Emotions are a gift of God. We can feel Adam’s enthusiasm in his words upon first seeing Eve. Jesus himself expressed a complete range of feelings, from joy to exasperation.

Like all things human, emotions were also subjected to futility after the Fall, Romans 8.20. Satan uses our emotions to steer us away from God’s will. One of his best tactics is to stir up our feelings so that he can manipulate us.

When the Evil One manages to persuade us to live by our emotions, he knows the potential to harm us and keep us from God. How exactly does living by emotion harm us?

It keeps you from looking ahead

Feelings act on what is happening now. They focus on the present. The hope of eternal life, Titus 1.2, looks ahead to the coming of Christ. Like Abraham, we are “looking forward to the city with firm foundations, whose architect and builder is God” Hebrews 11.10. But life driven by emotion blocks out the future for the present experience, whether it be exciting or frightening, sad or glad. Gone is the perspective of future joy and justice.

It keeps you from self-control

Giving emotions control of our lives keeps us from living with self-control, which is a part of the fruit of the Spirit, Galatians 5.22-23. Living by emotion means letting circumstances and external forces control us, similar to what Paul mentioned to the Ephesians:

“So we are no longer to be children, tossed back and forth by waves and carried about by every wind of teaching by the trickery of people who craftily carry out their deceitful schemes” Ephesians 4.14.

Something will control us; we have the choice as to whom we deliver up control of our lives, Romans 6.16.

It prevents you from acting rationally

Given rein, emotions short-circuit logical thought. Life by emotion crowds out the rational process. Jesus wants the mind to guide us; he wants us “thinking the way God thinks” Matthew 16.23 GW.

The emotional person is more easily manipulated by others. This is why the media appeals to one’s feelings and passions and seeks to stimulate the emotions, so that the user/viewer will do what the advertiser wants: buy their product. So the emotional person often lives in debt, burrows deeper into depression and unhappy feelings, always seeks new situations and relationships, and envies the person who lives on an even keel.

It throws you to extreme highs and lows

Some people like roller coasters, but constant dips, heights, and stomach-flipping rolls are a terrible way to live. Life by emotion upends the even keel, throwing you into driving storms one minute and ecstasies the next. The jagged edges of emotion keep you seeking the highs and dreading the lows.

Emotions do not reflect reality. Things may be going well, but you don’t feel it. Or you may feel great when disaster is occurring all around you. Emotions change often and rapidly. They are untrustworthy. Go with what you know, not what you feel.

It leads to bad decisions

Emotions are reactionary. They are not pro-active. They tend toward extremes. Cain’s misdirected anger led to murder, Genesis 4. Life by emotion leads to destruction. When faced with decisions and choices, it tends to go with the worst possible options.

It centers in self

Uncontrolled emotions reveal immature attitudes of the child. It is a repulsive thing to see in adults. Discipline is, in great part, the control of the emotions. The life led by emotion thinks first of self. It views everything through the filter of the ego.

Only the rational person is able to mentally separate self from events and the actions of others. The mind can suspend judgment, while feelings rush to unjustified conclusions.

It takes you directly into sin

Many sins that appear in the lists across the Bible are pure emotions, such as anger. You can be angry without sinning, Ephesians 4.26, but it often surfaces as the expression of a sinful impulse, so much so that James will say that “human anger does not accomplish God’s righteousness” James 1.20.

Conclusion: The train of faith

Emotions make for a great caboose on the train of faith. They are a lousy engine, because they lead you to a destructive wreck that will cost you eternity with God. Let the Lord lead your life through the renewal of the mind, Romans 12.1-2, and make emotions take their rightful place.

1. Randal Matheny

There have been endless books written, lecture series taught, and sermons preached on “The Hard Sayings of Jesus,” but did anyone ever cover “The Easy Sayings of Jesus?”

In my own study, and in writing (albeit, irregularly) this column on the sayings of Jesus (“Jesus Said”), it has become my opinion that there aren’t really any “easy sayings” of Jesus. Some seem easier on the surface, but in reality, the more you listen to his voice, the more you realize how difficult it is to achieve Jesus’ ideals. But it is not just the ideals of Jesus that challenge us.

Even the worst among us are knowledgeable of lofty ideals, and capable of enunciating them. People before Jesus knew “the golden rule” – or some variation of it. Through the years, I’ve read some who attempt to discredit Jesus because he was not the first to state some exalted truth. So here is an admission: not everything Jesus said reeks of pure originality. Additionally, not everything Jesus said was of a higher moral caliber than had ever been proposed before (to be perfectly clear: Jesus’ moral caliber is not lower than anyone else’s either).

Now, a caveat should be added here, lest someone accuse me of utter blasphemy or ignorance, which is that Jesus DID in fact say numerous things that were either: (1) well beyond the enlightenment of those who supposedly invented his sayings, or (2) antagonistic to anything that either the Jewish or Roman mind of the first 2 centuries A.D. would have been comfortable saying, if they would have imagined saying them at all. And (3) had the gospels been mere fabrications, compiled over two centuries or so, the likelihood of their being given enough circulation and credence to become the most well-attested, prolific, and influential documents (because they contain the most influential personality) of the past 2,000 years, is about as likely as a spiral galaxy producing a star system that has a planet that produces life spontaneously. But it’s not our purpose to explore these things in this article).

Appealing – and true, and powerful – as the sayings of Jesus are, and as apparently unoriginal (at least, in certain instances) as some of them might have been, this is not the appeal of Jesus’ words anyway. What really mesmerizes us about the approximately 36,450 words (in English translation) of Jesus, is him. It’s not only that he said the best stuff, but also, in conjunction with that, he lived the best life. In particular, he lived the life he taught. He attained to every single ideal he put before us.

This is where Jesus and every other philosopher, moralist, sage, etc., part ways. We know the follies and foibles of our neighbor. They are ubiquitous. And even though we may not see all of our own faults so well, we know we have them.

Not with Jesus. There no faults; there are no inconsistencies. What he said and what he did aligns like the stars of a constellation – and shines even more brightly. This is where Jesus and all other sages, poets, philosophers and wise men of all time are completely different.

As to the gospel writers: To have invented such thing out of thin air, as Judson invented the zipper, to imagine such a man as this, whose ideals reach into the heavens, but at the same time, whose life makes no step backward from, and is not one rung lower than those ideals – is either the most magnificent literary feat of all time, or is the actual record of a life that was lived. There is simply no apparent alternative that meets the test of rationality.

Beyond this, the ability of a mere mortal or mortals – most of whom are supposedly illiterate, unaided by the then inconceivable knowledge that such a monumental matter, e.g., the changing of the tide of all history around a single individual, was actually happening before their own eyes, and further unaided by the modern understanding of how best to document these things accurately for posterity – to record and preserve these things without stepping all over one another’s testimony, is undoubtedly the greatest feat of historical documentation on record.

As I’ve often remarked in my own preaching and teaching, to settle this matter of Jesus, one need not be a textual scholar or trained historian. One need only do a slightly improved job in accomplishing what the gospels sought to accomplish in giving us Jesus.

One author claimed that “the gospel writers used their imaginations,” and that what they wrote was merely “propaganda for the early Jesus cult.” Or, as a TV show I remember watching some years ago used to say, “Everything is made up and the points don’t matter.” The gospels, in other words, just contain another literary invention, known to us as Jesus.

But aren’t all inventions eventually displaced, either by wiser men or obsolescence? Why should it be different with literature? With Jesus? Surely, if a bunch of illiterate first-century Jews and ignorant redactors, each with their own motives and religious proclivities, over a few centuries, invented the most influential personality that ever lived, a small group of brilliant, unbelieving scholars could best it in a weekend at a cabin overlooking a lake. Right?

We’ll wait.

But we won’t hold our breath.

Rick Kelley

“My son, keep my words, and treasure my commands within you. Keep my commands and live, and my law as the apple of your eye. Bind them on your fingers; write them on the tablet of your heart. Say to wisdom, ‘You are my sister,’ and call understanding your nearest kin” (Proverbs 7:1-4 NKJV).

I have written before about the different systems of education between East and West (Asia versus Europe and North America). Though changes are occurring it is still generally true that the emphasis in western education is comprehension and application while that of the east remains to a great extent simply accumulation of facts through memorization.

On one of our overseas flights Brenda sat beside a young south Asian lady and they discussed their respective faiths (the other woman was Islamic). At one point the Asian passenger mentioned that she had been taught many passages of the Quran in Arabic and could still recite them. However she was never taught to read or speak the Arabic language. She had no idea of the meaning of those passages. No doubt her teachers were proud of her “knowledge” of their Holy Book. We would question whether she had any real knowledge of it at all.

At the other extreme in the west technology is rapidly replacing knowledge. Young people, as well as many who are not so young, question whether there is any need to know simple math or to learn history or even science. We have calculators for the math, and if we need to know anything else we just “google it.” Why should we labor to learn something when access to it is so easy? Younger friends and I were discussing a place they had visited and I pulled out my old school road atlas to locate it. They immediately said, “What is that?” My answer was that some things, like a good overview of a larger region, are still easier to obtain by paper and ink. And regardless of what model smart phone one has, nothing will ever replace the human brain.

Solomon’s advice to his sons and other young men in the book of Proverbs was to obtain wisdom as the greatest of all possessions. That was his own conviction when he became King of Israel at a young age (1 Kings 3:6-9), and he spent his life in its pursuit and application. In the verses cited at the beginning of this article he identifies certain keys to effectual learning. These are worthy of our attention:

Want to learn (2b, “… my law as the apple of your eye”). When we look at something with desire we inevitably fix it in our mind and memory. The love of knowledge is a worthy object. Paul said, “Whatever things are true … meditate on these things” (Philippians 4:8).

Develop muscle memory through practice (3a, “Bind them on your fingers”). Much of what we learn is best assimilated and made permanent by physical application. No one becomes an accomplished pianist simply by reading instruction manuals.

Hundreds or thousands of hours of practice are essential for the development of true musical skill. Whatever our area of study, we learn more thoroughly when we act out our lessons. As the Hebrew writer taught, “But solid food (i.e., advanced knowledge) belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil” (Hebrews 5:14).

Work to engrave matters in your memory (3b, “write them on the tablet of your heart”). As I have written previously, “heart” here refers to the center of thought, that is to our minds. Most people consider that they have poor memories. What is probably more true is that they have untrained memories. Any healthy mind has the capacity to remember far more than most of us realize, but it takes conscious effort. That is true of most of what is of value – there is a price to be paid and in terms of knowledge it is study.

Repeat what you want to learn aloud and, even better, write it down (4, “Say to wisdom, ‘you are my sister,’ and call understanding your nearest kin”). When Moses enjoined Israel to learn the commandments of God and teach them to future generations he said,

“And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates” (Deuteronomy 6:6-9).

Frequent repetition is critical to memorization and retention.

The attainment of wisdom depends upon one’s willingness to expend effort. But if one wills to learn, these techniques will help. We must want knowledge, exercise mental discipline to learn, practice our knowledge physically, and repeat what we have learned frequently.

Those who follow those principles may not attain to the wisdom of Solomon, but they will greatly increase their own intellectual abilities.

Michael Brooks

I was privileged to be present for the birth of all three of my boys. Each experience was wonderfully unique. The first is the most memorable. As second-year preaching school students we lived in a small two bedroom apartment. Our midwife was over an hour away. She didn’t make it. Armed with a three-page emergency list entitled “What To Do If Your Midwife Is Not Present,” we welcomed our little boy into our arms. I’d never held a newborn before, not like that. It was life-changing.

The anticipation is realized happiness. The anxiousness is replaced with relief. The pain melts into pride. This is our boy.

It may be a tautology to declare that birth is a beginning, but it is not a useless declaration. We know that life begins before birth, that a child in the womb is a distinct, living being. Yet there is something special about a child’s first breath, first cry, first hug. It is the beginning of a slow march toward independence.

In the beginning a child needs help to do everything. But soon they are sitting up, rolling over, and crawling. Eventually walking, eating solid food, and talking become normal. All of that begins at birth.

It should be no surprise that a Christian’s inception is identified with birth. Jesus’ notable nighttime encounter with Nicodemus introduces us to the idea of the new birth, not a physical return to the womb, but a birth of Spirit and water (John 3:3-5). Any wishing to become children of God must be born “not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God” (John 1:12, 13).

Sin kills. When we sin we become spiritually dead, cut off from the Creator and severed from his spiritual blessings (Ephesians 2:1-3). When we carry out the desires of the body and the mind we are living in darkness (1 John 1:6).

For that to change we need a new birth. We need to be made alive together with Christ (Ephesians 2:5, 6). Just as a child is born into the world full of purity and promise, those who once were dead in sins and trespasses (Colossians 2:13), can be made alive again without sin (Romans 6:3, 4). Those who are baptized have their sins forgiven in that moment (Acts 2:38; 22:16).

What a beautiful moment when one is born again. A moment full of happiness, relief, and pride. A moment of new beginnings. A moment of purity and promise.

But just as birth is a beginning for physical children, so it is also for spiritual ones. We would not leave a newborn to fend for himself. We must not treat baptism as an end.

We must consider ourselves dead to sin (Romans 6:11). That means that as we begin our walk with Christ, we truly begin our battle with sin. We have been set free from sin to become slaves of God (Romans 6:22), we must not submit ourselves again to the yoke of slavery.

Rather, happily, we are to grow up in Christ our Lord.

“Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation” (1 Peter 2:2).

Even though growth can be painful, children earnestly desire to mature. Stagnation is unhealthy in youth. Christians must not dodge development. God expects his children to grow (see 1 Corinthians 3:2; Hebrews 5:12, 13).

Just as children are born into a physical family, Christians are born into a spiritual one. Reach out to your new brothers and sisters and encourage them. What a blessing to have a fresh start! What a privilege to live for Jesus!

If you are a new Christian, never stop striving, never stop moving, never stop learning. Grow!

Lee Parish

Organizers of a spiritual event disinvited a speaker they had previously invited. I heard about it because they asked me to speak in his place. They gave no reason why the person got disinvited, nor even mentioned who it was, and I didn’t ask. I figured it was none of my business. I never found out, either. Just as well.

My estimation of the organizers remained high. Maybe they should have known something about the speaker before inviting him. But whatever they learned after the invitation, they didn’t feel embarrassed to disinvite him. They were committed to hosting an event that would edify and instruct in truth.

Some years ago, as one of several overseers of another annual event, I, along with several others, insisted the organizers of a particular year disinvite an unqualified speaker. In their embarrassment or rebellion, they alleged that disinviting would cause more of a stink than letting him go ahead and speak. They promised to monitor his speech, as if they could undo whatever harm he might cause. Never mind that his very presence as a speaker compromised the integrity of the event. Their disingenuousness caused me to have a lesser opinion of their commitment to the cause of truth.

The Lord God is faithful, and we can be sure that he will never disinvite those who are faithful to his Revelation of redemption. Is it such a relief to know that God does not go back on his word.

The saying is trustworthy, for: If we have died with him, we will also live with him; if we endure, we will also reign with him; if we deny him, he also will deny us; if we are faithless, he remains faithful— for he cannot deny himself (2 Timothy 2:11-13 ESV).

At the same time, he disinvites those who turn their back on their commitment to Christ. He said to wavering saints,

But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death (Revelation 21:8).

That sounds like a disinvitation to me, if I ever saw one.

Remember the parable of the feast? One unfortunate fellow got into the party, thanks to an open invitation, but then got disinvited and thrown out, into deep darkness, for weeping and gnashing of teeth (Matthew 22:1-14). It was no gentle disinvitation, either. He was bound and cast out.

Then I thought about Matthew 7:21 as a disivintation, but it is not. Jesus said, “I never knew you.” Those hapless sorts never accepted the invitation in the first place, although on the last and final day they will pretend they were on the inside. Reminds a fellow of the outsiders in 1 John who left, having never really been party participants.

I need to be sure that I accept the gracious invitation of the King and, more, that I live accordingly in this life so as not to be cast out into eternal despair. There is no need for a mourner’s bench (OK, so that went out in the 19th or 20th Century). Nor is there a need to rubber stamp every human intention with divine approval. (That is alive and well in the 21st Century.)

What an embarrassment it will be to get down to the end and get disinvited!

God extends the invitation today, and he is clear about terms and conditions. Nothing uncertain or iffy about his calling.

I’m thankful for that.

A. Neale

At 31 years of age, Deshauna Barber is quite an accomplished woman. In 2016 she won the Miss USA pageant and placed in the top nine for the Miss Universe pageant. Now she serves as a captain in the US Army Reserves and travels as a motivational speaker.

Deshauna tells the story of making the track team in middle school and being in need of a new pair of running shoes. The day her mother comes home with them, Barber noticed the box says, “Size 9.” In seventh grade, Deshauna wore a size 5! “Momma, these shoes are too big.” Her mother replied, “I know. I did that on purpose.” Deshauna replied, “Why would you purposefully buy me shoes that are too big?” “Because I know you’re going to grow into them.”

The next day at practice, shooting out of her starting position, Deshauna hit the track…literally. She fell on her face because the shoes were so big. Obviously, she was frustrated at not being able to move as quickly or with the level of grace and finesse she wanted. Because of the shoes, she was forced to slow down and stick it out until she grew into them.

The Bible tells us that God works all things for the good of those who love him (Rom. 8:28) and that he works in us to provide motivation and drive to do his will (Phil. 2:13). Frequently, though, we discover that God’s work comes at a really slow pace. This can often lead to frustration with him. “God, why have you not given me ______ yet?” “Lord, I need this pain to go away. Why haven’t you taken it yet?” “God, we want to grow! Why are you not sending people our way?”

Sometimes I think God slows a process in our lives because we still need to grow into what we are asking for. It may be our faith, resources, mentality, or resilience, but in his infinite knowledge, God knows that we are not ready for everything we ask for. He understands that giving us the end product without the preparation would be disastrous for the future. Therefore, he forces us to slow down and “grow into the shoes.” We may not be able to go the pace we want, but we are making the progress God knows we need to make.

The Psalmist said, “Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way, over the man who carries out evil devices! Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath! Fret not yourself; it tends only to evil. For the evildoers shall be cut off, but those who wait for the Lord shall inherit the land” (Psalms 37:7-9).

So, if you find yourself waiting longer than you expected for God to make something happen, don’t despair. It may be that he’s given you a pair of shoes that are just a little too big.

Cory Waddell

Alexander McLean received his Masters of Laws from the University of London. However, instead of practicing law, McLean pursues teaching the law to those most in need. McLean visited overcrowded prisons where many prisoners had no legal counsel, others did not understand the legal process, and many were imprisoned as pre-trial detainees. Seeing those conditions, McLean felt compelled to do something about it. He created an organization whose mission is to be “Defenders of the Defenceless.” This organization, Justice Defenders, works in African jails and prisons teaching inmates about the law.

Since the founding of Justice Defenders, they have provided free legal counsel and training for many within the prison system. They have helped train both prisoners, as well as guards and staff within the prisons. In any justice system, there is always some inequity. As a result, Justice Defenders have righted wrongful convictions and helped secure the release of prisoners who had served sentences appropriate to the crime but did not understand their sentencing.

All of that seems like a great story: someone who is trying to help champion the cause of justice among those who are disadvantaged. However, what really struck me was when the interviewer was asked if they provide education and advice to those in prison who were rightly convicted. McLean responded:

“Yes. Because we believe that there’s more to someone — that’s killed than being a murderer or more to someone that’s — who’s stolen than being a thief. I don’t think any of us has to be defined by the worst thing that we’ve done.” 

As with many sermons that I’ve needed, my toes were very sore after considering this statement and I felt a little sick to my stomach thinking about how I may have treated others in the past. If any of us feel comfortable with the thought of God or others defining our lives by the worst thing we’ve done then we probably need to take a closer look at our lives. Too often we let words spoken in anger or actions taken without care define how we see those around us. Jesus recognized this all too human quality and provided a stern warning concerning it:

Matthew 6:14 For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, 15 but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

Relationships are messy whether they are with our physical family, spiritual family, or friends. It is a tragedy when we let isolated events destroy the foundation of relationships we have built with others. Realistically people will disappoint, hurt, and anger us at times, but most are so much more than the worst thing they have ever done. Although we can never do it perfectly, let us try to extend the same mercy to others that we would want our Lord to show us.

Thom Vaught

Listen! That’s how Jesus starts His lesson in Mark 4:3. He has just stepped out onto a boat so that He could speak to the large crowd that had gathered to hear Him. This was a very special sermon. Jesus is going to give the secret to all of His parables by telling a unique parable about the farmer who goes out to sow on the various kinds of ground. When Jesus said “Listen!” He was talking to a specific kind of person.

He wasn’t interested in the one who would hear His words and then fall away later when called to stand up for their faith. He wasn’t looking for the one who would hear His words and then foolishly decide that this world had more to offer.

Jesus said “listen!” because He knew that some would hear His words and those words would change their lives. They would live out His teachings. They would become those lamps He would later discuss later in the chapter. Those who truly listened to this specific sermon and took it to heart would bear fruit. It’s humbling to think that some only believe they’ve listened to Jesus, but on the last day will find out that they only thought they listened (verse 25).

Are we listening to the Savior? One way Jesus tells us we can know if we and others are listening is by looking at the fruit being planted. This section of scripture is a great reminder that there are many who will not hear the Lord and His life-changing and life-saving message, but there are also those out there in our communities who are willing and waiting for us to share Him with them.

Dale Pollard

In the “Sermon on the Mount,” Jesus spoke about the two things that make life on earth worthwhile: salt and light. These two things are usually taken for granted, but we could not live without them.

Salt is necessary for life. Consider the beating heart. The heart beats because of a chemical exchange of sodium (salt) and potassium (another salt). Were it not for these salts, we die. When the two are out of balance, the heart doesn’t function well. Having too much salt means the body retains water and that can result in problems. Having too little potassium can also cause problems and can send a person to the hospital.

We need light, too. Without sunlight, crops do not grow. A failure of sunlight would mean the ultimate death of every living thing on earth. God created the world with a source of light because he wanted to create living beings on the earth that would require sunlight. We even consider light as necessary at night, so we have street lights to provide illumination and safety for people at night.

Russians don’t have lights. At night, everything is dreadfully dark. There were times when I walked the streets of Sosnofka or Vyatsky Polyany at night and felt uneasy because there was no light at all.

The world needs salt and light in another way, too. It needs the influence of both for salvation. People need the light of God’s word so they may obey it and live as saved souls. They need salt so they might be the kind of good influence on others that will point the way to salvation.

When Christians don’t provide the salt and light of good influence on the people around them, their friends may find themselves shut out of eternity. On Judgment Day, it would be terrible for our friends and neighbors to point at us and say, “You never told me about Jesus,” or “You never told me what I should do to save my soul.”

Christians need to be the kind of influence on others that can provide the salt and light others need to live eternally. We can provide those two life-saving properties of salt and light if we provide the influence of God in our lives.

When people talk about how many things are wrong in the world, we should give them the two things that are right: Jesus and his word. We should give them the salt and the light!

John Henson

“And again he entered Capernaum after some days, and it was heard that he was in the house. Immediately many gathered together, so that there was no longer room to receive them, not even near the door. And he preached the word to them. Then they came to him, bringing a paralytic who was carried by four men. And when they could not come near him because of the crowd, they uncovered the roof where he was. So when they had broken through, they let down the bed on which the paralytic was lying” (Mark 2:1-4 NKJV).

Some years ago while visiting churches in the mountains of Nepal I fell from the steps leading into the house in which I was spending several days. The floor level was two or three feet above the ground and the steps were makeshift at best – a few rocks stacked loosely on each other without mortar and without much level matching surface. My fall was not serious and I was uninjured, but as I sat on the ground catching my breath I saw one of the Church’s leaders taking apart the steps and beginning to level and relay them to be more secure. I thought at the time, “This is not his house (he was not actually even a resident of that village); what is he doing working on someone else’s house?”

Over the years that same reaction has occurred repeatedly when reading the story of the paralyzed man and his four loyal friends. What audacity, to take off the roof of another person’s house. This is not only my reaction, but one I have heard from others.

As I consider that response, three ideas surface which may, in part at least, modify my attitude.

First, American culture is much different from that of the East, both in ancient and modern times. Our emphasis on private ownership of property and the rights of the property owner is not shared in much of the world. A neighbor “fixing” another’s bad steps without first seeking approval is not a violation of rights – it is simply a helping hand that is much appreciated. Villages in the less developed world are much more of extended families than are our cities or even small towns.

Second, even in our culture, are not people worth more than stone and mortar, or sticks, dirt, palm fronds, and slate “tiles” (typical roofing materials in Asia)? A hole in the roof could easily be repaired (and no doubt was), but opportunities to present their lame friend to the miracle working Jesus might not come again. They put what was to them the most important thing first. Even so, Jesus pointed out something even more important – one’s spiritual condition (Mark 2:5).

We often struggle to keep our priorities straight. Even as we pay off a mortgage to secure the house of our dreams, let us remember to “Seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God” (Colossians 3:1).

Finally, I am reminded that even if I have paid off that mortgage and labored hard to acquire my house, it is really not mine at all. All I have is a gift from God; I am simply a steward, looking after my master’s property (1 Corinthians 4:1). We appreciate Jesus’ promise to prepare a place for us in his Father’s house (John 14:1-6), that is, in heaven after this life on earth is completed. But we are already, in more than one sense, living in the Father’s house. One house on earth that belongs to God is the Church which Jesus built (1 Timothy 3:15). But every physical house and every mountain, lake, stream, forest and ocean belong to God as well as all that is in them (Psalm 50:12).

Bible scholars often ask, whose house was it in which Jesus taught and performed this miracle? Was it Simon’s (Mark 1:29)? Did Jesus himself own it? Or was it perhaps the property of one of the women disciples who helped provide for his ministry (Luke 8:1-3)? Mark and the other Gospel writers show no interest in this question.

Jesus ministered within the environment of his Father’s world, as do we. All we have, and all we see, are his. The more we are aware of this fact, the better servants we will be.

Michael Brooks

It was a sunny Saturday morning, and Joe was beginning his pre-shot routine, visualizing his upcoming shot when a voice came over the clubhouse loudspeaker – “Would the gentleman on the woman’s tee please back up to the men’s tee, please!”

Joe was still deep in his routine, seemingly impervious to the interruption. Again the announcement – “Would the man on the women’s tee kindly back up the men’s tee!”

Joe had had enough. He shouted, “Would the announcer in the clubhouse kindly shut up and let me play my second shot!”

I am very familiar with not being as far down the golf course as I am expected to be after my first shot!  🙂  And sometimes, I’m not as far along spiritually as others think I should be.  There are some others who are not as far along spiritually as I think they should be.

What is to be our attitude toward these “weak” brethren?  Sometimes the situation calls for some words of gentle rebuke (Heb. 5:12-14). Sometimes the situation calls for patient forbearance (Rom. 14:1).  In all things, our goal is to encourage and build up.

“We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves.  Each of us should please his neighbor for his good, to build him up.” (Rom. 15:1-2).

May be truly encourage one another as we live our Christian lives, with those who are strong helping those who are weak.  We need all the help we can get!

Have a great day!

Alan Smith

Shortly after my dad passed away in 2013, I was visiting with my mom, and I was taken by surprise when I looked at her hands. Somehow, my mother and her hands had aged when I wasn’t watching. I asked her if I could take a picture of her hands so that I could write an article, and she consented.

I am just now getting to that article and I want to tell you a little about the hands you see in this picture. They are much more than the hands of an older woman. These hands belonged to a follower of Jesus who used them in his service all her life.

• These hands are the hands that lovingly held and comforted my two sisters and me while we were babies.
• These hands disciplined us when we needed guidance.
• These hands reached down and steadied us when we were uncertain of our own steps.
• These hands let us go when we eventually pulled away from her help.
• These hands lifted us onto her lap and turned pages as she read Bible stories to us.
• These hands would guide my eyes to help me follow the songbook in church.
• These hands sewed dresses for my sisters and dolls for children in the hospital.
• These hands washed countless glasses when the entire neighborhood would use our house and backyard as a hang out to play football, basketball, and baseball.
• These hands prepared countless meals for our family and for those who needed help. Mom was known as a great cook, and we rarely ate out. In fact, we preferred it that way.
• These hands held my dad’s hands as she supported him in his work as a gospel preacher for more than sixty years.

But somehow these hands had aged without my notice. The skin on her hands had become thinner and looser, and veins became pronounced that once weren’t. But they were still the same hands that had spent a lifetime of service to God and man. These hands are the hands that my sister and I held as mom drew her last breath, and I find great peace in knowing that as we let go, my mom took the “hand of angels” as they escorted her to paradise.

This picture of mom’s hands wouldn’t get her a job as a “hand model,” but don’t let that fool you. Those hands are beautiful!

by Steve Higginbotham

We do not have to guess or wonder what the purpose for I John is. The beloved apostle comes right out and tells us, and continues to tell us throughout the letter. I John 1:4 says, “These things we write, so that our joy may be made complete.” The word translated “complete” means “to make full” (BDAG, page 828). He is writing so we can be completely full of JOY! The fact that the Lord wants us to be happy seems to be news for some brethren. So, what do we have to be JOYFUL about?

     First, we have Forgiveness of Sins (1:5-10). The blood of Christ washing away our sins (cf. Acts 2:38; 22:16; I Peter 3:21).is not a one-time deal. We must repent and ask, and we must walk in the light (I John 1:9,7). Yet, what a joyful promise. We have access to the blood of Christ!

     Second, we have an Advocate and an Appeaser – 2:1-2. Jesus pleads our case and defends us before the Judge. This advocate is One who knows what it means to face temptation (Heb. 4:15). We also have an appeaser – a propitiation. Our lawyer will not only defend us, He will also pay the fines and take the punishment! What a joyful thought! We have an Advocate and an Appeaser!

     Third, we have a Mission – 2:12-17. God sent Jesus, whose mission was to seek and save the lost. Jesus sent the apostles whose mission was to teach the truth to the lost. The apostles teachings sends us on a mission to seek the lost. In a world full of depression, mental problems, addictions, and so on, people are looking for purpose in life. Many are looking for something that makes their life of value. What JOY! We have it! Our mission is to teach the lost!

Fourth, we have God’s Love – 3:1-2. God loves me! I do not deserve it, but He does. Furthermore, He showed that love through the Son. He is my Father! Imagine that; He wants me in His family. It is just like the parable of the Loving Father (a.k.a., the parable of the Prodigal Son, Luke 15:11-32). When we come to Him with the attitude, “I will be your servant,” He will welcome us back as His child. We have a relationship!

     Fifth, we have God’s Ear – 3:22. Because He is my Father, because we have a relationship, this means He Hears ME! What JOY! The Creator of the universe wants to hear ME. He is concerned about ME!

     Sixth, we have Assurance – 5:13. We can know we are in a relationship with the Lord (John 17:1-3). We can have assurance! We must believe (5:13; 5:1). We must decide to follow what He says (5:2-3). We must be born again (5:4). It is only because of Jesus and what He has done for us that we can be saved.

We can have JOY! What joy there is in knowing Him means I know I am the Father’s child and will meet Him one day! However, the only way I can have true joy is to have Jesus!

Corey Sawyers

What happens when the regular evening Bible study is replaced by a special prayer meeting?  Years ago I remember one particular person saying that she would not be attending because it was just a prayer meeting.

From what he wrote to Timothy, it seems Paul would not have regarded God’s people gathering for the express purpose of praying as “just a prayer meeting.” Consider his instructions for Timothy.

Paul knew that the church in Ephesus was dealing with some problems. Although he intended to travel there, he wanted Timothy who had boots on the ground in Ephesus to handle things until he arrived. And so, Paul wrote a little handbook on congregational worship and functioning to guide and support Timothy.

What is particularly interesting is that as Paul thought about guiding Timothy in working with the Ephesian church, the very first idea he wanted to impress upon Timothy was prayer.

First of all, then, I urge that requests, prayers, intercessions, and thanks be offered on behalf of all people …. Such prayer for all is good and welcomed before God our Savior, …. So I want the men in every place to pray, lifting up holy hands without anger or dispute.” (1 Timothy 2:1,3,8).

Since “in every place” is a short-hand form for “in every meeting place” (1 Cor. 1:2), Paul had guided Timothy into ensuring that prayers would be offered up in all of the house church assemblies. Prayer is fundamental.

Paul would eventually get around to addressing church leadership roles and serving roles. However, the first item in that little handbook comprising chapters two and three is prayer. Paul knew the importance of brothers and sisters joined together in lifting up every type of prayer to God.

Would Paul ever say, “Oh, that is just a prayer meeting”? I don’t think so. What is our attitude toward congregational prayer?

Barry Newton

    Teenagers have been faithful and serving God at least since Joseph in Genesis 37. Joseph was 17 years old when he was sold into slavery by his brothers. But he maintained a strong faith in Jehovah God, even when he was in a foreign country, surrounded by foreign idols. 

    Young people need the help, guidance, and encouragement that adults can provide. In 2 Corinthians 1:3-4, Paul tells us that God comforts us in our troubles so that we can comfort others. Based on that same reasoning, we as adults have been teenagers before. We have experienced what they are experiencing. There is nothing new under the sun. So, we need to use our background, our experiences, to teach and to train our teenagers. If I have an opportunity to have an adult Christian who has dealt with drug addiction to talk to our teenagers, I’m going to have him do just that. If I have an opportunity to have an adult Christian talk to our teenagers about a pornography addiction, I’m going to do just that.

    Why? Because #1, it shows our teenagers that our adults are authentic. They are not super-spiritual, super-Christians. Adults struggle and have struggled with the same things teenagers struggle with today. #2 – It shows our teenagers know that they can be open and authentic without being judged. #3 – It lets our teenagers know there are certain people in the congregation who have struggled with certain weaknesses so that they know who they can go to and say, “You spoke to the teenagers about such-and-such. I’m having the same problem. Can you help me?”

    We want our young people to know we care about them and we are ready to burn the midnight oil if we have to, to help them develop their own, strong, faith in Jesus Christ. We want our teenagers to know they can do that and there is no obstacle that can’t be overcome if they have the right support network and we, as a church family, are their support network. So, if you have had some struggle with some specific temptation in your life, come talk to me or go talk to Jared and let’s see if we can help you, help our teenagers.

    Youth need the church. Why the church? First, because the church is the pillar and support of the truth (1 Tim. 3:15). No other organization teaches the truth like the church of Jesus Christ does. That’s why youth need the church. Secondly, youth need the church because they need a social network. They need someone with whom to laugh, love, live, and cry. The church provides the social network within which that takes place in a spiritual atmosphere that is conducive to growing up in Jesus Christ.

    Let us focus on bringing youth to view the world with purpose and meaning as disciples of Jesus Christ. 

Paul Holland

For many, anything over 30 miles is considered a long commute. For Virginia family man, Thurmond Alford, 30 miles is a breeze in contrast to his 220 mile commute. When offered his dream job in Washington D.C., Thurmond was elated with the news but dreaded one fact of reality. All of his family members live nearly 107 miles away in Richmond VA and he wasn’t ready to leave them. Upon accepting the job, his daily routine was about to change drastically. Starting at 4a.m., Alford drives to a parking lot near Fredericksburg, VA. From there, he carpools to a train station near Arlington. He then boards two separate trains in order to arrive in downtown Washington D.C. at 7:30a.m. He embarks on this tumultuous commute Monday thru Thursday.

To some, this commute is absolutely nonsensical. Consider the amount of times he spends in the car on a daily basis. What about how often he needs his oil changed, tires replaced, or the exhaustive implications from such a commute. Yet, in Alford’s own words, “the family is worth it.” He wasn’t willing to compromise his family for the opportunity of a life time. At the end of the day, it’s the loved ones he goes home to that make the journey worth it.

Our journey home can be a long one, but it is one that is worth it. The Hebrew writer reflects back on those who were wandering in the wilderness, in Hebrews 11 –

For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return. 

 But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city. 

I don’t know what all is involved in your commute of life. It could be worse than mine and it might even be better than mine. It could be shorter or longer. However, one fact remains; the family who is home will be worth it. To be in the presence of the Father, His Son, and His Spirit eternally is a blessing too large to comprehend. Yet, we’ll also have the rest of our Family there as well. When going through the dread of life, remember, “the family is worth it.”

Tyler King

To accompany a recent sermon on sexual immorality, I wrote the following summary points on sex and marriage, focusing especially on the former. They have been translated from Portuguese.

These are basically bullet points designed for people who are coming to know God’s will. They’re designed to be starting points for further study.

1. God created one man and one woman to be united in one flesh, Genesis 2.24. This is the original divine plan. Any other type of union displeases him.
2. Sex within marriage is blessed by God, Genesis 1.28; 2.24. So much so that a whole Bible book is dedicated to it: Song of Solomon.
3. There is no Biblical evidence that the first sin was a sexual act. The idea arose from influence of Greek philosophy. Rather, it was eating of the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil, Genesis 3.1-24.
4. In marriage, the bodies of the husband and wife belong to each other. There ought to be complete liberty between the two, 1 Corinthians 7.1-5; Genesis 2.25.
5. Intimate relations with people of the same sex (men with men or women with women) are prohibited and considered repugnant to God, Romans 1.24-33; 1 Corinthians 6.9-11; Jude 7.
6. Sex with animals is prohibited, Exodus 22.19; Leviticus 18.23; 20.15; Deuteronomy 27.21. Jesus reaffirmed God’s original plan for marriage and sex as being between one man and one woman for life, Matthew 19.4-6.
7. Sex with members of one’s family is prohibited, 1 Corinthians 5.1-13. The man who had possessed his father’s wife was to be expelled from the church.
8. Forced sex is prohibited, such as rape, Deuteronomy 22.25. This also includes sex with children, who have no way of resisting the advances of an adult. Sexual aggression does not respect the free will of the other person.
9. Sex was created to be practiced within marriage and not before or outside of it. See Proverbs 27.8. God specified where sex is to be practiced. Outside of this, it is sin. The very definition of the words makes this restriction clear.
10. Adultery (Greek: moicheia) is the act of conjugal infidelity; fornication, or sexual immorality (Greek: porneia) is sex outside of marriage, in general, whether or not the person is married.
11. God’s law was made for “sexually immoral people, practicing homosexuals,” among others, 1 Timothy 1.8-11, for it prohibits those acts against the nature and the will of God.
12. Not only the act of adultery is prohibited, but Jesus also prohibits the desire to commit adultery, Matthew 5.27-30.
13. Whoever abandons the commitment of marriage cannot enter into another marriage. So such a person ought to abstain from sexual acts.
14. Christians ought to marry Christians. There is no yoke more unequal than a Christian married to a non-Christian, 2 Corinthians 6.14—7.1.
15. If someone marries again, having the right to marry, it ought to be with another Christian, 1 Corinthians 7.39.
16. A person can live without engaging in sex and please God by abstaining, Matthew 19.12.
17. A person who cannot live without engaging in sex ought to marry, if he has the right to do so, 1 Corinthians 7.8-9.
18. The person who marries and then has sexual relations with someone else lives in adultery, Matthew 5.32; 19.9.
19. A person ought to guard the marital commitment, but the one who refuses to do so must either remain alone or be reconciled to the original mate, 1 Corinthians 7.10-11.
20. Sexual immorality results in eternal condemnation, even if it is a Christian who engages in it, Galatians 5.19-21; Revelation 21.8.
21. Sensuality is not worthy of Christians, for it feeds the desire for sex outside of God’s standards, 1 Peter 4.3.
22. Sexual immorality on the part of one’s mate is the only reason given in the New Testament that allows someone the right to divorce and marry again, Matthew 5.32; 19.9.
23. Repentance means that people, including Christians, cease practicing sexual immorality, 2 Corinthians 12.21; Revelation 2.21; 9.21.
24. There is only one way to avoid temptation to sexual immorality: flee, 1 Corinthians 6.18.
25. Some practices that God permitted under the old Mosaic covenant, such as polygamy (having more than one spouse) and divorce, are not allowed to be practiced by his people, the church, under the covenant of Christ, Matthew 19.8-9; Acts 17.30; Ephesians 5.31; 1 Timothy 3.2, 12.
26. Sanctification is possible only when a person abstains from sexual immorality, 1 Thessalonians 4.3. This is important because “without it no one will see the Lord” Hebrews 12.14.

J. Randal Matheny

THE RISE OF PAGANISM IN AMERICA

“Because, although they knew God, they did not glorify him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man – and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things” (Romans 1:21-23 NKJV).

Travelers to Kathmandu typically visit the expansive Hindu and Buddhist enclaves where they view hundreds, if not thousands, of images, temples, stupas and other shrines and icons of those polytheistic religions. Many westerners accustomed to faith in one God wonder why anyone would be attracted to an immense pantheon of lesser deities. Surely monotheism is a superior and more desirable faith, since it honors one Almighty, All-wise, Ever-present Being.

Paul suggests in Romans 1 that idolatry and polytheism got its beginning from humanity’s unwillingness to submit to such a transcendent and inescapable deity. In the words of David,

“Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; It is high, I cannot attain it. Where can I go from your Spirit? Or where can I flee from your presence?” (Psalm 139:6-7).

David was crushed beneath the power and knowledge of the supreme being until he was able to submit in trust and obedience (Psalm 139:13-24).

As far as any appeal of polytheism, I would suggest two obvious attractions.

First is the human desire to see and touch that which he values. Idols present gods as approachable and “real.” Their followers do not have to trust in what some would call “blind faith” (2 Corinthians 5:7). The passage in Romans suggests a further extension of this appeal, that humans desire equality if not superiority to their gods. If we make them with our own hands, can we not control them?

This is somewhat related to the second motivation: the appeal of choice. In a pantheon of gods, one can choose (or have chosen for him) a particular deity to represent himself, his family, or his region or group. Each home may have its particular shrine or idol which the family worships and to which it sacrifices. The reader of the Bible will remember the pride of the Ephesians in the goddess Diana and her temple which was in their city. Theologically the city belonged to the goddess; practically the goddess belonged to the city and its citizens.

In a pantheon each particular god or goddess is believed to have a special set of powers and responsibilities. There are gods of creation, and those of destruction. Some rule over fertility, others over death. To choose a god / goddess is also to choose a particular realm of activity which the worshipper values. So there were (and are) gods of wine and revelry, gods of the sea, and gods for every area and activity. The farmer or shepherd typically sacrifices to the goddess of fertility, hoping for abundant crops, while the sailor honors the god of the sea, praying for safety in his journeys. One’s choice of a particular god often reflects his world view – that is the things or places that are particularly meaningful to him.

One obvious weakness to such a system (besides the patent contradictions of exalting inanimate idols to such status – See Isaiah 44:9-17) is that no one can know or worship the vast number of gods demanded by such religions. The farmer has other interests and needs than those pertaining to his crops. The sailor does not spend all of his time on the ocean. If I am dependent upon many gods to ensure my well-being, how can I be sure that I have properly appeased all of them?

The Greeks of Athens responded to this impossibility by building an altar to “the unknown god,” lest they offend a being whose existence and nature they knew nothing of (Acts 17:23). That is akin to the reported deathbed prayer of a noted atheist: “O God, if there is a God, save my soul, if I have a soul.” Neither is exactly a devout statement of faith.

The Christian response is to assert boldly that there is One God, the Creator of all things, who is Almighty, All Wise, All Present, and Eternal (1 Timothy 1:17). God, being Spirit, is invisible and unapproachable to humans in any physical sense. But also being Love (1 John 4:8), he has revealed himself through his son Jesus (Colossians 1:15) by whom he has redeemed us from sin and death. There is only one God. One is enough.

J. Randal Matheny

The Pharisees asked Jesus questions sometimes trying to catch him in one of their traps. They attempted this in Matthew chapter 22 with a question about taxes. The Herodians were with them for their purposes.

If Jesus said he was in favor of taxes, then the Pharisees could accuse him before the people for being pro-Roman. If Jesus opposed taxes, then the Herodians would report his disloyalty to Herod Antipas, who was Rome’s authority.

But after Jesus answered their question, he gave them one of his own. It was not designed to catch them in disloyalty to Rome nor was it designed as a trap. Jesus was trying to teach them something.

The Lord asked the Pharisees who the Messiah is and whose son he is. It seems as though the Pharisees didn’t need time to consider their answer. They replied, “The son of David” (Matthew 22:21).

Ah, but the instruction was in the next question Jesus asked about Psalm 110:1, written by King David. “If David calls him Lord, then how is he his son?” Jesus said. The question revolves around the word, “Lord,” or in the Psalm. The first use of the word is the “family” name of God, Yahweh, the name the Hebrews would not pronounce out of respect for God.

What was the second “Lord?” W. Terry Varner wrote, “Psalms 110 shows the Messiah had a two-fold nature, human and divine. The royal sonship of Christ from David’s line is in Matthew 1:1-8 and his human sonship through David’s line to Adam is in Luke 3:23-38.”[i]

The lesson was that they were not just looking at a human being, but a divine one, too. It also showed them that this two-fold being they were addressing had enemies. The Pharisees were supposed to be his subjects obedient to him, but instead, they were disobedient. Jesus was trying to help them see the truth.

Many do not believe Jesus to be the Son of God. Many have struggled with this, but the struggle doesn’t have to continue. What is needed is a study of God’s word. The gospel is God’s power to salvation (Romans 1:16). If you need to understand the truth as taught by Jesus, you can.

Jesus wants to teach you something. If you don’t believe him as the Son of God, he has a lesson or two for you. Just start studying the word of God. That is where the truth is.

[i] “A Homiletic Commentary on the Book of Matthew, Garland Elkins and Thomas B. Warren, editors; Getwell Church of Christ, Memphis, Tennessee; Sain Publications, 1988.

John Henson

The Christians in the first century lived in a society that was much further along in their anti-Christian policies than we are today. What is encouraging is that Christianity grew and thrived and eventually overwhelmed the anti-Christian Roman paganism around them, simply by living the Christian life as Christ intended and by being faithful to that testimony. That’s the message of Revelation for us today.

GOD’S PEOPLE ARE PROTECTED FROM GOD’S WRATH – 7:1-8:

These four winds are the wrath of God and God causes these angels to hold back the wind so it doesn’t blow God’s wrath, to give the angel time to seal the “bond-servants of our God” on their foreheads. This “seal” on the forehead is a metaphor (emoji) from the book of Ezekiel (9:4-6) where God told Ezekiel to do the same thing so that when Babylon invaded Judah, the faithful would know that God knew those who were His and He would protect them. God doesn’t necessarily protect us from the wrath of “Babylon” or “Rome” or the “United States of America” but He will protect us from His wrath as we will see later in this chapter. Notice even this angel is sealed by the living God; this angel belongs to God and he serves at God’s discretion.

Christianity grew out of the religion of Israel as a plant grows out of the seed. It is connected, but different. The church of Christ is the true Israel of God, Paul says in Galatians 6:16; Philippians 3:3 (the “true circumcision”). The point of this paragraph, however, is to show that God protects those who are His, who are sealed. The evil in the world might take our lives, but God will protect our spirits, our souls.

WE ARE SEALED BY THE BLOOD OF CHRIST – 7:9-17:

Christians stand before the Lamb, clothed in white robes – symbolizing their purity and holiness in the eyes of God. That’s why Christians can stand before God. The palm branches in their hands are an imagery from the Feast of Tabernacles which celebrated God’s deliverance and protection of Israel during the 40 years of wandering in the wilderness. Of course, the Jews took palm branches and laid them on the ground as Jesus entered into Jerusalem. He entered as the King, but a King who was humble, riding on the foal of a donkey. Humble faithfulness to God is what God requires, regardless of what our society does.

These individuals are those who have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. In other words, Christians. We pointed out last week from our study of the “First Passover” that the blood of Christ washes our sins away when we are baptized into Christ: Acts 22:16; Ephesians 5:26-27; Hebrews 10:22.

There is also the imagery here of God spreading His “tabernacle” or “tent” over Christians. This denotes protection. While it is true that we will have spiritual bodies in heaven and therefore will not need to eat or drink, the idea in verse 16 is more the fact that all our needs are provided. We will not need to eat or drink; we will not be hungry or thirsty any more. The sun will not “beat down” on us nor will heat because we are protected by God’s tent overshadowing us.

The Lamb is in the center of the throne; He is our shepherd. He will guide us to “springs of the water of life.” Again, all our needs will be provided. And, there will be no pain or sorrow in heaven. God will wipe every tear from our eyes.

We have had a relatively long and pro-Christian / peaceful period in the history of America. But that is an anomaly relative to the broader history of mankind. Jesus promised that His children should expect persecution. That’s why Jesus warns us to not be ashamed of Him or His words. We still must teach and defend Christ’s gospel; that’s “rich reality” #2.

But chapter 7 helps us see that the suffering we endure in this life does not compare to the glory God will give to us if we can stay faithful to the end.

God knows those who are His. Find strength in this fact.

Paul Holland