Him to do and now is reigning. I know that “God is light, and in him is no darkness at all” (1 John 1:5). I know that whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin (John 8:34), and Jesus says if we die in our sins that we cannot come to be with him (John 8:21). I know the victory God provides over sin and death is through Christ (1 Corinthians 15:57). I know that God has called all of His children to become part of one body, one family, one kingdom. Friend, you are invited to contact us indicating your interest in learning more of God’s will.

The words of Jesus continue to resonate while bringing reassurance and joy to our hearts since they are equally true today as they were when first spoken by our gracious Lord: “I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly” (John 10:10). It is so wonderful to be a Christian and joyfully experience the life, peace and freedom one can only know when he is “in Christ” and abiding in him (John 15:1-14). A Christian is one who knows the immeasurable joy felt within the heart by having the remission of his sins and the removal of his guilt. The apostle Peter answered the inquiry of some whose hearts were pricked by the Gospel message on Pentecost: “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins” (Acts 2:38). Like the obedient believers on Pentecost and the Eunuch of Ethiopia (Acts 8:39), we rejoice and praise God because our sins are forgiven through Christ’s offering of Himself. Jesus, the Son of God, came not into this world for the purpose of condemning us (John 3:17) (which he rightfully might have done due to our unrighteousness), but rather He came to deliver and save us from our sins. According to Jesus’ teaching in John 3:18-21, you and I have the obligation of making a choice as we live in the present: to come into the light and walk therein with Jesus and consequently experience no

Decades ago, there were three large wooden crosses set up along the highway in various locations across the South. For years now, these have served to remind travelers on their journey of God’s indescribable gift of a Savior so desperately needed to deliver us from our sins (Matthew 1:21).  Within three miles of this writer stand three wooden crosses. However, with the passing of time, the view has become almost completely obstructed by the overgrowth of trees and bushes. Today, very few make eye contact with these crosses, and few know where they are located.  “Out of sight, out of mind” is a familiar saying that carries the idea that something is easily forgotten or dismissed as unimportant if it is not in our direct view. Could God’s redeemed ever forget or dismiss the cross as being unimportant, outdated or irrelevant in our lives and for our time?  So many worldly things compete for our attention and devotion. If we lose sight of the most valuable things (those that are spiritual and pertain to the kingdom of heaven), we will be shut out when Jesus comes. In Luke 14:15-24, Jesus taught and warned of this in His Parable of the Great Supper. Still today, most people do not make time for God. People are still honing their excuse-making skills. Through the centuries, Jesus’ words still ring, “That none of those men which were bidden shall taste of my supper” (vs. 24). Whatever worldly things that crop up to divert our attention

All members are joined together in one body by the Spirit. All members submit to the Headship of Christ and yield their personal preferences to His will. All members are given opportunities for unique interpersonal relationships with one another. All members share a common bond that is most uncommon. All members are daily developing even more into the image of Christ. All members supply what is needed to every other member without demanding something in return. All members care equally about the welfare of all other members. All members recognize their need for each other. All members participate toward the designed function of the body. All members cooperate with each other to get a task completed. All members of the body are willing to make personal sacrifices to advance the mission of the body. All members suffer and rejoice with those who suffer or rejoice. All members contribute toward the growth and edification of the body.

Long ago the psalmist penned words so true of God’s provision until time as we know it shall end: “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path” (Psalm 119:105). Such illumination is desperately needed “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord” (Isaiah 55:8). Friend, we must neither give lip service to God nor to the admonition given through Solomon to “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths” (Proverbs 3:5). The question of the hour is this: Are you and I really willing to follow Jesus wherever He leads us? Are we willing to count the cost and pay the price to be His disciple? A world renowned preacher once admitted that if he taught the truth that he would lose his following. He had a choice to make: on the one hand he could stand up for Jesus and be a real disciple, and be exalted by God; or, on the other, he could conceal the truth and preach it like the masses wanted it, and be lifted up by men. Friend, you are invited to contact us indicating your interest in learning more of God’s will.

Every day there are people who do others wrong whether by word or deed. Unfortunately, the doing of wrong to others is often committed by those of us who claim to be God-fearing Christians. Why do Christians mistreat others knowing full-well God is highly offended when we cause unnecessary hurt, and further that He will execute judgment and wrath upon us? Isn’t it past time we truly learn “the more excellent way” of which Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 12:31ff? In the first three verses of 1 Corinthians Chapter 13, we note that without love: (1) Our speech is a noisy gong; (2) In spite of what gifts with which we have been endowed, we are nothing; (3) Any sacrificial acts we make profit us nothing. Friend, what is the value, then, in professing with our mouths to be a Christian, if our behavior toward others is no better (and sometimes even worse) than that of the world? Jesus teaches that what we do unto the brethren is what we do unto Him (Matthew 25:40; cf. Acts 9:1-4). Do we realize that we abuse the Lord and wound His heart through injuring even “the least of these”? In John’s first epistle, we observe indicators of our identity: “In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother” (1 John 3:10). “The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one

What a wonderful thought for our minds to focus upon and to be actively engaged in contemplation. It is a noble thought, a healthy and most worthy one. It gives the faint-hearted cheer and encouragement in a moment of trial. It empowers the struggling to make the right choice in a time of temptation. However, this is no time for self-satisfaction by having the realization we are heaven-bound. Together, we must continue to diligently sow, water and “bring in the sheaves” for our Master. It is undetermined on our part just how many more souls may yet be won to Christ as we reach out in love with the Gospel of the everlasting kingdom. “Together” is used with purpose in the title of our considered topic. In God’s superior and infinite wisdom, He has so arranged that we be “together” in fellowship with Him and with one another. Deity’s plan is for God-fearing, Christ-following, Spirit-filled believers to walk the Christian walk together in love and unity as dear children (Ephesians 5:1-2). Satan’s objective is to get us off by ourselves where we feel we are isolated, alienated and all alone without a Christian friend to care. There is strength in numbers, but only when God is among the number. May we continue to walk together along the straight and narrow path (Matthew 7:13-14). We need God. We also need each other. “But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the

God is good (Mark 10:18). Because He is good, it naturally follows that He is found in all of history practicing what is good and right. No exception. Jesus, the Son of God, came into the world, and He did, in fact, “show us the Father” (John 14:8-9). The apostle Peter, a witness among many privileged to see such Light (John 1:9), declared in truth that He “went about doing good” (Acts 10:38). It is only natural that the Son of God would be caught up in the doing of good. After all, He is “the Son of His Father.” He was God in the flesh. Being begotten of Him and born of His seed, it follows that we, too, will be found busy in the practice of what is good on a daily basis. By God’s design, we have been redeemed (Titus 2:14), raised up (Ephesians 2:6) to pass “from death unto life” (John 5:24) and positioned within the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:18) in order to practice the doing of good works (Ephesians 2:10). Therefore, the contrast is set by God for His children. We are to be “a pattern of good works” (Titus 2:7), unlike those who are yet children of darkness and remain “unfit for any good work” (Titus 1:16 ESV). “In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother” (1 John 3:10). Christians are

With the national political conventions, “opportunity” is a word that has been bouncing around quite a bit over the past couple of weeks. In that context, it most often relates to the idea of having the chance to advance oneself, and thereby to improve one’s family, one’s community and nation. When I think of the word “opportunity,” I think of one having an optimistic spirit filled with hope about what could be a potential reality. Each day that God allows you and me to open our eyes and get out of bed is a day filled with new opportunities, not to advance or promote ourselves, but to uphold and spread the body of Christ. Toward that end the apostle Paul wrote, “As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men…” (Galatians 6:10). Real, heaven-bound Christians, then, are ones who utilize their time to practice good rather than evil. Doing “good” is a wide umbrella that may involve a broad range of things we may (and are to) do to bless the lives of “all men” with whom we come in contact during the day. The possibilities are limitless. The will to do good to one’s fellowman will be intertwined with such traits as courtesy, compassion, respect, thoughtfulness, kindness and love. These are godly qualities instilled in God’s children by the influence of the Spirit. “For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure” (Philippians 2:13). Being held in

You are given a picture. A school teacher asks, “What is it?” Your first response might be, “I’m not quite sure.” It is not too difficult to describe, but harder to identify. Different folks might have different ideas. However, to the one who made it, it represents only one thing – a train approaching as it comes through a tunnel. This information affects one’s future answer if asked again. A passage from Scripture is read. A Bible class teacher asks, “What does this verse mean to you?” This form of question makes it subjective. Fifty people might have fifty different answers. Forty-nine of them may be well “off the mark,” but none are considered incorrect since it was prefaced by what it means “to you.” If it means a certain thing to me does it necessarily follow that is what it means to God? A what-it-means-to-me subjective approach to Scripture has contributed to a divisive, denominational and unbiblical approach to Christianity. Rather, the Scriptures are designed to be approached in an objective way. God has revealed His message through Jesus, His apostles and additional penmen of Scripture via the Holy Spirit. The sense is vitally important. God is communicating the same message to every living individual. To God, the Author of the Holy Bible, a passage has its meaning. God wants every one of us to see what He is communicating to us. God wants us all to believe what He believes. Is God wrong? No way. God does not alter His thinking or His criteria

In our preadolescent years, we may begin planning for the future. These thoughts may be stimulated by questions often asked like, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” So, our minds are intrigued by the questions of a lifetime pertaining to one’s interests and pursuits: “Where will I live?” “What will I do?” “What will I be?” The early years of our youth are formative. Our eyes begin to open up to the world around us, and we see things in a different light. We begin to develop core values we will carry with us into adolescence, adulthood and throughout life. Let’s make a spiritual application to these important questions. Where will I live? Regardless of where I live, physically speaking, I will live my life “in Christ” since this is the only place where one can truly live and grasp the true meaning of life. Jesus came to bless my life with the intention of enabling me to experience “abundant living” (John 10:10). “In him” is life (John 1:4). He is the personification of love, light, truth and life. He announced, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (John 14:6). I will live all my days being faithful to the one with whom I have entered this spiritual covenant. What will I be? Regardless of what I become, professionally speaking, I will be “a Christian.” It is the highest honor for me to wear the

A mechanical instrument is an inanimate object. Since it is non-living, therefore, it is unable to comprehend any message from its maker. It does not entertain any rational thoughts to communicate to its maker. A mechanical instrument never expresses appreciation to its maker for making it in the first place, or to its owner for taking good care of it. It has no spirit with which to convey gratitude for its owner cleaning it, protecting it from bad weather or from abuse by a pet or small child. The members of our body are to be used faithfully as instruments of righteousness (Romans 6:13). While God wonderfully created man [not only physically, but also spiritually (in his own image)], including his heart and his lips whereby he may praise God, every mechanical instrument is inferior simply from the standpoint it is manmade. God is able to use the instruments he has made and sanctified for His service (i.e., our composite being – including our hearts and tongues). “By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name” (Hebrews 13:15). In worship, man communicates messages from his spirit to God who is the infinite Spirit. These messages must convey our deep humility and submission to His Divine authority. God is God. I am not God. God is not a man, and so His thoughts and ways transcend our own. God has communicated through command and approved

A father advised his son who was struggling with some math problems in pre-algebra, “Don’t worry about the how’s or the why’s, son. Just learn the rules and apply them to the individual problems and everything will work out.” What a wise principle for us to follow in our relationship with God – simply to trust what He says, not worrying about the how’s or the why’s, just applying His commands and instructions to salvation and the routine of daily living. Everything will work out. The most wonderful topic of discussion that two minds may entertain pertains to the greatest story of heavenly love – the soul’s salvation from every form of besetting sin and deliverance from eternal ruin. In part, this is because the issue of sin has always, and always will be man’s greatest problem so long as we live in this mortal flesh. Therefore, we are presented with our greatest need in the world – a spiritual one – salvation. There are those who are not accountable, and thus, have no sin before God. These would include children, and those who are not mentally competent to understand the difference between right and wrong (Matthew 19:14). However, when we transgress God’s commands, we become sinners (1 John 3:4). Becoming sinners, we die spiritually and are enslaved by the captivating power of sin. In this defiled condition, we cannot stand before our holy God. We have alienated ourselves from Him. We become like the sheep God’s prophet described as

John Calvin, famed 16th century reformer, taught many preachers who attended his theological school in Geneva, Switzerland. Since the teaching of German reformers heightened Calvin’s interest in theology, he decided to continue his study in the realm of religion instead of pursuing law. Over some 25 years, he wrote, edited and set his beliefs down in a formal record known as The Institutes of the Christian Religion. His influence continues to be felt more than four centuries after his death by tuberculosis, while the doctrines he made so popular have found a place in the heart and creeds of as many as 80 to 90 percent of mainline denominations. Calvin’s doctrine held that every man born into the world upon birth became infected, as it were, by Adam’s sin, often referred to as “Original Sin.” It is claimed that we do not only experience the effects of Adam’s sin, but we also inherit his guilt of sin (cf. Ezekiel 18:20), and our very nature is totally depraved upon birth. Therefore, upon birth, we supposedly were totally depraved and hateful toward God and everything good and holy, deserving God’s condemnation and the wrath of hell. This is his doctrine of total, hereditary depravity, the unbiblical foundation upon which everything else (equally unbiblical) in his system is built. Calvin’s doctrine imposes limitations on the power of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, which was commissioned by the Lord to be carried into the entire world and delivered to every person. The doctrine of this uninspired, human system suggests

Why would a man chooseblindness over sight?Why would a man choosedarkness over light?Why would a man choosehatred over love?Why would a man choosea thief like Satan, over God’sgift from above?Why would a man choosethe broad path that leads todestruction, over God’s greatguidance and patient instruction?Why would a man choosehis own opinion and speculation,over God’s Word made knownthrough the Spirit’s revelation?Why would a man choosefilth, separation and alienation,over God’s cleansing power andglorious sanctification?Why would a man choosehunger and starvation, over thebread of life provided freely to allwithin his holy nation?Why would a man chooseunquenched thirst, over drinkingfrom the fountain of life that he benot accursed?Why would a man choosedeath over life?Why would a man not choosepeace and unity, over religiousdivision, confusion and strife?

As it has been through the history of God’s dealing with man, so it remains in our day. Some believe God’s testimony while many others reject it, making God out to be a liar. However, God doesn’t lie. Abraham told the agonizing rich man upon his decease that if his brothers would not hear Moses and the prophets, neither would they be persuaded if one should rise from the dead to testify of God’s demand for them to turn to him and produce fruits of repentance (cf. Luke 16:19ff). Of course, the parallel for our day is we have been given the message of Christ and His chosen apostles whose message has been delivered from heaven through the Spirit. Jesus is the prophet sent from the Heavenly Father who knows no equal (much less a superior prophet) in heaven or on earth. To Him is given all power, authority and dominion in the entire universe. God still says, “Hear ye him” (Matthew 17:1-5). Unlike any other personality who ever lived, Jesus was called of the Father to fill the roles established for Him as Prophet, Priest and King, and He has filled them in a magnificent way. John, the apostle of love, dealt in his general epistle of 1 John with a doctrine of the late first century A.D. that denied that Jesus, the Anointed Son of God, had actually come in the flesh. He went on to describe them as a group of antichrists who, in so doing, not

A few years ago, a book was published titled, What to Say When You Don’t Know What to Say. This is a natural fear for some folks – to be in a situation where one cannot find the right word to fit the occasion. Recently, a lady resident at the local nursing facility replied, “I don’t know what to say to that.” This was undoubtedly quite an unusual circumstance for this personable lady. Some people seem never to be at a loss for words. They talk. Talk. Talk. If there is nothing else better to do, they will talk some more. Some people talk and never really say anything. Many politicians are clever at this. Some folks have a reputation for cluttering the airwaves and wearing people out by their much speaking. However, a good conversationalist can find the right words, but knows how to listen, too. Being followers of Jesus, we are to select our words carefully. Our words are powerful. They can cheer the heart and bring a glowing smile. Alternatively, they can make the tears stream down one’s cheeks as a river out of its banks. Our words can hearten and encourage; our words can wound and undermine the spirit’s vigor. Jesus chose His words wisely. He never “flew off the handle,” nor did he go into a tirade with His opponents. He never sinned through His wording. God’s infallible, living Word instructs us in the employment of our tongues: ‘There is a time to speak, and there

God has created us with the capacity to create and store memories. Memories may be of such a nature they are cherished, and they are considered a wonderful treasure that cannot be taken away. On the other hand, they may be so negative that we may be haunted by them, and we just wish that somehow they would go away. Memory is so important in the daily life of the Christian. There are things our Heavenly Father wants us to remember. You and I need to remember the eternal God is our Father and that we rightfully belong to him by adoption (Romans 8:15; Ephesians 1:5). We need to remember we are responsible and accountable as “stewards of the manifold grace of God” (1 Peter 4:10). We should remember that He is the source of every good and perfect gift (James 1:17). We must remember we have been purged from our old sins (2 Peter 1:9), and that being dead to sin, we are alive unto God and servants of righteousness (Romans 6:11, 18). We need to remember that Jesus is coming again, possibly even today, to take his faithful followers to their glorious heavenly home. What kind of memories are you creating for others to hold? What will be the nature of the memories that will be shared by your family, church family, neighbors, friends and coworkers when you have passed from the scene of life? Perhaps there is yet time to create memories that are more wonderful. How

How tragic truly it is that some cannot bring themselves to acknowledge their need and dependence upon Jesus. We are all familiar with the “macho” types at least some of which deny their need for anybody. They are overfilled with pride or a sense they can handle life and everything that comes with it on their own terms and by their own power, “thank you very much.” Consequentially, relationships on all levels, including the spiritual dimension, suffer. However, it is not weak to admit you need Jesus. Historically, there always have been men who have sought and “found” one excuse or another to excuse themselves for disallowing Jesus from becoming the principal person in their lives (Luke 14:26-27, 33). However, there is no reasonable basis for keeping Jesus locked out of one’s heart (Revelation 3:20). A heart hardened by sin is most often times the culprit. Jesus, whose wisdom and power surpasses our own is well able to bring benefits to our lives like none other (John 10:10). It was imperative for the Queen of the South to inconvenience herself in traveling such tremendous distance to investigate the reports of Solomon’s wisdom and fame. In Jesus we find one whose wisdom and glory extraordinarily surpasses that of King Solomon (Matthew 12:42). On one occasion, recorded by Matthew in chapter 8:23-27, Jesus was crossing the Sea of Galilee in a boat with His disciples when a terrible storm came, and they were afraid they were soon to be cast into the

The Corinthian church held a special place in the heart of the evangelist and apostle Paul. No doubt this was, in part, because he and Timothy were co-laborers together with God in sowing the seed of the Gospel in that part of Achaia during the middle of the 1st century A.D. (1 Corinthians 3:9). Paul was thrilled God had given the increase (3:6-7). In consideration of the rank idolatry and gross immorality so prevalent in that strategic commercial city, it is hard to imagine any ancient city needing the prevailing benefit of the Gospel any more than did they. Now they were washed, justified and sanctified! While Paul was later evangelizing the city of Ephesus, he learned of plenty perplexing problems through both oral and written means of communication. He experienced heartache and deep sadness prompting his tears to flow as he penned what we know as 1 Corinthians. About a year or so later, he would give the Corinthian saints insight into his emotions as he penned the earlier epistle. “For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote unto you with many tears; not that ye should be grieved, but that ye might know the love which I have more abundantly unto you” (2 Corinthians 2:4). The epistle of 2 Corinthians informs us how Paul “believed in the Corinthians” that they would do what was right in a number of areas needing attention. Apparently, Titus had been less optimistic. However, Paul was proven that his confidence

Near the conclusion of Jesus’ address to the multitudes in His Sermon on the Mount, He declared, “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 7:21). This is a passage that must be embedded in our minds. We should not live a day without pondering its meaning and significance to our lives and others around us. The term “Lord” is translated from a word in the Koine Greek, kurios, which, according to Strong, is the title of one who is “supreme in authority, that is controller.” Thayer adds that the title is one “of honour expressive of respect and reverence, with which servants greet their master.” Jesus came to this earth, in part, to bring the message of God’s will to all of humanity so we would not live and die in ignorance. In His prayer to the Father, Jesus said, “For I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me…” (John 17:8). God no longer winks at ignorance, but commands all men everywhere to repent (Acts 17:30). Saul of Tarsus asked the right question when he made the query of Jesus, “Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?” (Acts 9:6). A man demonstrating great wisdom, Saul, did as the Lord told him to do. He went into the city of Damascus and waited for Ananias. Saul was ultimately forgiven of his past sins when he

What does the future hold in store for the Lord’s church? This is a question on many of our minds. We are in the midst of an “identity crisis,” and some are working toward a complete makeover that would alter our identity altogether and fashion us after the denominational mold. Our future as a body of believers will surely be determined by whether we choose to march to the cadence of modern culture, or to Jesus the Christ. Who will we follow; whose side are we on in this present-day battle between good and evil, light and darkness, right and wrong? You and I must have the realization that when we are “in step” with the world, we are “out of step” with Jesus. God is unwilling to share our affection with the world: “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him (1 John 2:15). The Lord’s brother also wrote through inspiration of the Spirit, “Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God” (James 4:4). There are “terrorists” (messengers of Satan) on board and seeking to hijack the “ship of Zion” just as terrorists were on board United flight 93 on September 11, 2001. That day is permanently etched into our national psyche. The terrorists’ objective was to

“Are you in the zone?” was a question frequently heard during the week of June while we were at Maywood Christian Camp outside Hamilton, Alabama. It was sort of a way of rallying the “troops” to make sure we were keeping our spirits up and our attitudes in check as the fatigue factor set in due to the heat and lack of rest. Amazingly, it’s not too hard to stay “in the zone” with all the wonderful things taking place and as we together sought to draw nearer to God away from all the everyday distractions we experience. Christians, however, do not need to be concerned about “being in the zone” one week of the year. We can, and must be “in the zone” 52 weeks of the year. Are you “In the Zone?” First of all, to be “in the zone” you must be “in the kingdom of heaven.” The kingdom of heaven is an expression that is used synonymously with “the church” that Jesus promised to build (Matthew 16:18) and which promise was kept as his church was established through the plan and power of God (Acts 2). So, Jesus is Lord and King in the lives of those who have “obeyed the gospel of the kingdom” and are daily surrendering their lives to the fulfilling of His will. Those who are yet held by “the power of darkness” (Colossians 1:13) are not as yet “in the zone” of which we speak, but there is hope for you.

We must be careful to avoid underestimating the power of words although they may seem so small. Wikipedia, the online encyclopedia, says a word is “a unit of language that carries meaning.” Since words can carry such weight, either breaking the heart or making it sing joyfully, they must be used with discretion. According to Jesus, each of us will be judged, in part, upon the basis of our use of words (Matthew 12:37). Our inner man should yearn with the Psalmist, “Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer” (Psalm 19:14). The Holy Spirit, through Solomon, teaches us there is “a time to every purpose under the heaven” (Ecclesiastes 3:1), including “a time to keep silence, and a time to speak…” (3:7). Heavenly wisdom, which we are to request of our Father (James 1:5), enables us to discern when to speak and when to hold our peace. God’s purposes fail to be fulfilled in us when we are silent when we should have spoken; or, at those moments we speak (saying the wrong thing) when we rather should have remained silent. While silence may be “golden” on occasions, there are certain things it can never accomplish. Silence is not God’s strategy for imparting His will to men. God “hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son” (Hebrews 1:2). When Jesus was here in the flesh, He did not keep silent. Instead,

Jesus, the Master Teacher, once answered a question posed by the inquiring Jewish leaders by asking one of His own. They demanded to know just who had given Him authority to teach in the Temple; obviously, they had not given Him their consent to do so. Jesus replied, “The baptism of John, whence was it? from heaven, or of men?” (Matthew 21:25). Their cowardly fear and pride would not allow them to answer Jesus. As they would not answer His question, He chose not to answer theirs. In this present article, I want us to consider a pertinent question: “Is it from heaven, or is it of men?” Where there is a doctrinal position, a moral guideline or a practice in which one engages religiously, the question should be asked pertaining to it: “Is it from heaven, or is it of men?” It should be recognized that the question is worded in such a way that under consideration is an “either or” proposition. It is so fashioned that we cannot have it “both ways” since a doctrine, for instance, cannot have its origin from God and man simultaneously. A given moral standard is one that either comes from God, our Creator, or it is one that has been proposed and espoused by man, the created being. Sometimes, men devise their own doctrines and religious practices in preference to the ones God has revealed within the Sacred Text. Sadly, man has failed to resist the temptation to rewrite the Bible according

Have you ever had your mom take just one look at you when you got home and before you could find the right word, she began the fine tuned interrogative process? One sunny day a young teen came home from play and adventure across his parents’ farm carrying his bolt-action .22 caliber rifle. The boy was hunting in an attempt to find some living creature or dangerous animal that might warrant being fired upon. This particular hunt was turning out to be a disappointment. No bear. No lion. No fox. Not even a groundhog to raise its head. However, on his way home he spotted the slow movement of a skunk, of all things, waddling along a fence line and coming in his direction. Of course, he knew there was potential trouble, but he thought he was clearly at a safe distance. This young man had never come up against a real live skunk before, and he thought, how far can Sweet Sue throw her perfume anyway? Later, on his way to the house empowered by his sensory faculties, he began to sense the heap of trouble he was actually in. His mom took just one look, or perhaps whiff, and the questions came a flying. “Where have you been?” Then, the companion question, “What have you been doing?” The lad tried to explain, “You see mom, I was out there on the farm and along came this little skunk, and uh, uh, well, you know, uh.” There was no

Today, puzzles come in many different forms. They have been used through the years to challenge the mind and at times simply for entertainment. Puzzles were first used as a tool for teaching geography around the middle of the 18th century. Are there any spiritual applications? In God’s family, there are no pieces that do not fit. The puzzle of God’s family is designed, created and arranged by God Himself. Paul wrote, “But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him” (1 Corinthians 12:18). In the puzzle analogy, every piece of the puzzle has a place where it belongs. Just as the pieces of a puzzle are designed to interconnect at a certain place and in just the right way, so the Designer of the Spiritual Family Puzzle has designed us to interconnect in just the right way to avoid being “loose fitting.” No, one piece of the puzzle cannot say to another, “Get away from me, you do not fit, you do not belong in this puzzle.” Also, who may sit by me in worship? God is a Builder, a Constructor, while Satan works feverishly to destruct and tear the puzzle apart. He loves it when pieces of the puzzle become damaged and lost. You can have a beautiful 500 piece puzzle put together and placed prominently on display, but if just one piece is missing, its glory is diminished. You and I need to be out there searching, allowing God

How often do you think about your relationship with God? Have you given it much thought recently? Do you realize Satan wants us to live each day as though there is no God? Can we become so busy with such important things that we forget His presence and our real dependence on Him? Is it possible for you and me to become quite similar to those spoken of in Scripture who did not like to retain the knowledge of God in their minds? What do you think about the current state of your relationship with God? Are you and I in the great number of those in our society who would rather not think about that? Does that make us feel a bit uncomfortable? Or, do you have a healthy, thriving relationship? If you are willing to examine and evaluate in light of Scripture, what do you think God thinks about the state of your relationship with Him? Is God well-pleased? Have you given thought to what changes God may want you to make to produce a stronger, more satisfying relationship with Him? Have you thought about examining the life of Jesus to determine what it was, specifically, that enabled Him to have such a close-knit, tight relationship with our Heavenly Father? Do you suppose Jesus can give us insight into building a stronger, meaningful relationship with the Father in heaven? What relationship do you experience with another/others that is more significant than the relationship you and I are able

It was a day like most days before, and yet it was wonderfully different. When the rooster crowed early and he awoke to the dawning of a new day, he never imagined how life-altering this day would be. Later in the day, the forty-something-year-old man had been brought to a prime location at the gate of the temple called “Beautiful.” There he had come to seek alms from beautiful spirited, benevolent countrymen coming to pray in the middle of the afternoon. He couldn’t work to provide a living, to purchase material goods, or a roof over his head. Why, he couldn’t even stand on his feet, for he had a disease that had afflicted him every single day of his life. What a grand occasion in a public setting for the power and the glory of God to be set on display once again. Among the multitudes, along came Peter and John to pray. Peter and John approached the needy man, and whether they searched themselves for any spare coins we simply are not told. At Peter’s command, they fastened their eyes on one another and Peter spoke with confidence the cheer bringing words:  “Silver and gold have I none, but such as I have give I unto thee. In the name of Jesus of Nazareth, rise up and walk” (Acts 3:6). Peter then took him by the right hand, lifted him up, and his feet and ankle bones immediately received strength. He jumped for joy and praised our God

While things of this present sphere remain, political kingdoms will rise in dominance, peak and fall. There are, however, two spiritual kingdoms that will continue until the end of time: one is the kingdom of darkness, which is ruled by Satan and his evil cohorts; the other is the kingdom of heaven, also known as the kingdom of Jesus, the Christ. In addition to having different rulers, there are the following distinctive features: The kingdom of darkness and the kingdom of light have distinguishing objectives. The kingdom of heaven seeks to bless God’s creation, especially man; the other seeks to curse and destroy. The purpose of one is to provide life, give meaning and fulfillment, while Satan works to rob, steal and kill, to make us despondent under the gloom of misery and hopelessness. The kingdom of darkness and the kingdom of light bear distinguishing fruits. One produces chaos, confusion, lawlessness, selfishness, hatred, strife, division and death. Jesus, though, creates peace, unity, joy and love. The kingdom of darkness and the kingdom of light have distinguishing destinies. The kingdom of darkness will be overwhelmed and utterly conquered by the power and glory of Jesus at His coming. Satan, his angels, along with his willing and deceived followers, will be vanquished in everlasting destruction. Jesus, the King of righteousness, along with His angels and faithful followers, will glow in radiant splendor as He positions upon their heads eternal crowns of victory over Satan, sin and death. Presently, the Gospel of Jesus Christ has the

It is not easy to sing with brethren during worship when they are using another language beside English. We understand the apostle Paul teaches us to sing with the spirit and with the understanding, and it is imperative this takes place. If one’s brethren of another nationality are singing in their language, but using a tune or melody we are familiar with, then it becomes possible to sing together, expressing the same concepts of praise and instruction while teaching and admonishing one another in spiritual hymns even while using different words and phrases. If one does not recognize the melody however, forget it. It’s not going to happen. Unfortunately, there may be a discordant tone that ascends heavenward to clash in the ears of our Lord, when brethren are singing the page, the line, the measure or the note they personally choose to sing without consideration of the direction and leading of the great “Conductor.” When brethren do their own thing (because they can) without due and proper consideration for Jesus, His wishes, His will and His purposes, it becomes difficult, yea impossible, for His disciples to blend in sweet, perfect harmony. Some sing with their heads bowed down. They never look up to see whether Jesus is smiling on them, or whether His heart is breaking from their failure to love, appreciate, adore and follow Him. Some are unwilling to sing with and follow the great “Conductor.” Rather than sing together on the same page, same line, same measure,

The Queen of Sheba risked her life, health and treasures in traveling hundreds of miles (some estimate as much as 1,500 miles) to see whether she could confirm the fascinating reports that came to her ears about the famed king of Israel who succeeded David. Obviously, the queen had an investigative mindset and greatly desired to learn the truth about matters that, to that point, had been dark and hidden from her own understanding. Because of God’s gift to him, Solomon was able to answer every difficult question she introduced (1 Kings 10:3). Jesus says, in Luke Chapter 11, that the Queen of the South will rise up in judgment and condemn that generation (for not having the same spirit and determination of the queen in seeking/learning hidden truth with an unbiased heart). Even from His youth, Jesus was equipped by the Holy Spirit to answer all the difficult questions posed by the doctors of the Law of Moses (Luke 2:46-47; John 3:34). How is it that Jesus is greater than Solomon was? Jesus is greater because of the identity of His Father, who is the eternal God. Solomon, the third king of Israel, was born to King David and Bathsheba, who were mortal and are resting in their tombs. Jesus is greater because of His purity of lifestyle and godly living throughout His lifetime. Solomon’s disobedience and lust for women brought about His departure from God and venture into the abominable practices of idolatry. God became sorely displeased with

There is one God, the Father, who is above all. There is one Jesus, the only begotten Son of the Father. There is one Holy Spirit. There is one Bible, not to be tampered with. There is one faith, which has been revealed from heaven. There is one body, the spiritual family of God. There is one Head, which governs the body. There is one Lawgiver. There is one hope unto which Jesus’ disciples are called. There is one baptism, the baptism of the Great Commission. There is one Gospel, the power of God unto salvation. There is one cross around which all men must gather. There is one Judge of all men. There is one fountain of love, which is God. There is one Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. There is one mind, the spirit of unity, unto which Jesus’ disciples are called to embrace the doctrine of Christ. There is one strait gate and one narrow path that lead unto eternal life. There is one wide gate and one broad way, which lead unto destruction. God has words of caution for us living in this modern, pluralistic society. God has words of rebuke for the false prophets and teachers who advocate there are many ways to heaven. Jesus says to all of us, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (John 14:6).

One thing some people resist is another person trying to change them. A young lady may not appreciate it when her boyfriend starts trying to mold her into something of his “ideal woman.” So, she insists, “Don’t try to change me; that’s not me.” Occasionally, you hear people say, “That’s just the way I am.” A man may have a problem controlling his temper. In a variety of circumstances, he may become angered, and therefore, show it through piercing words, sarcasm or unkind actions. When brought to his attention, he says something like, “Everybody knows that’s just me; everyone knows I have a problem controlling my temper.” The idea often being conveyed is that you should just accept me the way I am with my spiritual weaknesses and flaws: “Don’t try to change me.” While it is true that you and I have our weaknesses, it is not “a given” that we should just accept them, learn to live with them and not be bothered by them. Jesus did not come to reinforce our flaws. He did not come and say, “Just be your natural self however ugly and selfish you may happen to be.” Becoming disciples and followers of Jesus, we have committed ourselves to adopting the totality of His teaching, His spirit of meekness, humility, longsuffering, forgiveness and compassion; yes, we have obliged ourselves to adopting His way of thought and imitating His way of life. The Christian life involves a process of growth, development, transformation – becoming

As Jesus was with His disciples in Caesarea Philippi, He declared before them: “And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it” (Matthew 16:18). Of particular interest, for our consideration, is the expression, “the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” The plan is certain, and He is resolute. No opposing power in all the universe can preempt nor stand in His way of accomplishing the eternal plan of God in building His church (Ephesians 3:10-11). There was no time in the life and ministry of Jesus of Nazareth when He was unaware of what the direction and experience of His life would be. All along, He knew that rejection by His people and death by crucifixion upon a Roman cross was a necessary part of His future to redeem and deliver God’s people from their enemies (Satan, the effects of sin and death, etc). The forerunner of Jesus, John (who was filled with the Spirit of God, Luke 1:15) cried out, “Behold, the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world” (John 1:29). Jesus could only address our sin problem by His vicarious suffering and death that was prophesied hundreds of years prior by Isaiah in the book that bears his name (Chapter 53). Because Jesus was made of the seed of Abraham (Hebrews 2:16), and He was tempted as we all are and even

From time to time there are criminal or civil cases brought before the courts, and because of connections to the defendant in order to avoid even the appearance of a conflict of interest, a judge will recuse himself.  In an ideal world, the judicial system is to be fair, impartial, objective and in search of the truth to ascertain a party’s guilt, innocence, what rights have been violated, etc. Our national, state and local laws are made to serve as a standard of rule for its citizens so we know what is right and wrong.  Thus, we are able to conduct ourselves within the guidelines of the law, and therefore, be “law-abiding” citizens as Jesus teaches his followers to be (Romans 13:1-5; 1 Peter 4:15-16).  Unfortunately, sometimes there are cases brought before the church where judgments must be made, and actions must be undertaken because one or more parties have committed wrong and through a rebellious, defiant spirit are unwilling to repent and confess their fault(s).  We are getting into an area, regrettably, where the church has suffered to an immeasurable extent because brethren often “take sides” and line up behind one personality or another, and the church becomes divided and loses its focus as well as its influence. The brethren in the church in Corinth turned their heads while a brother in their midst was guilty of immorality.  No one had the courage to raise his voice, even though the brother was severely in danger of losing his soul

Satan has a number of weapons to wage spiritual warfare against humanity. One is false teaching. False teaching results in false ideas, false beliefs, false convictions and false practices. Satan has no interest in God being either fairly or accurately represented. He is the master of distortion and misrepresentation. The objective Satan has in view is to drive a wedge between men and God, thus breaking man’s fellowship with God. The ultimate aim is the destruction of every man, woman and young person. Jesus praised the Ephesian church in Revelation 2 for properly identifying false apostles. John warned about the seductive work of the anti-christs who had withdrawn themselves from God’s faithful children. John urged his brethren further to test the spirits in view of the fact many false prophets had gone out into the world. God has never been the authority behind the deceitful working of the false apostles, false prophets and anti-christs. While many today apparently think false teachers are as rare as an animal on the listing of endangered species, their actual numbers are legion. John Calvin’s third major tenet is known as the “Limited Atonement” doctrine. The idea put forward by John Calvin is the atonement made available by the suffering and death of Jesus Christ is limited exclusively to those Mr. Calvin identified as “the elect.”  According to the doctrine, Jesus did not come to die for the “non-elect.” As a result, the benefits of Jesus’ shed blood cannot even possibly be applied to a

During the late 1960’s, when this writer was only a young boy, my family was going shopping in Evansville, Indiana. Having arrived in the city, we were traveling one of the local streets. We approached a traffic light, and therefore, began to slow down. Over to one side of our car were some people who apparently made my parents feel uneasy, so they said, “Lock your doors.” Having noticed that we all reached about the same time for our locks, a lady from the car next to us called out in a laughing voice: “We won’t hurt you. We wouldn’t hurt you for nothing.” We weren’t laughing. Every day we are reminded we live in a dangerous world. We can be hurt, even by those who claim good intentions. Today, it is quite interesting to find there are individuals who seemingly feel quite threatened by the Lord’s church. A lady was heard (or quoted) to warn another who was studying with some of our brethren: “I’ve heard about those people all my life. You better stay away from them.” She was uneasy about the association. From a personal perspective, if the matter weren’t so sad, it would be laughable. We won’t hurt you! Friend, give me one example of an individual who came to be in peril, spiritually, because of his association and involvement in the body of Jesus Christ with the distinctive doctrines and practices He has given her. Friend, you know Jesus won’t hurt you. If Jesus won’t

The first Bible book has been properly named “Genesis,” a word that means “birth” or “origin.” The origin of man and of the universe has been a battleground between faith and unbelief for centuries. The end of this battle is nowhere in sight. God has no problem with questioning and investigation. God has no problem with true science. As such, science has been a blessing to humanity by improving the quality and length of life. With the exception of the origin of species, in no area has science been satisfied with providing nothing more than educated guesses, as scientists might call them. In no other matter do some scientists and some in the circle of higher learning dogmatically scream louder over so little data (external to the Bible). Here is an area where scientists have no real-time evidence to examine, test or measure. Yet, they are certain their conclusions are infallible and think you are ignorant if you do not accept them. In any other study, their credibility would be called into question, and they would be dismissed from their laboratories for approaching a problem with an agenda, for their lack of objectivity and for their negligence of breaking scientific rules otherwise demanded in their community. They accuse creationists of starting out with preconceived ideas. Go figure. No, we start with Genesis Chapter 1. True scientists are known for their careful approach to a question. They study, measure, examine, re-examine and search for every angle possible for what could give

The Holy Scriptures gives us insight into the person, work and final end of Satan. Friend, you don’t want to be on his team when the clock runs out. It is impossible to fully fathom just how disadvantaged we would be living in this world without the Book of all books, the Holy Scriptures. The centuries old proverb “forewarned is forearmed” has an application for us having the revelation of God concerning His evil rival and our enemy, Satan. In the context, Paul indicated he had forgiven a penitent brother, “Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices” (2 Corinthians. 2:11). You and I cannot afford to be ignorant either. Revelation 12:7-17 and other Bible passages give information about Satan bringing his battle against God and His people to the earth. Satan and his horde failed to defeat Michael and the angels of light, and they were thus permanently cast out of heaven. “And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him” (Revelation 12:9). “Deceiveth” is defined by Thayer’s lexicon as “to cause to stray, to lead astray,” and further it is used metaphorically “to lead away from the truth, to be led into error.” Who is leading you? Which direction are you being led? First, Satan deceives people into thinking they are their own masters

In our study of the church, we consider what God planned even before the dawn of time as we know it. Our minds are led by the Holy Spirit through the Scriptures to reflect upon what the matchless power of God has accomplished in years gone by, and we learn further what God is continuing to do in our lifetime and even up to the day Jesus returns with his mighty angels to draw the curtain of time. There is so much confusion prevailing in our day concerning the concept of the church because so many have drifted away from the original purpose and plan God had and has in mind for the church. My friend, we must avoid being bogged down by denominationalism or any other ism that leads us away from the simplicity of the Gospel and the church produced and sustained by divine power. God has called believers to be nothing more than Christians, to wear no other name than the name of the Holy One who redeemed us by his blood. When men become “hyphenated Christians,” that is, describing ourselves as being “Christian -__________ist,” we are following a plan that is foreign to the Holy Scriptures, and especially the New Testament of Jesus Christ that leads exclusively to eternal life. On this side of eternity, men, women and young people will always be plagued by false religion. It is one of Satan’s favorite tools by which he deceives folks into thinking their salvation has been secured.

It’s no secret that great advancements in the practice of medicine have been made possible through modern technology. When something goes wrong inside our bodies, doctors are able to use MRI and other equipment to scan and see what the problem is. The ability to diagnose and treat illnesses or injuries has been enhanced as both doctors and surgeons can see clearly beyond the skin and underlying tissue. Doctors will often show the images to their patients as they share their diagnoses. Isn’t it amazing to see not only the organs and vessels, but further, what is taking place within them? Without the aid of modern technology, God sees just as vividly what is going on within us. God didn’t need our modern equipment to see David, centuries before, when he was being formed within his mother’s womb, for he writes of God: “My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them” (Psalm 139:15-16). When Jesus walked among men, during the days of the first century A.D., He astounded others with His capacity to see far beneath the exterior of human flesh. Without the aid of modern equipment, Jesus could see and diagnose man’s spiritual maladies of the heart. Such was the case in an

Topics that form the foundation of our faith relate to our conviction that God exists, that He has worked supernaturally in the past to bring us and our universe into its present form of orderliness, and that He continues to sustain us and our universe “by the word of his power” (Hebrews 1:3). Unbelievers and haters of God notwithstanding, our faith in God is well-founded and reasonable as we survey the evidence God has placed all around us. God has not left himself without witness (cf. Psalm 19:1). There is the witness of God found in nature itself. There are laws that are associated with nature and sometimes serious consequences are realized when they are violated. Where there are laws, such as with the case of nature, there must naturally be a lawgiver. In no area of our lives will we ever be met with a law that had no one either to give or impose it. The very nature of law implies there was deliberation made prior to its imposition. At Lystra, Paul made this appeal to his audience: “Sirs, why do ye these things? We also are men of like passions with you, and preach unto you that ye should turn from these vanities unto the living God, which made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all things that are therein: Who in times past suffered all nations to walk in their own ways. Nevertheless he left not himself without witness, in that he did good, and

Some find it interesting that the Bible does not begin with someone trying to make an argument for the existence of God. Such would have been natural had the book been written by a man or group of men who were trying to pull the proverbial wool over the eyes of humanity. No, Genesis 1:1 begins with a simple, but profound, declarative statement: “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.” What better way to begin the Book of all books than with such an arresting attention getter? Hearing these words, a sincere, objective man is anxious to hear more. No mere mortal man, without the help of God Almighty, could have sat down to write in such detail this concise accounting for the origin of man and the universe. Not only to write it, but to write with such pinpoint accuracy while it gives us insight as to why certain things are as they are in God’s world that we are privileged to use. The following are just a handful of truths we discover in the early pages of Genesis: God chose to call the period of darkness, “night,” while He chose to call the light time, “Day.” God called the firmament, “heaven,” which we know as the heavens or the sky. God called the dry land, “the earth,” and the bodies of waters he called, “the seas.” God gave us two lights, a greater light (we know as the Sun) to rule the day and a

One thing some people resist is another person trying to change them. A young lady may not appreciate it when her boyfriend starts trying to mold her into something of his “ideal woman.” Therefore, she insists: “Don’t try to change me; that’s not me.” Occasionally you hear people say, “That’s just the way I am.” A man may have a problem controlling his temper. In a variety of circumstances, he may become angered, and therefore, show it through piercing words, sarcasm or unkind actions. When brought to his attention, he says something like, “Everybody knows that’s just me; everyone knows I have a problem controlling my temper.” The idea often conveyed is that you should just accept me the way I am with my spiritual weaknesses and flaws: “Don’t try to change me.” While it is true that you and I have our weaknesses, it is not “a given” that we should just accept them, learn to live with them and not be bothered by them. Jesus did not come to reinforce our flaws. He did not come and say, “Just be your natural self however ugly and selfish you may happen to be.” Becoming a disciple and follower of Jesus, we have committed ourselves to adopting the totality of his teaching, his spirit of meekness, humility, longsuffering, forgiveness and compassion; yes, we have obligated ourselves to adopting His way of thought and imitating His way of life. The Christian life involves a process of growth, development, transformation—becoming like Jesus.

Not unlike ages preceding ours, this world is filled to the full with skepticism. A great measure of this is the direct result of misinformation, misrepresentation, and misunderstanding. Is there anything of which you and I may be certain? When it comes to spiritual matters, the religious arena, it, too, is flooded with similar sentiments of distrust. Why? Misinformation, misrepresentation, and misunderstanding. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if there was a spiritual message upon which you could depend, a message that was so certain, so sure, so steadfast that you never had to fear for a millisecond that it might be swept away in an instant as a huge cobweb? Try the Holy Scriptures, the Bible. While the world hastily builds their golden houses upon quicksand, there is a bedrock foundation that has withstood the test of time. Our Heavenly Father urges you and me to set ourselves apart, to exercise spiritual wisdom in building upon the solid rock (cf. Matthew 7:24-27). In fulfilment of God’s charge to his people during the first century A.D., men, women and young people living in the small town of Colossae, in Asia Minor, had heard “the word of the truth of the gospel” (Colossians 1:5) when it was declared by Epaphras, “a faithful minister of Christ” (1:7).  God working through this man, they “knew the grace of God in truth” (1:6). The same result may follow today with God working through us. Even today while there are unnumbered messengers throughout the world, all of

No rocket scientist is needed here to explain that we are living in challenging times. Many of us are not accustomed to adversity, at least not openly. Human nature, for the most part, is to prefer that things run smoothly, no hitches, no glitches. Roll with the flow, but some things are beyond our control. No, no one enjoys difficult times. Yet, ultimately, they can have some positive effect. By choice, that positive effect should be maximized for the greater good of the heavenly kingdom. God can help us through difficult times to become stronger and more effective in our service for him. In times like these, may we remember to look to God for strength. While we at times may be weak, our heavenly Father is an awesome God of power. One of the wonderful things about our Creator is that He not only knows how to majestically utilize his power, but He has the capacity and willingness to share power with us His creatures. Paul closes his prayer in Ephesians Chapter 3 with an expression that glory might be “…unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us…” (vs. 20). Since we have been recreated and redeemed by the blood of Christ, we know something personally about the power of God. God’s power transcends all other power in the universe. The familiar lyrics “…the arm of flesh will fail you, ye dare not

What Makes Up Your Spiritual DNA? Who are you? Who is your father? Of what spirit are you? Our physical identity is considered so important in our modern world, and DNA is an amazing tool used by the scientific community to aid in the identification process. When questions arise about who is the father of a child, a determination can often be made apart from “the wisdom of Solomon.” Just as every one of us have a material/physical identity, so we additionally have a spiritual identity that holds even greater significance for us all. Have you taken time to consider how one’s spiritual identity has far-reaching consequences beyond one’s physical identity? Some may try to conceal their spiritual identity from their fellowman while they work in avenues that are detrimental to the kingdom of heaven. Such is the case with those Jesus aptly described as being ravening wolves in sheep’s clothing (Matthew 7:15). Let’s recognize the following pertaining to spiritual identity. Our Actions Are Inseparably Linked to Identity Jesus taught the Jews of His day their identity was not truly linked to Abraham (as they were quick to affirm) because their works had no association with the works of Abraham. Their works were quite dissimilar. Jesus went on to say, “Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth…” (John 8:44). Does our daily behavior manifest in a clear and

God’s Faithful Servant: Daniel, a Man of Prayer In both Testaments, Old and New, prayer has been an important feature in man’s relationship with God. Relationships are not one-sided. God communicates with man, the crowning work of his creation. God provided man with a means of communicating to him through prayer. We can learn meaningful lessons by examining the life of God’s faithful servant – Daniel. First, Daniel was not forgetful to pray. Daniel and his companions had been taken captive and had been taken away to a foreign land. Under his adverse circumstances, he refused to blame God. He would not shout or shake his fist at God. He would not give God the silent treatment and try to punish God in any way. Rather, he continued to recognize God as God. He continued to understand how precious and meaningful his relationship with God truly was. Therefore, three times daily he knelt upon his knees and prayed, giving thanks. Second, Daniel was not too preoccupied to pray. Daniel was taken away from his homeland along with a number of other special young men. According to Babylonian customs, they were treated in a somewhat more preferred way than other captives were treated. These men were to be trained in the language and ways of the new culture in which they were. After the designated time, they were to stand before the king and to be given certain responsibilities. Daniel sought to keep himself pure. His heart continued to be set

Why would a man choose blindness over sight? Why would a man choose darkness over light? Why would a man choose hatred over love? Why would a man choose a thief like Satan,  over God’s gift from above? Why would a man choose the broad path to destruction, over God’s great guidance and patient instruction? Why would a man choose his own opinion and speculation, over God’s Word made known by the Spirit of Truth’s revelation? Why would a man choose filth, separation and alienation, over God’s cleansing power and glorious sanctification? Why would a man choose hunger and starvation, over the bread of life provided freely to all within his holy nation? Why would a man choose unquenched thirst, over drinking from the fountain of life to be not cursed? Why would a man choose death over life? Why would a man not choose peace and unity, over religious division, confusion and strife? Why, oh tell me why?

A parent may use a harness to restrict the forward progress of a young, energetic child who might otherwise fall into some danger. A trainer may use a bridle to slow a horse wanting to run. We recognize sometimes there is energy that needs to be restrained. Jesus was a “man on a mission.” He was a man on the go. He traveled into the districts of Palestine, into the villages, homes and temple. He went where the people were. During His day in the flesh, He could not be held back by friend or foe. In spite of his imprisonment for Jesus, Paul affirmed how “…the word of God is not bound” (2 Timothy 2:9). Why are brethren restraining Jesus? Why do some of us try to silence him? How does Jesus see our actions? Does he see us as “holding back” the advancement of His kingdom? Woe unto those who do! If you’re not present on the line, you’re holding the Lord back. Two considerations: (1) you’ve got to be present and accounted for, and (2) you’ve got to be pulling at the line. God doesn’t need spectators. He needs workers. “Brethren, please put on some suitable clothing and get in here and pull.” If you’re not keeping yourself spiritually fit, you’re holding the Lord back. In Paul’s first epistle to the Corinthians, he classified some of the brethren as being “weak and sickly” (1 Corinthians 11:30). Without due emphasis on our spiritual condition, we may become weak in faith and

In our modern age of principally engaging in selfish interests, Christians must not neglect to revisit the theme pertaining to “the spirit of Christ” and adopt it on a far greater scale. Too many of us have forgotten what Jesus Christ is all about. We have allowed what is most important in the kingdom of heaven to lapse from our memories (cf. 1 Peter 4:1-2). Examining the life of our Lord during his public ministry, we observe the life of a Man who truly loved to serve and bless His fellowman. Jesus did not come to be petted, pampered and waited upon. He did not come to amass an impressive treasury. However, the “Son of man” did come “to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many” (Matthew 20:28). Jesus cared and continues to care about the well-being of people (just like you and me), not the least of which are the fulfilling of man’s spiritual needs. Are we following in His steps? Reflect a moment upon a given day when Jesus, the pre-eminent spiritual leader of God’s people, entered the small town of Capernaum on the northern coast of the Sea of Galilee. There He was approached by a caring centurion who pleaded with Him on behalf of a personal servant who “…lieth at home sick of the palsy, grievously tormented” (Matthew 8:6). In Jesus’ typical spirit of willingness to go out of his way to bless, He kindly assured the officer: “I will come and heal him.” You and I

Is it possible there is a wide range of diverse religions that may equally have the joyous result of bringing their adherents to the heavenly city and eternal life? Apparently there are a lot of Americans [and other people throughout the world] who think so. The Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life conducted a U.S. Religious survey in which more than 35,000 Americans participated in 2007. After crunching the numbers, the results were published in June 2008. The organization found that “Most Americans agree with the statement that many religions—not just their own—can lead to eternal life. Among those who are affiliated with a religious tradition, seven-in-ten say many religions can lead to eternal life.” (Quotation  taken from summary of results at http://religions.pewforum.org/reports#). If there is just one world religion in addition to Christianity  that can effectively lead men, women and young people to eternal life, then Jesus died for our sins needlessly. If God uses other means to save, there was no need for the blood of Christ to be shed. He then could have saved us like He intended to save others apart from Christ and the cleansing His blood provides. If there is just one world religion in addition to Christianity that can effectively lead men, women and young people to eternal life, then God wasted the time and effort He invested in providing us with the Holy Bible. Jesus is the centerpiece of all the Scripture. If God uses other means, there never should have been a

The number of false gods and devotion to the same by even a majority of the world’s population can never negate the presence, power and working of the true and living God. The presence of evil in today’s world can never negate the reality of good and righteousness. The practice and work of hatred around us can never negate the magnetic power of love and compassion. The father of lies speaking words of deceit and misinformation can never negate the voice of truth spoken by the Heavenly Father. The doctrines of demons espoused through the doctrines and commandments of men can never negate the doctrine of Christ and that spoken and/or written by the apostles through the Spirit. The heart filled with the evil of unbelief in rejecting Jesus as the Son of God can never negate the heaven-revealed, victorious faith of Christ in the heart of God’s children. The presence of the broad way along with its majority of travelers can never negate the fact that the strait and narrow way is the exclusive route to heaven. The things a man may think, do and say can never negate the things that God thinks, God does and God says. The rebellion and faithlessness of disobedience in the lives of some can never negate the hope, joy and peace continually experienced in the heart of those who trust and obey the Lord. The will worship of many who make their worship vain before God can never negate the inherent value

Before the foundation of the world was laid by the Lord, God formulated his plan for man’s salvation (Ephesians 1:4; 1 Peter 1:20). Although his foreknowledge enabled Him to know beforehand that sin would enter the world through man’s failure to obey His command and the terrible consequences ensuing, yet He wanted all of us to be recipients of his grace, mercy and forgiveness as indicated by Jesus’ teaching of the Father’s love in John 3:16. In short, He wanted you and me to have continual spiritual blessings, abundant life, joy of faith and close fellowship with Him. He wanted us to live unto Him, bring glory to His name in walking with Him in righteousness and live with Him throughout eternity in heaven. Since the days of Adam and Eve, Satan has worked super zealously to destroy God’s work. Satan is the author of every form of disobedience, rebellion and spiritual defection entered into by man. Further, he is the source of every disabling disease, affliction and death. Concerning Satan, also known as the devil, Jesus said, “He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it” (John 8:44). Just as he worked among ancient Israel to get them off course, and caused many of them to be destroyed due to unbelief and disobedience, he continues to work today to pervert