Leslie H. Sabo Jr. was born and raised in Youngstown, Ohio. He graduated from high school in 1966 and his life was not unusual until 1970.

On May 10, 1970, Sabo was a rifleman in Company B, 3rd Battalion, 506th Infantry of the 101st Airborne Division of the U.S. Army. On that date, Sabo was in a battle in Cambodia. This Youngstown boy whose life was otherwise unremarkable defended his fellow soldiers at the cost of his own life in the Vietnam War.

It took 42 years for his widow to receive the Medal of Honor from President Barak Obama. Until 2012, many people had never heard of him. Even many who had known him in Youngstown probably didn’t think there was anything special about him. His fellow soldiers knew. Some of them kept prodding the Defense Department to give him the award posthumously.

The people living in Nazareth when Jesus was alive didn’t realize who he was. They had known him as the son of Mary and the brother of James, Joses, Judas, and Simon (Mark 6:3). They said, “Is not this the carpenter?” He was just another face in the crowd to them. Not even his miracles caused them to think of him in different terms.

Even some disbelieve him today because they don’t believe he was any different than anyone else who has ever lived. The Jews are not the only ones who have not believed in Jesus, the miracles he performed, and the truths he taught. His hometown folks turned their backs on him.

Have you turned your back on Jesus? If so, take another look. He is the only human in history who genuinely healed the blind, cured the deaf, and raised the dead. Isn’t it time you gave him another chance?

by John Henson

“My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not show favouritism. Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in filthy old clothes also comes in. If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, ‘Here’s a good seat for you,’ but say to the poor man, ‘You stand there’ or ‘Sit on the floor by my feet,’ have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?” (James 2:1-4)

Favouritism. Prejudice. Partiality. Different words but all carrying the same meaning, although possibly different applications. Generally when we think of favouritism it is when we give someone unfair preferential treatment, usually at the expense of someone else. Prejudice on the other hand is usually when we are against someone without any reason and often this is just because of how a person looks.

The case in point is someone coming into an assembly of Christians. One person comes in who is obviously wealthy, the other person is obviously poor – we make these judgements because of what they are wearing. The wealthy person we make a big deal over, finding them the best seat. But we don’t have any time for the poor person – they can sit on the floor.

Notice what James said about this: when we act like this toward someone based on what they look like and how they dress we are discriminating and have “become judges with evil thoughts”. That is quite strong language, but when we think about it, we realise it is true. James went on to explain why treating people this way did not make any sense.

“Listen, my dear brothers and sisters: has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him? But you have dishonoured the poor. Is it not the rich who are exploiting you? Are they not the ones who are dragging you into court? Are they not the ones who are blaspheming the noble name of him to whom you belong? If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, ‘Love your neighbour as yourself,’ you are doing right. But if you show favouritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as law-breakers.” (James 2:5-9)

Although the observations in these verses are generalities, from experience we have probably seen that they are still true. When I’ve talked to people about Jesus and learning more about him, I have discovered that those who are doing well financially usually are not interested – “I’m doing very well on my own, thank you very much”. Whereas those who have less and are struggling with life are usually the ones who want to know more. Yet who would we tend to gravitate towards if both walked into one of our meetings?

As James pointed out, the poor are the ones who are rich in faith, whereas the rich are those who exploit others including Christians, even taking them to court, and they blaspheme the name of Jesus. Yet the latter are the ones we want to be seen with! How foolish we can be!

But it is more serious than that. When we show favouritism we are not practicing what Jesus told us when he said to “Love your neighbour as yourself”. Instead, we are violating God’s law.

Prejudice is such a problem in the world around us, as has been seen in so many instances over the past few years. But our assemblies should be safe havens for everyone, a place anyone can come to worship God and be treated as humans who are loved by God and his people.

Rather than judging people on the basis of what they do or don’t have or even on how they look, we need to learn the meaning of mercy. As James wrote: “Mercy triumphs over judgment” (James 2:13).

Let us truly learn to love our neighbor as we love our self.

by Jon Galloway

In every chapter of Ecclesiastes you can expect at least two kinds of verses. At least one verse will make you wonder what Solomon is talking about and one verse will hit you in a profound way. As it turns out, humans haven’t changed that much over the years and our current experience of life share many similarities. Here are twelve amazing truths found in this book.

1.4-8

Some things never change.

2.24-25

Pleasing God will bring you more joy than chasing the things that bring momentary pleasure.

3.9-11

God has given us a desire to know the future. Because of this, we understand that while we don’t know the future we’re better off serving a God who does.

4.9-12

It’s by design that we can accomplish more with help. God can do more with us when we are team players.

5.19-20

There’s joy to be found in hard work and that too is by design. Satisfaction is a natural feeling produced by the work of our hands.

6.6

If you don’t find joy in life then life will drag on and feel slower.

7.13-15

When life is good, enjoy it. When life is hard— remember that it’s like that for everybody. Ups and downs are part of living.

8.16-18

This world is not just but don’t let that fool you into thinking that God isn’t just. We can’t understand how God’s mind operates in every circumstance.

9.11-12

Not everything happens for a reason! God might have a hand in any event, Satan may have something to do with it— or maybe it’s all a coincidence.

10.8-15

Every job has it’s dangers but wisdom can make a job run smoother just as a sharp knife can make a task easier.

11.7-8

It’s good to be alive! It’s nice to see the light from the sun. You should enjoy the life you live with eternity on your mind.

12.11

You can put your trust in any wisdom and teaching that comes from God.

Each chapter of Ecclesiastes is filled with wisdom and life changing words. Our world needs to spend more time studying this inspired collection of truth.

Neal Pollard

“But he said to him, ‘A man was giving a big dinner, and he invited many; and at the dinner hour he sent his slave to say to those who had been invited, ‘Come; for everything is ready now.’ But they all alike began to make excuses” (Luke 14:16-18a, NASB).

Jesus’ parable of the dinner to which no one wanted to come is well known to many of us. When the original guests were summoned, they asked to be excused based on sudden new circumstances. One needed to examine a new property; another wanted to try out teams of oxen; and the third one had just gotten married.

The host was offended and became very angry. He invited the common and poor people of the region to replace those who had treated his invitation with contempt. Jesus’ point is fairly obvious and its application to the Jewish leaders who were rejecting him is very appropriate. Other lessons may also be derived by considering the nature of the offered excuses and similar language in the Law of Moses.

In Moses’ review of the Law given on Mount Sinai to the people of Israel, he identifies those who should not be compelled to go to battle when Israel went to war (Deuteronomy 20:5-9). Those include:

• the man who has built a house but not yet dedicated it
• the man who has planted a vineyard and not yet harvested its grapes
• the man who is engaged but not yet married
• the man who is faint-hearted and afraid

There is much similarity between the excuses offered by the invited guests, and the reasons for allowing someone to avoid conscription to the army. Both lists include new endeavors and new relationships. But in the parable of Jesus these are unacceptable excuses. In the Law of Moses they were justifiable reasons. What made the difference?

One difference is in the kind of commitment required. A man going to war was asked to risk his life for an unknown, but probably extended period of time. If he had begun a substantial enterprise but not yet completed it nor reaped the benefit of his labors, he was excused until a later time when those things had been finished. In the case of the prospective dinner guests, they were committed only to a single meal, in which there was no danger or cost to them.

I believe that Jesus used the excuses he chose in part because of that very difference. By offering them the guests were indicating their opinion of the host and his dinner. It was not a privilege and pleasure in their opinion, but an onerous duty which they would prefer to avoid. No wonder the host was offended.

Does this attitude not surface today in many people’s reaction to religion? How often do we hear, “I know I should go to church, but …?” Religion is too frequently presented as duty and obligation, which offers little real benefit or pleasure, at least in this material life. Its rewards are delayed — what some have called “pie in the sky by and by” — and therefore less desirable than those pleasures we might enjoy right now.

Jesus rightly identified the Jewish leaderships rejection of Messianic prophecy and the Kingdom of God which it envisioned. They much preferred their own status and success within the system of their time. The invited guests of the parable were saying to their hosts, “leave us alone to do what we like; we are not interested in your dinner.” Jesus applied that same sentiments to his audience and their attitude toward God.

God’s reaction was the same as the parable’s host. “If you don’t want my dinner (or kingdom), I will offer it to those who do.” No matter how many in our day turn away from faith in God and refuse his Word, there will always be those who are hungry and thirsty for righteousness, who will hear, believe, and obey God’s word and receive his blessings. Let us continue to search for them and invite them to the feast.

by Michael Brooks

A question which often perplexes Christians is that there are people who will be lost, who will not spend eternity with Jesus. We spend time with people who are religious and do so many good things but have never put on Jesus by being immersed into him. Sometimes we may even begin to question whether baptism is even important.

Jesus addressed this in what we call “the Sermon on the Mount.” “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter into the kingdom of heaven – only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven. On that day, many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, didn’t we prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many powerful deeds in your name?’ Then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you. Go away from me, you lawbreakers!’” (Matthew 6:21-23 NET).

Jesus is quite clear: not everyone who claims to follow Jesus will be saved. Good works, no matter how incredible, won’t save anyone. After all, if doing good would save us, why did Jesus need to die? Those who are saved will be those “who do the will of my Father in heaven.” Obedience to what Jesus said cannot be undervalued.

When Paul wrote to the Christians in Thessalonica, he had a similar emphasis. They were suffering for being Christians. Paul offered this encouragement to these Christians.

“For it is right for God to repay with affliction those who afflict you, and to you who are being afflicted to give rest together with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels. With flaming fire he will mete out punishment on those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. They will undergo the penalty of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his strength, when he comes to be glorified among his saints and admired on that day among all who have believed – and you did in fact believe our testimony” (2 Thessalonians 1:7-10).

Notice that Paul mentioned two groups who would receive punishment when Jesus judges people. The first is those who do not know God. Although that should be obvious, some even struggle with the idea that God could punish anyone. This cannot be backed up by scripture.

The second group who will not be saved is those who “do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus” (2 Thessalonians 1:8). Paul is very specific about what being “punished” means: “They will undergo the penalty of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his strength” (2 Thessalonians 1:9).

This punishment is “eternal” – it will not have an end. And it is being put away from the presence of Jesus. I can’t think of anything worse that could happen to someone! This will happen to those who “do not obey the gospel.”

But what is the gospel? The Greek word simply means “good news” – the good news of Jesus. In his letter to the Christians in Corinth, Paul referred to the gospel as being the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus (1 Corinthians 15:1-11). In Romans 6, Paul connected the idea of Jesus death, burial, and resurrection with our being immersed into him.

What are we to do? We need to teach everyone the whole gospel of Jesus, leaving nothing out. And we need to live so that we will be with Jesus for eternity.

“And in this regard we pray for you always, that our God will make you worthy of his calling and fulfill by his power your every desire for goodness and every work of faith, that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ” (2 Thessalonians 1:11-12).

Jon Galloway

Newsweek reported (August 10, 2021) that a 65-year-old man in India, Rama Mahto, was bitten repeatedly on the leg by a venomous viper. To retaliate against the viper for his nuisance, Mahto decided to bite the snake in return! The family reported to the authorities that he had been bitten more than 10 times. Apparently Mahto did not believe the snake was dangerous because it was a juvenile. Eventually, Mahto tossed the snake into a nearby tree, refused to go to a hospital, and later died in his sleep. Apparently, Mahto was intoxicated when he pulled this foolish stunt!

Yes, juvenile venomous snakes can still be deadly! Yes, you should always seek professional treatment for a venomous snakebite (made evident by two piercings which result from fang penetration). And yes, you should not mix alcohol and venomous snakes. Avoiding alcoholic drinks altogether is best for more than one reason. In fact, this incident shines a whole new light on the wise man’s saying about alcohol: “At the last it bites like a serpent and stings like a viper” (Prov. 23:32).

But the main lesson I wish to emphasize is how deadly revenge can be. Seeking to “balance the scales of justice” on our own can very easily turn disastrous for us because we are ignorant and impotent when it comes to dealing with the future. Trying to exact revenge can have serious repercussions.

Thus, God warns us to leave vengeance in His hands: Leviticus 19:18; Deut. 32:35. Romans 12:19 says: “Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord.”

It is dangerous to seek revenge.

Paul Holland

“The wise woman builds her house,

But the foolish tears it down with her own hands.”

(Proverbs 14:1)

I went by a construction site and was surprised to see a number of women working; hauling lumber and cement and driving the huge trucks.  While this is becoming more common, it is still something we’re not used to seeing.  Unless, that is, you’re referring to the home.

In this proverb Solomon stated an important and fundamental truth: women make or break the home.  How can this be the case?

Women make or break the home by the way they spend their time.  There are many distractions today, from neighborhood activities to TV shows (we’ll not even mention the opportunities to waste time on the computer).  Wise women recognize that time is valuable and use it for the construction of a good home environment.  As all women know, there is much to do at home in order for it to function smoothly.  Wasting time on frivolous activities will break a home apart every time (cf. 1 Tim. 5:13).

Women make or break the home by the way they develop themselves spiritually.  The fact is, everyone – male and female – will stand before God in judgment.  The woman’s spiritual development is not tied to that of her husband.  Equally her spiritual weakness is not his fault.  She is responsible for her own soul, period.  That said, women who devote their time to their own spiritual development are doing a great service to their homes.  Her spiritual example, and her ability to instruct in the ways of the Lord (Proverbs 1:8; 6:20) build a great home for God.  Sadly, the foolish woman can be such a pathetic example of righteousness that she brings the household down with her.  This is why Paul says that she must develop herself “so that the word of God will not be dishonored” (Titus 2:5).

Women make or break the home by the way they treat their husbands. Her number one priority (outside of her devotion to God) is her husband (Titus 2:4).  Her homebuilding skills will cause him to see her as a gift from God (Proverbs 18:22; 19:14).  She will be his “crown” (Proverbs 12:4).  Foolish women do not respect their husbands (Ephesians 5:33), do not recognize his role in the family.  This woman destroys her husband.  She is “rottenness in his bones” (Proverbs 12:4). In addition, she may be immoral.  That sin alone has torn down a majority of homes. This is why the older women need to encourage the younger women to be pure (Titus 2:5).

Women make or break the home by the way they treat their children.  Today there are more women who have full time jobs then there are homemakers.  This has had devasting effects upon the children.  These “latch-key kids” find empty houses when they get out of school.  This is when many of them get into trouble.  The foolish choices of mom has her tearing down her house “with her own hands.”  I’m thankful that my mother was home every day when I returned from school (frequently with cookies; always with a hug).  Paul says that women need to “love their children” (Titus 2:4).

Every woman, especially every wife and mother, needs to think seriously about this proverb.  There are only two categories.  Into which one do they fit?

Denny Petrillo

“And she conceived again and bore a daughter. Then God said to him: ‘Call her name Lo-Ruhamah, for I will no longer have mercy on the house of Israel’” (Hosea 1:6 NKJV).

Don’t you often wonder why other people name their children what they do? This question arises within one’s own language and culture, but is especially frequent in cross-cultural situations. Sometimes it is simply a matter of a word (name) being totally unfamiliar, such as “Tuhin” or “Mridol.”

In other cases it is recognition that we just would not have thought of that particular name. One of the administrators of Khulna Bible College named his son “Abishai,” after the second son of King David’s sister, Zeruiah (2 Samuel 2:18). There is certainly nothing wrong with that name, and I knew of its Old Testament use, but I had simply never known any modern person to whom it had been given. When I considered Biblical names to suggest to those who requested it, Abishai was not one which occurred to me.

There are names, however, that have negative connotations, either by association or by definition or etymology. Consider the names of two of the prophet Hosea’s children, Lo-Ruhamah (literally “No Mercy,” or “Unloved”), and Lo-Ammi (“Not My People,” Hosea 2:6, 9). Imagine carrying God’s condemnation of your nation around like a badge for all of your life. What a burden to bear!

In our modern culture many are highly critical of God’s nature because of such commands in Biblical times. They argue, “How could a loving God hang such a tremendous handicap on an innocent child?” But such opinions fail to recognize both the totality of God’s nature (which includes justice), and the enormity and evil of sin. Israel was rebellious, wicked, and unrepentant. Their extreme wickedness demanded an extreme response.

We often identify prophets only with the foretelling of future events. But their ministry was much more involved and complicated. Some, like Hosea, lived their lives as a statement of God’s judgment against his people. He was a living message, so that those who witnessed his life were given dramatic proof of God’s response to their unfaithfulness. He did not merely deliver an oracle from God, He, along with his family, was an oracle from God.

Whatever one’s given and family names might be, those who have declared obedient faith towards Jesus Christ also wear his name – they are called “Christians” (Acts 11:26). Though it may have originally been intended as a derogatory reference by enemies of the gospel, this label was quickly acknowledged within the church as a mark of one’s calling (1 Peter 4:16). It is a mark which demands to be lived up to. As Paul wrote, “I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called” (Ephesians 4:1). Though “calling” here has wider meaning than simply the name given to believers, living up to the name of Christ is certainly within the legitimate application of the Apostle’s request.

Those who wear the name of Christ must acknowledge his authority (Luke 6:46), acquire his character (Romans 8:9), and follow his example (Ephesians 4:1-3). To do otherwise is to negate any claim to be his followers. To claim his name is to submit to his rule. Those who do so sincerely may suffer as a result (2 Timothy 3:12), but even when that occurs they will not be ashamed (1 Peter 4:16). Rather, God will be glorified and his people will ultimately be blessed (Matthew 5:11-12).

Michael Brooks

The story is told of five doctors went duck shooting one day.  Included in the group were a GP, a pediatrician, a psychiatrist, a surgeon and a pathologist.  After a time, a bird came flying overhead.  The first to react was the GP who raised his shotgun, but then hesitated.   “I’m not quite sure it’s a duck,” he said.  “I think that I will have to get a second opinion.”  And of course by that time, the bird was long gone.

Another bird appeared in the sky thereafter.  This time the pediatrician drew a bead on it.  He too, however, was unsure if it was really a duck in his sights and besides, it might have babies.  “I’ll have to do some more investigations,” he muttered, as the creature made good its escape.

Next to spy a bird flying was the sharp-eyed psychiatrist.  Shotgun shouldered, he was more certain of his intended prey’s identity.  “Now, I know it’s a duck, but does it know it’s a duck?”  The fortunate bird disappeared while the fellow wrestled with this dilemma.

Finally, a fourth fowl sped past and this time the surgeon’s weapon pointed skywards.  BOOM!!  The surgeon lowered his smoking gun and turned nonchalantly to the pathologist beside him:  “Go see if that was a duck, will you?”

We’ve all been guilty at times of shooting first and asking questions later.  That’s why we have the proverb, “Look before you leap.”  Of course, we also have a proverb which tells us of the danger in delay:  “He who hesitates is lost.”  So which is it?  Which is the wiser advice?

If you look to God’s Word for the answer, you may end up just as confused:

“How long will you lie there, you lazy person?  When will you get up from sleeping?” (Proverbs 6:9. NCV)

“….Those who act too quickly become poor.” (Proverbs 21:5b, NCV)

The truth is, there’s danger in both extremes.  It is necessary to look ahead and plan before taking action (Jesus called that “counting the cost”), but we have to be careful not to procrastinate so much that we never get anything accomplished.  It is a wise man indeed who can find the proper balance.

Heavenly Father, I freely confess there have been many times in my life when I have been paralyzed by analyzing the situation, and have fail to step forward in faith as you would have me to.  And I also recognize the many times I have wildly plunged ahead without giving much thought to what I was doing, and later regretted my actions.  Bless me with the wisdom to live with the proper balance in my life.  In the name of Jesus Christ (who always knew what to do and when to do it), amen.

Have a great day!

Alan Smith

As humans we have a hard time when it comes to focusing. Attention spans seem to be getting shorter and shorter. Goldfish have an attention span of about 5 seconds. I’m convinced that mankind will one day be on the same level if nothing changes.

While focus in our everyday lives can be a struggle, what about in worship? How can we improve our focus when we come together each week? Before we even assemble, we should be preparing to focus on worship.

Isaiah 29:13 says, “…Because this people draw near with their words, And honor Me with their lip service, But they remove their hearts far from Me, And their reverence for Me consists of tradition learned by rote.”

They drew near to God with words, just like we do in singing songs each Sunday.

They honored God with their lips, much like we do in our prayers each week. What they were saying sounded good! But, if our hearts are not in worship, we have failed God.

Isaiah writing on God’s behalf says that their “reverence consisted of tradition learned by rote.” This word reverence is the Hebrew word for “fear.” You may have heard that every time you read the word “fear” in the Bible to replace it with the word “respect” or “reverence.” This couldn’t be further from the truth. Hebrew language has a word for respect, and this isn’t it. It means literal fear.

In fact, the Greek equivalent of this word is Phobos, which is where we get our English word phobia. For example, if you have arachnophobia you have a fear of spiders. If you saw a spider crawling on your leg, and you are afraid of spiders, you’re not going to look at it and go, “I respect you.” That’s not how fear works; you’re going to use any means necessary to dispatch the threat.

So we are supposed to worship in fear? YES.

Focus out of fear and awe of WHO we are worshipping. We are singing to the creator.

We are praying to the God who parted seas, spoke the world into existence, and guided the Israelites with a pillar of fire. We are worshipping the King of Kings, the Great I AM, the Alpha and Omega, the One with no beginning or end, we are bowing down before the Most Holy God of the Universe.

If we realize what we are doing in worship, we can’t help but feel a little fear. Isaiah says, their worship was done through traditions learned “by rote.” This literally means, “Mechanical or habitual repetition.” We may be physically singing and look like we are worshipping God, but only the individual and God above know what is going on in the heart.

Isa. 12:5 “sing to the Lord.” This requires FOCUS, not mindlessly singing songs.

There are songs for each other, and songs directed toward God. “I want to be a worker for the Lord” …do we mean it? We can’t sing “Stand up, stand up for Jesus” on Sunday when all throughout the week all we’ve done is sit down. Focus on the words.

God would rather hear a tone deaf person who sings with their heart and mind, then a classically trained singer who only focuses on what it sounds like to them. Sunday morning worship comes once a week; it can be easy to let it turn into a mindless habit. Train your mind to focus on every act of worship. Don’t let worship become something we do out of tradition or habit. Focus on WHO we have come together to worship.

Carl Pollard

My boys love to read. The oldest has been at it for a while and it’s impressive how much his pre-teen mind can comprehend. However, it wasn’t always that way. He used to be like his younger brother, who has only recently crossed that threshold into comprehension. It’s interesting to see the similarities, yet recognize the sharp contrast as well between their two levels.

When children are learning to read, there is a time where a gap exists between the words they form with their lips and the concepts those words convey. With time and practice, that gap begins to close, and eventually they move beyond just simply forming words to understanding the message of the written word.

Bible study has a similar process. I am frequently asked, “Cory, how do I become more knowledgeable about the Bible.” The short answer is, “Read it.” Yet, understand it takes time to develop a working knowledge of the scriptures. When a new Christian or Bible novice begins reading the scriptures regularly, there is indeed a level of comprehension, but much of it is just “words on a page.” Perhaps this is what causes many newcomers to the Bible to become frustrated with their efforts to study and read.

Given time and consistency, those words will begin to morph into deeper comprehension. As you become more familiar with the words, your mind will shift its focus from content to concepts, and slowly, but surely, your working knowledge of the Bible will become more vast and comprehensive.

With deeper comprehension comes the reshaping of our lives. Theologically, we observe this maturation as part of the process by which the Holy Spirit works on our hearts and lives. Having received Him as a gift in our obedience to the gospel (Acts 2:38), He uses the word of God as His tool (Eph. 6:17) to discern our thoughts and intentions (Heb. 4:12). It makes sense, then, that the more time we spend in the Bible (Col. 3:16), the more material we give the Spirit to work with. The result of His work is that we will live less and less by the flesh, and be led more and more by the Spirit, putting away our carnal nature and practices (Rom. 8:13-14). Finally, comprehension gives way to love for the word. It is difficult to have affection and loyalty for something we do not understand. However, by increasing familiarity, gaining understanding, and experiencing transformation, we develop a love for that was not present before. Like the psalmist we can say, “I find my delight in your commandments, which I love. I will lift up my hands toward your commandments, which I love, and I will meditate on your statutes” (Psalm 119:47-48 ESV).

Maybe you are a frustrated Bible reader. Don’t let that discourage you from sticking with it. It takes time, energy, and patience to develop understanding of God’s word. Stay the course, use your brothers and sisters who are more knowledgeable to help you through trouble spots, and watch as God’s Spirit transforms you little by little through the fashioning tool of the Bible.

Cory Waddell

The young, new preacher had just called on the telephone to ask for help on interpreting a passage. After about a 15-minute discussion and as the conversation began to draw to a close, I simply said, brother let’s pray before we hang up. After praying briefly, we said our goodbyes and ended the call. About a year later I was blessed to work alongside this same young preacher at a summer youth camp. At some point our conversation turned toward prayer and he confessed to me that on the occasion when we had prayed together over the phone that at it had made him somewhat uncomfortable. Later he realized that his discomfort had stemmed from fact that he simply wasn’t accustomed to doing so (i.e. praying over the phone), but once he began to think about prayer in the light of scripture it became a major point of comfort for him knowing that even after an ordinary conversation someone would take the time to pray for him and his work.

The very act of approaching God on behalf of others will encourage them beyond measure. We obviously don’t pray to be seen of men (Matt. 6:5-6), but in praying with others we are sending a message that God is our source of strength, and that he is the one who will see us through our trials and tribulations (Ps. 18:1-6). Just as the apostle Paul received strength and encouragement from the Philippian brethren during his imprisonment at Rome (Phil. 1:19), we today can likewise help others who are imprisoned by worries and pain by simply offering a prayer in their presence.

Over the course of my life-long ministry, I’ve never had someone turn me down when I offered to pray with them. Most understand the comfort that prayer provides and are often eager to have you pray for them and are likewise often waiting for you to lead them. Prayer is a powerful tool in the hands of the Christian, and when we pray together it’s amazing to see what doors the Lord might open (Acts 16:25-27). The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much (James 5:16).

John Moore

As dehydration was the precipitant leading to this condition, I needed IV fluids, stat! I used to have such wondrous veins, vast highways of blood running through the hypodermis. All the cellular denizens of my body were happy and enriched by their life-giving flow. Metaphorically, if those veins of my youth were one of those two paths leading to our eternal destiny, it would lead to hell, being wide and broad. But, alas, with chronic health, and especially dehydration, they repented and became the strait and narrow way. The IVs that the nurses initially placed soon became infiltrated. Fortunately, the hospital has ultrasound guided peripheral IV teams capable of making the most challenging sticks. These technicians came to my bedside and put two new IV sites into my deeper veins. When I had the nurse pull those from me before my release, she expressed surprise over the needle’s length. Sometimes, it takes great effort to find the “blood” (i.e., vein) in medicine.

I begin with an apology to the squeamish. The topic of blood and needles can be unsettling. I appreciate this. I might wince, too, had repeated phlebotomies not conditioned me to be a pincushion. However, the subject of blood is necessary for our salvation. When man fell from God’s grace, God must have instituted the sacrificial system as the means whereby one could assuage His wrath. We know not His specific instructions but realize God gave them to the patriarchs. The Hebrews writer says Abel provided a sacrifice by faith, faith being a conviction resulting from hearing God’s Word (Hebrews 11.4; Romans 10.17). A sacrificial system codified by God addressed the various types of noncapital sins under Moses’ Law. There were mandatory and voluntary sacrifices. Sadly, for those innocent animals, the Hebrews writer reminds us that their blood could not remove sin (Hebrews 10.3-4). During Passover, scholars believe that Wadi Kidron (i.e., Kidron Brook) ran red from the blood of sacrifices offered on the Temple Mount. Commentators of the Scriptures note that Jesus would have had to cross over this stream of blood to climb the height of Mount Olivet.

Fortunately for us, the blood we must find to receive salvation does not require an ultrasound or a trip to a cattle feedlot. Instead, Jesus shed His saving blood atop the Place of the Skull in the first century, ushering in His New Testament. Moreover, the Hebrews writer tells us that this efficacious blood obtained eternal redemption for us (Hebrews 9.12). Best of all, Jesus only had to provide this sacrifice once for all time (Hebrews 10.10). Yet, all I have noted thus far is that Jesus shed this blood, that this blood is available. Scriptures remind us that without blood, God does not forgive sinners (Hebrews 9.22). So, we still need directions to the “fountain filled with blood, Drawn from Immanuel’s veins.” Thankfully, the apostle Paul informs us that the act of baptism (i.e., immersion in water) enables us to be in the likeness of the death, burial, and resurrection of our Lord (Romans 6.3-5). Why baptism? Jesus shed His blood in death (John 19.34). And since we cannot literally bathe in the flowing blood of Christ, we must do so figuratively. Again, baptism is where you receive that symbolic washing of Christ’s blood. Once cleansed by baptism, John tells us that a faithful life of striving to walk in the Light enables us to remain in contact with that saving blood (1 John 1.7).

Yes, baptism is where we find the blood. Therefore, quoting the preacher Ananias as he spoke to the crestfallen Saul of Tarsus three days removed from the Damascus road: “Now why do you delay? Get up and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on His name.” (Acts 22.16 NASB1995)

Brent Pollard

The statement that “there are good people in all churches” is usually made as a defense of the existence of the many different conflicting denominations. Certainly there are good people in all the churches. There are good people OUT of churches. There are good people who are infidels. But the question is not are they good, but are they saved people?

It is good to be good but it is not good enough. One cannot save himself by just being good. He must obey the gospel of Christ (2 Thess. 1:7-9) to be saved. Cornelius was a good man but he was a lost man! (Acts 10:1-6; 11:14). The good people in human churches are lost people, not because they are not good moral people, but because they have not obeyed the gospel of God. This is why we appeal to good people to leave their human churches and obey the gospel. There is no other hope for these good people.

– by Earl Fly

Theologians make their fine distinctions and hard classifications. They like the old idea of taking one thing at a time. They consider God’s holiness, then move on to his love. Such an approach is probably acceptable, as far as it goes.

The various and wonderful aspects of God’s nature and personality are a single unit. Westerners like to break things down into their component units. The ancient Hebrews, however, liked to pull things together, considering them as a whole. The former group excels in analysis; the latter, in synthesis.

When it comes to the one true God, the Hebrew approach recommends itself. If God is one, his nature partakes of that oneness.

So Scripture will make statements about God that join distinct and apparently opposing aspects. Such as this one: God judges because he loves.

• God disciplines those whom he loves (Hebrews 12:6; Revelation 3:9; see Proverbs 3:12).
• The Psalmist speaks of God’s love and truth in the same breath; they are not antagonistic to one another (Psalm 40:10).
• David knew it was appropriate to ask God to “rain burning coals and sulfur on the wicked,” because “he loves righteous deeds” (Psalm 11:6, 7, CSB).

Mr. Glen Stewart got it exactly right when wrote in his daily devotional on Hosea, chapters 5-9:

Why did God permit Israel to be judged by the wicked Assyrians? Because He loved His people, and this was the only way they would listen. They had to be shown, and God’s chastening hand of love fell upon them.

Our beautiful responses to God and his Word also partake of similar paradoxes.

• We ought to love God and at the same time fear him (Deuteronomy 10:12; Psalm 33:18; see Matthew 10:28).
• See where mercy and fear are two attitudes shown by saints simultaneously (Jude 23).
• In that same context of loving your neighbor, which our Lord and Savior quotes, Israel was ordered to “judge your neighbor fairly” (Leviticus 19:15-18).
• The humble apostle Paul tells Timothy about that spirit received from God whose three qualities are marvelously compatible: “power, love, and sound judgment” (2 Timothy 1:7).
• Sweet praise ought to come best from those who fear God (Revelation 19:5).

Besides the theologians, progressives like to throw one part of God’s character against another. When they disparage truth and exalt compassion, they are striking against the one God. When they dilate grace and constrict holiness, their liberal sword cleaves the divine nature in half.

Therefore, let us never leave off any part of God’s person. We need his fullness in our lives. And let us never neglect to add knowledge and godliness to our faith, along with all the other essential qualities of the one who pleases God (2 Peter 1:3-11).

1. A. Neale

Humble yourselves under
the mighty hand of God.
—1 Peter 5:6

Here’s a comforting verse: “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you” (1 Pt 5:7).

But Professor Wayne Grudem says a vital connection between verses 6 and 7 of 1 Peter 5 is missed by English translations that start a new sentence at verse 7, whereas “No new sentence begins here in Greek.”

The NASB is among those that have it right: “Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, casting all your anxiety upon Him, because He cares for you.”

Dr. Grudem asserts that the command of verse 6, “Humble yourselves . . .” is followed by verse 7 telling how that is done—by “casting all your anxiety upon Him.”

Failure to commit your anxieties to him
is failure to humble yourself before him.

INTRODUCTION:

    Philip Yancey writes, in The Jesus I Never Knew, that he learned something about the incarnation from having a salt-water aquarium. He writes: “I learned about incarnation when I kept a saltwater aquarium. Management of a marine aquarium, I discovered, is no easy task. …You would think, in view of all the energy expended on their behalf, that my fish would at least be grateful. Not so. Every time my shadow loomed above the tank, they dove for cover into the nearest shell. They showed me one emotion only: fear. …To change their perceptions, I began to see, would require a form of incarnation. I would have to become a fish and speak to them in a language they could understand.”

    We and our neighbors live in a world of evil, of selfishness, of hate. If we are to bring anyone to Jesus Christ, we need to – in a sense – incarnate Jesus Christ to our friends and one way we do that is by living a good life in front of them. 

    There are many times in funeral eulogies that I could summarize the person’s life by simply saying, “He or she was a good person.” What does it mean to be a “good person”? How can we be “good people”? What are the qualities that make up a “good person”? Paul says in Romans 15:14 that the Christians in Rome were “full of goodness.” Therefore, we know that we can be good, we can even be good in God’s eyes! How? Let’s study the quality of “goodness” this week.

LET US DEFINE “GOOD” AS “LOVE IN ACTION”:

    We begin with the idea that love is an attitude that motivates one to action and we’ll define that action as “good.” So to word that another way, “love desires the good of another.” Do you see the distinction between “good” and “love”? Love is the attitude that motivates us to do something and the “something” we do is “good.” “Love desires the good of another.” 

 WE NEED TO DESIRE TO BE GOOD:

    Being “good” begins, with the desire to be good. Love is a choice and so good is a choice. We want to show love; therefore, we desire to be good, to do good. Paul wrote the Christians in Thessalonica in 2 Thessalonians 1:11 “To this end also we pray for you always, that our God will count you worthy of your calling, and fulfill every desire for goodness and the work of faith with power.”

    Notice Paul writes of “fulfilling their every desire for goodness.” We have to want to be good. Therefore, being good is the end result of decisions we make. It does not necessarily happen by accident or without any thought.

    You remember the woman who died in Acts 9, who was raised from the dead by the apostle Peter… Dorcas? Luke writes that when she was alive, she “abounded with deeds of kindness (NASV) and charity” (9:36). The word translated “kindness” is the Greek word for “good.” 

Paul Holland

The book of Hosea is like no other book in the Bible. It even stands out from the other books of prophecy in the Old Testament. Hosea was commanded to prophecy to the nation of Israel just like other men during this time period, but unlike other prophets Hosea’s message was directly tied to his personal life. He spoke to Israel and was motivated by the personal experiences that were happening to him in his life.

Hosea was commanded by God to marry the harlot Gomer (1:2). Gomer’s unfaithfulness to Hosea served as an example of Israel’s unfaithfulness to God. As the account unfolds, Hosea and Gomer have three children whose names are used to send Israel a very specific message. While this book may seem harsh and almost cruel, let’s notice the main idea of Hosea.

Hosea reveals to us the depth of God’s unending love for His children, a love that is never failing but also a love that tolerates no rivals. The people that God has chosen as His own must recognize that His love must come first above anyone and everything else. This fact is seen in Hosea’s marriage to Gomer. In chapter 1:2-11, we are introduced to Hosea’s family. He has a wife and three kids, but Gomer doesn’t stick around long. She leaves Hosea and goes back to her life of harlotry. There’s a symbolic message that Hosea uses in his prophecy. He compares Israel’s actions to what his wife did to him. They left their union with God to live a life of sin.

While most of us would find it hard to love someone if they did these things to us, God still continued to love Israel. Hosea 3:1 says, “And the Lord said to me, ‘Go again, love a woman who is loved by another man and is an adulteress, even as the Lord loves the children of Israel, though they turn to other gods…” God’s love is truly unending towards His children. The book of Hosea clearly illustrates this point.

By reading this book we can know that God’s forgiveness is available to everyone at any point. Not only do we get a glimpse of God’s attitude towards those who have left Him, we also see a personal example of how much God is willing to do in order to restore His relationship with us.

Hosea truly is a unique book. The prophet married a woman that he knew would eventually betray his trust. He knew the pain and heartache that would come from her unfaithfulness to him, but it was all done so that we could better understand God’s love and dedication towards imperfect and sinful man.

Carl Pollard

The gospel teaching of “salvation by grace through faith,” is one of the central doctrines of Christianity. Growing up, I don’t personally remember hearing a massive amount about it, though, which may just mean I was not listening like I should have been. Consequently, for a long time I lacked an understanding of what it means to be “saved by grace.” However, as I have grown, this beautiful concept has come into clearer view and I know why God emphasizes it so much in the Scriptures.

In Romans 4:3, Paul uses Abraham as a case study for being saved by grace. Quoting from Genesis 15:6, he writes, “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness.” Two words stand out here to help us understand how it is that God saves by grace.

The first is “believed.” In Greek this word is the same as “to have faith.” Many people today incorrectly think that having faith/believing just means to acknowledge God with their mind. However, we know from James 2:14-26 (specifically vv. 22-23) that Abraham’s “saving faith/belief” was the combination of trust with obedient actions. Thus, when Abraham is said to have “believed” it means that he had a trust which resulted in obedient action.
The second word is “counted.” Other translations of this would be “to impute” or “to credit to one’s account.” Imagine going to the bank and discovering an extra $1000 in your balance that you had not gone to work for, but it had been deposited there by a dear friend. That money would have been “credited” or “imputed” to you, not out of obligation on their part, but out of love and kindness.

Put the ideas together. Abraham was not a perfectly righteous man on his own. We are fully aware of his sinful shortcomings. However, when God revealed Himself to the patriarch, Abraham was left with a choice. He could trust God’s word, guidance, and work, OR he could keep doing things his own way. Wisely, Abraham chose to trust God’s way of doing things and did them (that’s belief). When God saw that obedient trust, He credited that to Abraham as complete righteousness (or rightness) even though Abraham was a flawed human being.

You and I are not perfectly righteous. We lost that status the moment we first sinned. What’s more, no one in their right mind would claim that I would have paid my dues for those sins by letting someone dunk me in water! However, when I am baptized as an act of submission to God’s will and am looking to Jesus’s sacrifice as the substitution for my own death, the Bible calls that belief or faith. When God sees that kind of trust, He credits me with complete righteousness before Him, even though I am still a flawed human being. There is no amount of sweat equity I could invest in my life that would earn such a status. It is a gift…paid for by the substitutionary death of Jesus…received through my trusting obedience…and kept by a life lived in continued trusting obedience until He calls me home. That’s what it means to be “saved by grace.”

Cory Waddell

Christianity cannot be practiced mindlessly. It is not a habit to be formed, forgotten, and inattentively fulfilled – like washing your hands. Rather, serving God by living as a Christian is a purposeful life lived intently.

Routines are helpful in maintaining a godly lifestyle. Cambridge defines routine as “a usual or fixed way of doing things.”

Scripture hints at the value of purposeful routines by showing us the extraordinary daily life of Jesus.

Jesus prayed often. And often he would pray alone. Great crowds followed Jesus, “Yet Jesus himself frequently withdrew to the wilderness and prayed” (Luke 5:16 NET). There were times when he needed to rise early in the morning to spend time alone in prayer (Mark 1:35-37). And still other times he would go up on a mountain to find solitude (Luke 6:12; Matthew 14:23).

Jesus “went about doing good” (Acts 10:38). Wherever he went, Jesus did good. He had compassion on people. He healed them and he taught them. He was fueled by doing the Father’s will (John 4:34).

Jesus attended synagogue regularly. When Jesus came back to his hometown, he “went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, as was his custom.” (Luke 4:16).

Paul’s routine when he entered a new city to preach the gospel was to go in to the synagogue and proclaim Jesus (Acts 17:2, 10, 17; 13:5; 14:1; 18:4; 19:8).

Good routines are a sign of maturity, “But solid food is for the mature, whose perceptions are trained by practice to discern both good and evil” (Hebrews 5:14). I appreciate the ESV’s rendering of “constant practice.” We must constantly practice good routines in order for their value to be added to our lives.

Our manner of life is often described as a “walk” in scripture. In order to have fellowship with God, fellowship with others, and forgiveness of sins, we must “walk in the light” (1 John 1:6, 7). Walking in the light is a routine. It is a usual or fixed way of doing things.

Unlike good routines, ruts can be dangerous. We “fall into a rut” or are “stuck in a rut.” Typically we find ourselves in a rut when we fail to practice godly routines. The Hebrews writer warns of harmful ruts. Those to whom he wrote were cautioned that they might not abandon meeting together, “as some are in the habit of doing” (Hebrews 10:25).

Some ruts are more difficult to get out of than others. But all require effort and diligence.

Perhaps you find yourself in a rut, mindlessly wasting your time. Perhaps you find yourself in a rut, actively harming your soul. Do not wallow in self-pity. Rather, take stock of where you are and how you got there, and then work to free yourself.

Paul told Timothy, “Make every effort to present yourself before God as a proven worker who does not need to be ashamed, teaching the message of truth accurately” (2 Timothy 2:15).

Walking the narrow way requires effort, diligence, thoughtfulness. We cannot expect to mindlessly stumble upon righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, or gentleness (see 1 Timothy 6:11).

Routinely pray to God. Routinely read, and meditate upon, his word. Routinely meet with the saints. Routinely do good to others. Routinely guard your words. Routinely seek for peace. Routinely praise God. If you are diligent in these things, you may see that those ruts are less enticing.

Lee Parish