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”

Conviction, Commitment, and Courage

It takes courage to fight the Lord’s battles. Most are familiar with the record of David’s battle with the giant, Goliath. It took great courage for a young man to face a much larger opponent who was a trained soldier with only a sling and some stones. Yet, he did so, and he won theContinue reading “Conviction, Commitment, and Courage”

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”

The Goodness of God

Have you considered the goodness of God? The Scriptures tell us that “every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning” (James 1:17). Every good gift is from God. Not only is it from God, but itContinue reading “The Goodness of God”

The Deceit of Pride

Pride is a deceptive resident of every human heart. Paul admonished each of the believers in Rome regarding spiritual gifts “not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think” (Romans 12:3). He reiterated that warning of self-deception to the churches of Galatia. “For if a man think himself to be something, whenContinue reading “The Deceit of Pride”

The Danger of Prosperity

The Old Testament prophet, Jeremiah, delivered a series of warnings from God to the Jews in Judah and Jerusalem to turn from their sin and to keep the covenant they had with God from the time of their exodus out of Egypt. Jeremiah gave some of these messages to the kings in Judah throughout theContinue reading “The Danger of Prosperity”

Sin is Still Sin

Sin is never to be taken lightly, but it is. What has happened not just in America, but in America’s churches that sin receives such little attention? At one time churches could be counted upon to extol the holiness of God and man’s glaring unrighteousness. The Holy Scriptures were preached and practiced; consequently, the GodContinue reading “Sin is Still Sin”