What Manner of Man Is This!

The gospels record for us the life and ministry of Jesus Christ. These events are intended to give us pause to reflect. Take, for instance, an event related in the gospel of Luke that testifies to the Lord’s power over the deep. Luke records “he [Jesus] went into a ship with his disciples: and heContinue reading “What Manner of Man Is This!”

Restoring God’s Image

Is morality dead? The short answer is no, morality is not dead. We know that to be true because mankind was created in the moral likeness of God. “And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness…So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created heContinue reading “Restoring God’s Image”

A Few Thoughts on Prayer

The Bible records many things about prayer. That should not be surprising. The Bible is God’s word and prayer is the means of communicating with God. Consequently, examples and instructions pertaining to prayer are commonly seen throughout the Scriptures. It takes a careful collective examination of these references to prayer to craft a credible understandingContinue reading “A Few Thoughts on Prayer”

A Peace That Lasts

Immediately prior to his crucifixion, Jesus spoke of the Comforter who would come upon his own return to the Father following his resurrection. “And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever…for he dwelleth with you and shall be in you. I will notContinue reading “A Peace That Lasts”

A Sure Foundation

Jesus at the conclusion of his Sermon on the Mount makes a remarkable claim. He essentially says that those who take heed to do as he says will not be destroyed by life’s frequent troubles and hardships. “Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom heContinue reading “A Sure Foundation”

Do Unto Other As You Would Have Them Do Unto You

Jesus provided us a very plain and practical summary of God’s standard of righteousness as expressed in the Old Testament when he was concluding his Sermon on the Mount. “Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets”Continue reading “Do Unto Other As You Would Have Them Do Unto You”

Doing the Unexpected

In his Sermon on the Mount, Jesus taught that love does what is unexpected. “But I say unto you which hear, love your enemies, do good to them which hate you, bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you. And unto him that smiteth thee on the one cheek offerContinue reading “Doing the Unexpected”

Love Ye Your Enemies

In his Sermon on the Mount, Jesus taught his disciples the necessity of a godly or godlike love. The Jews were familiar with the Old Testament charge “Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself” (Leviticus 19:17). But Jesus wanted to show that the true expectation of that commandment contemplated all people, even one’s enemies. InContinue reading “Love Ye Your Enemies”

Warning and Reward

In Psalm 19, David testifies to God’s revelation of himself through creation and through his written word. He uses the terms law, testimony, statutes, commandment, judgments to refer to the Scriptures that were available to him at that time. Today, we have the completed revelation of God in what we call our Bible. David’s inspiredContinue reading “Warning and Reward”

The Love of the Saints for the Saints

One of the earmarks of true Christianity is the love that believers have for one another. Shortly before his passion, the Lord instructed his disciples “A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know thatContinue reading “The Love of the Saints for the Saints”