Our family had a good friend who was skilled in sleight-of-hand magic. Our children were about 10 or 15 years old at the time and were mesmerized by the illusions he could perform. They were particularly amazed by a finger guillotine he used. He asked each of them to place their fingers in the guillotine, and then it would seem he would close it over their fingers without ever hurting them. They couldn’t figure that out.

Jesus sent seventy disciples with instructions to heal the sick and tell people the kingdom of God had come near to them (Luke 10:9). They returned in great joy and were amazed by their miraculous ability. They told the Master that “even the demons submit to us in your name,” (Luke 10:17). Jesus told them not to rejoice about their abilities. He said something else was more worthy of their happiness and amazement: their names were written in heaven (Luke 10:20).

That the disciples’ names were written in heaven was much more important than any of the miracles they had performed. But why? The people the disciples had healed would eventually get sick and die. But those who had preached the gospel could enjoy the inestimable pleasure that eternal life was waiting.

Every year people of the United States remember those who have given their lives in terrible wars to defeat tyranny and so others might live in peace. Such a memorial is important. But it is more important to realize that if a person obeys the gospel, one might enjoy eternal life in heaven.

Is your name written in heaven? If you have obeyed the gospel and are living a faithful life as a Christian, it is. If not, won’t you take some time to learn how to obey the Lord so your name will be recorded there?

John Henson

New York City has seen just about everything, but yesterday saw a “first”.  On Wednesday Mayor Eric Adams introduced Kathleen Corradi as the city’s first “director of rodent mitigation”.  Most will likely refer to her as the Rat Czar.

The former schoolteacher was hired to address a growing problem with rats.  Rat sightings increased in 2022, according to a story carried by United Press International.  Through September of 2022 there were 21,600 complaints filed, an increase of 74% over the same period in 2020.  The ad which drew Ms. Corradi’s attention called for a person who “must be “highly motivated and somewhat bloodthirsty”.  In other words, take no prisoners.  Most would agree with the goal of extermination.

This sounds eerily similar to a story from the 13th century when the town of Hamelin in Lower Saxony, Germany, hired a piper to address the rat problem they were facing.  Those were the days of the Black Plague, and the piper assured the mayor of that town he could lure the rats out by playing his flute.  He did as promised, but the mayor reduced the man’s pay significantly.  In retaliation, the piper used his charms to lead the children out of the town, and they were never seen again.

An account in 1 Samuel 5 and 6 also sounds similar to New York City’s rat plague.  In that account, the Philistines (perennial enemies of Israel) captured the ark of the covenant and took it to their own town.  “But the hand of the Lord was heavy on the people of Ashdod, and He ravaged them and struck them with tumors” (1 Samuel 5:6).  When the ark was moved to other Philistine cities, the same thing happened.  There was obviously a connection between their suffering and possessing something that belonged to God.

What finally removed this plague of tumors (likely a sign of bubonic plague) was sending the ark back to Israel.  Along with the ark were sent “five golden tumors and five golden rats” (1 Samuel 6:4), sent as a peace offering to God.  Once the ark again resided in its rightful place, the rats disappeared.

God has the power to bring plagues upon those who resist His will.  The most famous episode was with Egypt when God determined to bring Israel out of their bondage.  The first plague brought upon Egypt, turning the water into blood, was introduced with these words: “By this you shall know that I am the Lord” (Exodus 7:17).  When God’s final blow was about to fall upon Pharaoh and his army, God said, “Then the Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord, when I have gained honor for Myself over Pharaoh, his chariots, and his horsemen” (Exodus 14:18).

You and I have not likely experienced the wrath of God in the form of plagues (though some argue that COVID-19 was a plague from God).  But God can do it.  How thankful we should be, therefore, for how God has approached each of us: “For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men” (Titus 2:11).  Instead of a plague of rats, God extends grace to us.  We still experience life’s problems, but His grace means we have resources to help us in such times (Hebrews 4:15,16), and deliverance from the ultimate enemy of man, death (Hebrews 2:14,15).  Let us be attentive to the sweet sounds of that loving grace.  They lead us to life in abundance (John 10:10).

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Copyright, 2023, Timothy D. Hall

“The Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness. And he was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted by Satan. And he was with the wild animals, and the angels were ministering to him” (Mark 1:12-13 ESV).

When traveling to distant and sometimes unfamiliar places I miss home, with all of my family, friends, and normal routines. Though I am usually busy and in the presence of many people, I can still feel lonely and isolated because of who I am not with and what I am not doing. Loneliness is a condition most of us experience at times, and it is one that is not generally pleasant.

After Jesus went to the Jordon River to be baptized by John, he was driven by the Spirit into the wilderness where he fasted for 40 days. Though by all human standards he was by himself, Mark makes it plain that he was not actually as lonely as we might assume. In the short two-verse version of Jesus’ temptation in the second Gospel account, we find four other presences accompanying him. These I call “four things we can never escape.”

First,  Jesus was “driven by the Spirit.”

I think Mark’s choice of verbs is deliberate and significant. Our Lord was about 30 years old and had been anxious for his Father’s business since at least the age of 12 (Luke 2:41-52). Surely he was anxious to begin his earthly ministry. I cannot imagine that he wanted to spend more than a month alone in the wilderness. Yet that was God’s plan for this particular time. He would not, and could not, avoid God’s spirit – that is, God’s purpose and plans for him.
Neither can we. We can neglect the Spirit, disobey the Spirit, quench the Spirit, but we cannot escape God’s purposes.

Second, we cannot escape physical circumstances
Jesus was God in the flesh, and as such he could feel heat, cold, rain, sun and all other conditions. He also was vulnerable to dangers, just as are all other humans. Mark says “he was with the wild animals.”

The key to survival and happiness is acceptance and perseverance. As Paul said, “I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content” (Philippians 4:11).

Rather than complain about the cold or the heat, the rains or the drought, let us learn to appreciate this world which God has given us and be thankful for all of its conditions.

Third, we cannot escape evil and temptation.

Even alone in a harsh environment with little to apparently tempt him, Satan found him and he also found much with which to lure Jesus from his purpose on earth. We often blame our circumstances for our sins.

I once counseled a man who found it impossible to stay faithful to his wife (his words). It turned out that he would visit bars and pick up women there. I told him, “Stay out of bars.” But I knew that if he could not practice self-control he would find temptation in other places just as easily.
Where we are is not the problem. Many parents send their children to private schools so they will not be confronted with all of the temptations found in some public schools.
It is true that in many private institutions children may not be confronted as openly or often with drugs, violence or other problems. But temptations will occur. There is no perfect place where sin is completely absent.

Fourth, Jesus was ministered to by angels.

We cannot escape God’s grace. Wherever we go, no matter how sinful and separated by God we become, God’s love can find us and his grace can cleanse us. Nothing in all of creation can separate us from the love of God which is expressed in Christ Jesus his son (Romans 8:39).
We can refuse and resist grace, but we cannot go beyond its reach. If and when we seek repentance and obediently trust in Jesus’ sacrifice for us, we will be drawn back into fellowship with God and with all of his people (1 John 1:5-10).

Michael Brooks

Why bother with the Old Testament if we are considered New Testament Christians? Here’s five reasons:

1. Jesus was a Jew — we’ll start with the obvious one. Matthew chapter 1 is more than a genealogy; it’s a story of God’s articulate providence in preserving a heritage. Reading the Old Testament gives us an invaluable background on the Son of God. We can better understand Jesus’ background and life when we read those 39 OT books.
2. It’s Fascinating — Tell me of another place you can read history lessons of the earth opening up, swallowing an entire assembly of people, and closing back up (Num. 16). Or the day when the sun stood still (Jos. 10). Or when a hand appeared out of thin air and proceeded to write on a wall (Dan. 5)? I can’t tell you how many times I sat down to read the writings of the OT and hours passed as if they were minutes.
3. It’s a shadow of the heavenly things — The Hebrew writer tells us the things of this earth are a shadow of that which is in heaven (Heb. 8:5). There is a REAL temple in Heaven, along with a REAL Eden, a REAL mercy seat, and a REAL tree of life. We learn of all these principles in the OT. One day our faith, being built up by our studies, will become sight when we arrive to the eternal life. The OT helps us see a preview of what is to come.
4. It’s a guide — Paul states that the law was a guardian in Gal. 3:24. This can also be translated as “teacher,” “tutor,” or “instructor.” It was used to teach people about God and Faith until Jesus came. While there is a new system of salvation, the OT still preserves many lessons and teachings that we would benefit from.

It’s an avenue of conviction — Few pieces of literature can convict an individual like that of the OT. We learn God has feelings and agonizes over our sin (Gen. 6:6). We realize that we can easily push God aside due to an abundance of blessing (Ezek. 16). We sympathize with those who feel broken (Lam. 3). We understand the suffering of Jesus was known and prophesied (Is. 53). We learn of our role in putting Jesus on the cross (Acts 2). We internalize the value that God puts on us (Ex. 19:4-6).

Tyler King

144 hours.

8,640 minutes.

518,400 seconds.

That’s not a lengthy period of time to create the human experience but it’s all destined to end in an instant. Just like that, time is gone—everybody. Everywhere. Will be carried off into eternity.

The blink of an eye happens in 0.3 of a second.

God gave us that ability so that we might protect our delicate corneas and sclera from dust particles and other small debris which easily aggravate the eye.

The reflex and speed of the human blink is testimony to our mighty Creator’s designing ability but in His divine wisdom, He knew the blink would also be an illustration for the way in which He will return on day.

The average person will blink 15 to 20 times a minute.

900 to 1,200 times an hour.

14,400 to 19,200 times a day.

100,800 to 134,400 times a week.

That’s between 5.2 and 7.1 million times a year.

In other words, it seems like God intended to remind us all millions of times a year that He is coming back.

The blink of an eye occurs in 0.3 a second.

You can’t hear the gospel message in that time.

You can’t believe that Jesus is the son of God in that time.

You won’t be able to repent in that amount of time.

You couldn’t confess Jesus as your Lord and Savior in that time.

You certainly can’t be immersed in water for the forgiveness of sins in that time.

“In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed.” – I Cor. 15:52

Now is the time to prepare for that last and final blink.

Dale Pollard

Someone asked if traffic had increased on our little country road. My mother replied that we had more traffic than the nearby town. This response is an example of hyperbole. Hyperbole has long been used rhetorically for effect. So, was my mother lying? It seems that in recent years some are equating hyperbole to lying. Critics routinely called our nation’s previous president a liar because of his frequent use of hyperbole. Reuters published an article in 2015 about how the president’s habit, as extolled in his Art of the Deal, might backfire against him (Flitter and Oliphant). They were correct.

Consider the treatment that the word “hyperbole” receives from Webster’s Dictionary, as demonstrated in the original 1828 edition and 2021 online version. The former is more nuanced.

“In rhetoric, a figure of speech which expresses much more or less than the truth, or which represents things much greater or less, better or worse than they really are. An object uncommon in size, either great or small, strikes us with surprise, and this emotion produces a momentary conviction that the object is greater or less than it is in reality. The same effect attends figurative grandeur or littleness; and hence the use of the hyperbole which expresses this momentary conviction.” (Webster)

And here is what Merriam-Webster tells modern students of English:

“: extravagant exaggeration.”

In other words, as noted by Daniel Webster himself, hyperbole might reflect one’s emotional state rather than a conscious decision to deceive. However, the successful use of hyperbole requires an unbiased and knowledgeable audience. In other words, they must be able to understand you are exaggerating for effect.

Even so, we admit people can use hyperbole to manipulate. Perhaps, this is the type of hyperbole usage that caused President Trump’s political enemies to call him a liar. For example, was he the “best jobs president?” He did create an economic environment that led to historic job growth. However, if God allows time and the United States to continue, another president may create even more jobs. Hence, we can only qualify his statement. The truth as to whether his message is a lie boils down to intent, which may be something requiring omniscience to determine.

We asked at the outset, with our title, whether hyperbole is a sin. It might be helpful to know that the Bible contains hyperbole. Jesus used hyperbole in Mark 10.25.

“It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” (NASB1995)

What about Jesus’ usage of hyperbole in Matthew 5.29-30?

“If your right eye makes you stumble, tear it out and throw it from you; for it is better for you to lose one of the parts of your body, than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. If your right hand makes you stumble, cut it off and throw it from you; for it is better for you to lose one of the parts of your body, than for your whole body to go into hell.” (NASB1995)

How would you qualify our Lord’s speech? Was He lying? Certainly not!  Clearly, He is using exaggeration for rhetorical effect. In the latter case of hyperbole cited, He says that you should be willing to do whatever it takes to enter heaven, even if it seems unreasonable or extreme to you since your entry into heaven is of greater importance than anything sacrificed.

If people equate hyperbole with lying today, it seems more likely an indictment of our public education system’s failure or an unwillingness to evaluate the intended purpose of its usage fairly. Someone may be acting too nitpicky. But we do remind the Christian desirous of communicating the Gospel to others that Paul commands us to ensure our speech’s soundness is beyond reproach (Titus 2.7-8). There are groups with whom we must exercise caution since they take things literally, primarily children and those on the autistic spectrum. Neither should we use hyperbole derogatorily since James cautions us not to use the same tongue to praise God while cursing men (James 3.8-10). Otherwise, our hyperbole use may be the greatest seasoning we can add to our speech when making a point. As with all communication, it is best to season it with grace (Colossians 4.6).

Sources Cited:

Flitter, Emily, and James Oliphant. “Best President Ever! How Trump’s Love of Hyperbole Could Backfire.” Reuters, Thomson Reuters, 28 Aug. 2015, www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-election-trump-hyperbole-insight-idUSKCN0QX11X20150828.

“Webster’s Dictionary 1828 – Hyperbole.” Websters Dictionary 1828, webstersdictionary1828.com/Dictionary/hyperbole.

“Hyperbole.” Merriam-Webster, Merriam-Webster, www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hyperbole.

Brent Pollard

“The beginning of the good news about Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God, as it is written in Isaiah the prophet: ‘I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way’ – ‘a voice of one calling in the wilderness, “Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.”’” (Mark 1:1-3)

Mark began his good news about Jesus connecting him with the Jewish prophets. And notice that this is ‘good news’! He identified Jesus as the Messiah, the son of God, and the one Isaiah wrote about: there would be a messenger sent to prepare the way for the Messiah. This messenger would be a voice calling in the wilderness.

The Judean wilderness is the area largely to the east and south of Jerusalem. It begins on the other side of the Mount of Olives from Jerusalem. You can look from the top of the Mount of Olives west and see the temple complex and Jerusalem; if you look east it is the wilderness. This area receives very little rainfall, while the area to the west receives a reasonable amount. This is due to the Mount of Olives, which stops the rain storms from going any further east. If you look to the west, it is green with many trees and foliage. The dominant color to the east is brown. This area really isn’t a desert as most picture a desert. It is deserted but what we see is not sand but barren rock with very sparse plant life.

That there would be a voice calling in the wilderness would be strange to most in the first century who knew Isaiah’s prophecy. It was strange because very few people lived in this area. Due to the lack of water and the heat, villages were few and far between. Yet this was the area that a messenger preparing the way for the Messiah would be found. Mark goes on to identify who the messenger was.

“John came, immersing in the wilderness, preaching an immersion of a change of heart to obtain the forgiveness of sins. All the people of Jerusalem and from the whole Judean area went out to him, and were being immersed by him in the Jordan River, confessing their sins. John was clothed with camel’s hair, and had a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey. He preached, saying, ‘One who is mightier than I comes after me. I am unworthy to stoop down and untie the strap of his sandals. I immersed you in water, but he will immerse you in the Holy Spirit.’” (Mark 1:4-8 McCord)

That a man who acted like a prophet appeared in the wilderness and began preaching and immersing people got the attention of those in Jerusalem and Judea. Crowds began going out to hear him. John seems to have been preaching in the area around the Jordan River where there was water. The Jordan is just over 20 miles from Jerusalem and is a drop in elevation of 3,900 feet. They would have a day’s travel to get there and another day or more to get back. And all to hear a man who wore clothing made of camel’s hair with a leather belt.

His message to prepare for the Messiah had several emphasis. The people needed “a change of heart”. The people needed to change to be ready for the coming Messiah. They needed to be immersed in water “to obtain the forgiveness of sins”. Immersing in water in a mikveh was part of the ritual cleansing of Jews in the first century. But this was different: it was being done to them, not by themselves as in a mikveh, and was not just a ritual cleansing but was for forgiveness of sins, accompanied by a change of heart. It was a needed message to call people to be ready to follow the Messiah.

Is our message much different today? As followers of the Messiah we still proclaim the need for people to change their heart and their lives and to be immersed for the forgiveness of sins. Our rationale, though, is different: this is not to prepare for the coming Messiah but because of what the coming Messiah did. He died so we can be forgiven.

Photo of Judean wilderness near Jerusalem by Jon Galloway, November 2019

Jon Galloway

You have heard the expression “love is blind.” It usually refers to someone who falls in love but who seems not to see the (apparently obvious) flaws in the person he loves. Christians are likewise told not to love the world: “Do not love the world, or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the father is not in him” (1 John 2:15).

It’s easy to become infatuated with the world. She is so alluring, in a fatally charming way. Beneath the beautiful exterior, she is hollow, feeding her followers a diet lacking in nourishment. She can be a harsh mistress, demanding and unreasonable, prepared to abandon those who love her at a whim. That’s why it is so hard to resist her demands. We are reluctant to displease her, for fear she will withhold the approval we crave. And, to put it simply, we don’t see that she is manipulative and controlling, because our love is blind!

The phrase “the world” refers to society in so far as it is antagonistic to God and his ways. The exhortation “do not love the world” bears the idea of being enamored, or infatuated with the world.

The world, in this sense, “Lies in the power of the evil one” (1 John 5:19). This explains the antagonism of “the world” to Christian values: it is under the control of Satan. Recall the offer Satan made to Jesus that if he “bowed down” and worshipped him, Satan could give him “all the nations of the world.”

Although the world has often been antagonistic towards God’s way, it is still the object of his love. God, we are told, “so loved the world that he gave his only son” (John 3:16). This does not mean that God is an environmentalist! It means that God loves human beings. Into a world that was dark with sin and sorrow, he came as a light. But for the most part, the world rejected his offer of love.

While the actions of Caiaphas, Pilate and Judas might have been evil, the Bible is clear that the real battle was taking place on a cosmic level, between God and Satan. That battle was won on the cross. “Now is the judgment of this world; now will the ruler of this world be cast out” (John 12:31).

Judgment on the world had taken place at the cross. By its reaction to Jesus, the world condemned itself.

Here is our dilemma: To live elbow to elbow with the world, to be here, in the world, yet be untainted by it. Expect the world’s hatred and opposition to all we hold dear. Yet we are not offered a retreat from life in the world. We are part of society, too.

If the world and God’s people are in such obvious conflict, and if it is a fearful battle to the death, then why so many passages urging us to see the difference and understand what is at stake? Probably because it is so easy to “fall in love” with the world, so easy to confuse which side we are on. After all, “Love is blind.”

Stan Mitchell

I received a phone call from the Governor a few weeks ago. Well, sort of. It was the Governor’s voice, but it was actually a recording. You see, it was election eve and he wanted my vote.  I suspect many others got the same call.

The Governor had never called me before. He never asked my counsel on any issue he faced. He never expressed concern about how I felt about any matter. He never thanked me for being a law-abiding, tax-paying citizen of the State.

Even in this call the conversation was one-sided. I had no opportunity to respond. I was not allowed to make any suggestions. The Governor called only when he wanted something, and he gave me no indication of interest in a personal relationship beyond that.

Of course, I understand the situation.  I do not expect more from a head of state.  It just got me to thinking about another means of communication: prayer.

How often does God hear from me?  Is it only when I need something? Am I disposed to do all the talking instead of listening to His word? How interested am I in His perspective? Am I thankful? Might I leave the impression that, despite the contact, I have little interest in a personal relationship with Him? Think about it.

– by Frank Himmel

The apostle Paul wrote of the importance of encouragement in our speech. In Colossians 4:6 he said, “Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasons with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person.” This is not an admonition to use “salty language” (profanity), as some are likely to do. Salt, as it is used here, would have the same meaning as it does in Matthew 5:13 where Jesus tells us that His disciples are the “salt of the earth.” In other words, it is good for the earth that Christians are a part of it. Our speech should reflect that fact. It should be good for others to be in our company and hear our speech.

In Ephesians 4:29, Paul commanded: Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear. That means that nothing “unwholesome,” or “corrupt,” or “filthy” should come out of our mouths. Perhaps profanity is the first example that comes to mind as fitting this description. However, profane words are not the only corrupt, filthy, and unwholesome communication we can use. Words that bite are filthy. Words that criticize in a negative, hurtful way are unwholesome and corrupt speech and should be purged from our minds and mouths. The real definition of “unwholesome” in this passage is any word that is not “good for edification according to the need of the moment.”

Rather than filthy communication, use speech that builds other up rather than tearing them down. We said earlier that being salt means that it is good for the world that we are here. Seasoning our speech with salt means that it is good for those around us to hear what we are saying. Spreading the Gospel message of the saving grace of Jesus Christ is certainly included, but a simple “Thank you” is just as salty!

Try it sometime (no, all the time). The next time you are sitting in traffic in the left turn lane and there is a little old lady in the car in front of you, and the green arrow comes on and she doesn’t see it and just sits there, try something new. Instead of imagining that she is just callous and rude and doesn’t care that if you don’t get to McDonalds before 10:30 a.m. they won’t have any more sausage biscuits left, try imagining that she has a lot on her mind and needs your patience more than she needs your horn going off in her ears. Try the same thing the next time you have the opportunity to speak to someone who has been rude to you or has given you an opportunity to speak evil or good. Weigh the need of the moment and then speak something that edifies and not something that hurts. What you will find is that the healing and the edification happens to you as much and maybe more than to the one you have blessed with your speech. You know, when you think about it, Ephesians 4:29 is the biblical version of: “Think before you speak!”

Donnie Bates

The “Heavy Gustaf” was a German cannon of incredible size. It’s barrel was 31.5 inches wide and it was built in the 1930s. The entire purpose of this weapon was not to wound the enemy but to completely destroy the French forts which were the strongest of any at the time.

Later this weapon aided in destroying a Soviet munitions depot that lay 98 feet underground in WWII. It was one of the biggest cannons ever built, but it’s certainly not the most powerful. That title belongs to The Canon of scripture. It doesn’t have the power to take life but to give life eternal. It has the power to convict and completely change someone caught in the clutches of sin. God’s Word is a testimony and another evidence of God’s power. It answers two very important questions.

How do I prepare myself to live on this earth?

How I do I prepare myself to leave this earth?

In God’s Word the steps to salvation are revealed. Righteousness is defined as well as sinfulness. It’s a piece of God’s mind, it’s a book from heaven. The Bible is not just paper and ink, it’s much more. When that truly begins to sink in through the study and practice of what’s been written, our spiritual lives and faith will grow in leaps and bounds. We should be confident that grateful to have a guide given by God shining a light forward towards His glory.

Psalm 119:105

Dale Pollard

What is your name? Is it meaningful? Perhaps you are named after a family member or a beloved friend. Perhaps your name comes from the Bible (as is the case with my three sons, Jeremiah, Micah, and Noah). Regardless of the origins of your name, it has meaning because it is the name your parents chose for you.

In scripture there are several terms or phrases to describe those who submit to Jesus Christ.

A “disciple” is a learner or follower. This term is used heavily in the gospels by Jesus as well as in the Acts of the Apostles. A disciple is one who is under his teacher, and strives to be like his teacher (Luke 6:40). While we think primarily of disciples as followers of Jesus, John and the Pharisees had disciples (Luke 5:33), and the Pharisees claimed to be disciples of Moses (John 9:28).

“Saints,” “believers,” “brothers and sisters,” “children of God,” followers of “the Way,” and others may be used to refer to those who are walking with Jesus. But one term has been used almost to the exclusion of others in modern society.

The term, “Christian,” is used only three times in the New Testament, once by an inspired apostle (1 Peter 4:16), once by a detractor (Acts 26:28), and once descriptively by the inspired author, Luke (Acts 11:26).

What biblical significance is there to this name? The world calls anyone with a passing fondness for Jesus a Christian. The United States has erroneously been hailed a “Christian Nation,” while universities are referred to as “Christian Colleges.”

Certainly this name has been watered down by the world. But should that influence our legitimate use of the term? Should we cease to use it in place of other biblical terms? It would be helpful to examine the meaning and use of “Christian.”

“Christian” has been defined as “one who is associated with Christ,”/1 and “one who is a believer in and follower of Christ.”/2

How the Bible uses the term is significant. Acts 11:26 states that the disciples were “called” Christians. Who called them that and why? It was in Antioch that Jewish Christians and Gentile Christians first worshiped together in one body. The plan for the two groups to be one found its fulfillment first in Antioch.

Many claim that “Christian” was used in a derogatory sense by those of the world./3 A study of the term “called,” demonstrates that it was not the world, nor yet the disciples themselves, who coined this term, but God himself. The nine times this word is used reveals that it is a Divine calling (see Matthew 2:12, 22; Luke 2:26; Acts 10:22; Romans 7:3; Hebrews 8:5; 11:7; 12:25).

If our heavenly Father, is the one who bestowed the name then we should wear it proudly!

The apostle Peter wrote to those who would undergo “fiery trials” for their faith. He encouraged them, “if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name” (1 Peter 4:16).

Do not let others’ misuse of “Christian,” nor their abuse of you, cause you to shy away from wearing the name. Rather, glorify God in that name!

1/ William Arndt, Frederick W. Danker, and Walter Bauer, A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2000), 1090.

2/ Johannes P. Louw and Eugene Albert Nida, Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament: Based on Semantic Domains (New York: United Bible Societies, 1996), 126.

3/ Horst Robert Balz and Gerhard Schneider, Exegetical Dictionary of the New Testament (Grand Rapids, Mich.: Eerdmans, 1990–), 478.

by Lee Parish

Abigail Van Buren, best known for her famous “Dear Abby” column, was once the queen of witty advice.  On one particular occasion, she said something especially thought-provoking: “People who fight fire with fire usually end up with ashes.”

While it is true firefighters have often used fire to help limit the damage of a forest fire, the end result is always the same — more ashes. Outside the forest, our culture has become a place blazing with some of the hottest and ugliest “fires.” Politics. Racism. Religion. Our world has become an extremely heated and angry place.

To make matters worse, too many in our world are choosing to fight these firey situations with more fire. In other words, they respond to hotheaded people and heated situations by doing the exact same thing. People are slandering, insulting, yelling, rioting, looting, hurting, and seeking revenge on others. It’s fighting fire with fire. And the end result has simply produced more and more ashes.

It’s no surprise that God has the solution, “To sum up, all of you be harmonious, sympathetic, brotherly, kindhearted, and humble in spirit; not returning evil for evil or insult for insult, but giving a blessing instead; for you were called for the very purpose that you might inherit a blessing” (1 Peter 3:8-9). A nice cold bucket of love, forgiveness, and kindness would do wonders for hot situations like these.

Returning evil for evil will always add to the overall damage.  Using God’s problem-solving techniques will always better than our own. Let’s put out the fires and commit to being a part of the solution in the way God has instructed.

Brett Petrillo

Several years ago, a young teenage girl in the congregation where I was preaching was feeling a lot of pressure to join in with her peers. Her eighth grade class was planning a project that she did not feel she could participate in as a Christian. She told her teacher that she would not be able to participate. Some of her peers thought she was a spoil-sport who didn’t want to have any fun and would ruin it for everyone else, too. The things that were said to her were painful. The victory she won by holding to her principles was a painful one and she was very discouraged. It struck me at the time that Matthew 5:10-12 was an appropriate passage to share with her: Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

      Jesus says, in effect, when people say those kinds of things to you because of your faith, you are in good company. The young lady I described was encouraged by God’s Word and received the grace she needed to help her in her time of need (Hebrews 4:16).

Christians are assailed from every direction today, including from within the church herself. We want to offer encouragement; a reason to hope and to feel that we are on the winning side of the Good Fight, and not on the losing side.

The apostle Paul asked, “If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31) That’s a question every Christian should consider. His point in asking was to say, “No one can overcome us, if we remain faithful to Him!” Paul went on to say, “In all these things we overwhelmingly conquer!” (Romans 8:37) Notice what “things” from verse 35: Neither tribulation, distress, persecution, famine, nakedness, peril or sword can separate us from the love of Christ. In verses 38, 39 he says that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing can separate us from the love of God. Know this: God knows you and He knows how to rescue the godly from temptation (1 Corinthians 10:13; 2 Peter 2:9).

Donnie Bates

“There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:28 NASB).

Community is a powerful word. It pictures a group that are together in harmony and agreement. That is what God’s people need to be. Jesus said the love His disciples have for one another is what proclaims that they truly are His. Without that mutual love, there is no community, only divisions.
The first letter to the Corinthian church points out their lack of community. They were divided as to whom they followed, they were divided by class, and they certainly were divided over spiritual gifts. Paul said they ought to be one “so that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another” (I Corinthians 12:25).

We see a great sense of community in Acts 2:43-47. Because the members demonstrated love for one another, many joined their community. They spent as much time as possible with each other. Two powerful reasons given for us to come together is to encourage each other in faithfulness and to stimulate each other to good deeds (Hebrews 10:24-25).

Jesus tells us that if our becoming His disciples costs us our physical family, we will gain much more in our spiritual family (Mark 10:29-30).

The world is full of temptations trying to draw us away from Jesus. Satan is also active in trying to get us to give up. That is why we need to be a community. It is tough to go it alone. Therefore, be an active part of the community of God’s family.

– Ed Wittlif

In Genesis 24, we meet a man who only identifies as “Abraham’s servant” (v. 34). This unnamed servant is most likely Eliezer, Abraham’s household servant, whom he expected to be his heir (Genesis 15.2). Jewish tradition is in favor of this. However, because the chapter fails to identify him, we will also refrain from doing so. Hence, this unnamed servant teaches us three things as he obeys his master’s will to obtain a wife for his son from among his relatives in modern-day Iraq.

The unnamed servant teaches us humility. The fact that the unnamed servant only refers to himself as a servant of his master says a lot. He considers his identity to be secondary to his position in his master’s household. Our Great Example was similarly humble, much like this servant. We can see that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, was the most humble person of all when he took on human form and died for the salvation of mankind (Philippians 2:5–10).

Humility is an essential virtue. Humility, according to the Bible, is necessary for Christians to cultivate. For example, the book of James says, “God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” (James 4:6 NASB 1995) Thus, Christians are to approach God with modesty, acknowledging their shortcomings.

But we should not confuse humility with self-deprecation. God’s word doesn’t tell us to belittle ourselves or our accomplishments. Instead, humility involves acknowledging that all good things come from God, upon Whom we depend for our success (James 1.17). Humility also requires service. The Bible calls us to be the servants of others, just as Jesus modeled servant leadership (John 13.14-16). Humility consists in putting the needs of others ahead of our desires and ambitions.

And God doesn’t overlook this service. Instead, humility is a key to spiritual growth, and those who humble themselves will be exalted. In the book of Matthew, Jesus says, “Whoever exalts himself shall be humbled; and whoever humbles himself shall be exalted” (Matthew 23.12 NASB1995). James reminds us: “Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you.” (James 4.10 NASB1995)

Therefore, when Christians talk about humility, they stress the importance of knowing our limits and weaknesses, helping others, and coming to God with a humble heart.

The unnamed servant teaches us to trust in God’s Providence. The nameless servant believed that God’s providence would help him succeed in his task. So likewise, God’s word instructs us to trust in God’s providence throughout the Bible, which means we accept that God is in charge of everything and has a plan for our lives. “For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.” (Jeremiah 29.11 NASB1995). I would be amiss if I did not point out that this is not a personal promise to us, as it was spoken to the Israelites on the verge of Babylonian captivity. However, we can accept that it means that God has plans for His people.

Thus, God urges us to trust that His purpose for our lives is beneficial, even if it may not seem logical or beneficial. This trust is part of submitting ourselves to God’s will. Surrendering to God’s will is part of trusting in providence. Christians are urged to pray for God’s direction and guidance and believe that God’s plan for their lives is what is best for them. “I know, O Lord, that a man’s way is not in himself, nor is it in a man who walks to direct his steps,” Jeremiah says again (Jeremiah 10.23 NASB 1995).

The Bible teaches us to trust in God’s provision, which implies that we believe that God will provide for our necessities (Matthew 6.33). Even in challenging circumstances, we know God will provide for our needs. So, the Christian doctrine of trust in providence stresses the importance of believing in God’s plan for each person’s life, submitting to His will, and trusting in His provision.

The unnamed servant teaches us to be shrewd. The servant who put Rebecca through the “camel test” was astute. Have you ever thought how this man must have appeared to the young Rebecca? The unnamed servant was a physically fit man. In addition, he needs other strong men to travel with him and a caravan of ten camels. Why, then, would he need a woman to bring him water and tend to his livestock?

What could this servant learn from administering the “camel test”? Rebecca’s response suggested much about her character. For example, what concern would she have for her family if she returned the water she had given a stranger to drink? Did she have the servant’s heart to recognize and want to meet a need when it was within her power? Did she consider others first? Finally, Rebecca had to demonstrate her worth to Isaac and, eventually, to Abraham, his master.

Jesus told his disciples to “be shrewd as serpents and innocent as doves” (Matthew 10.16 NASB 1995). In other words, Jesus tells us to be wise and intelligent when we talk to other people but also to be kind and safe. The term “wise as serpents” might be understood to suggest that the disciples should be as intelligent and crafty as snakes in their relationships with others. But it’s important to remember that Jesus didn’t want his followers to lie or trick people. Instead, he wanted them to be honest and wise in their relationships with others. Likewise, “harmless as doves” alludes to the doves’ gentleness and lack of aggression. Even in challenging or hostile circumstances, Jesus pushes his followers to remain calm and non-threatening in their relationships with others.

Jesus asked his followers to be intelligent and astute in their interactions while being mild and non-threatening. We should apply this advice and use it when applicable.

The unnamed servant in Genesis 24 teaches essential lessons about humility, faith in providence, and shrewdness. His humble demeanor reminds us of the importance of admitting our flaws and prioritizing the needs of others. Trusting in God’s providence entails believing that God has a plan for our lives and that everything will work out for the best. Finally, being shrewd implies being wise and intelligent in our interactions with others while maintaining our integrity. As Christians, we can learn from the example of the unnamed servant and strive to live a life that honors God. The unnamed servant in Genesis 24 teaches essential lessons about humility, faith in providence, and shrewdness. His humble demeanor reminds us of the importance of admitting our flaws and prioritizing the needs of others. Trusting in God’s providence entails believing that God has a plan for our lives and that everything will work out for the best. Finally, being shrewd implies being wise and intelligent in our interactions with others while maintaining our integrity. As Christians, we can learn from the example of the unnamed servant and strive to live a life that honors God.

Brent Pollard

“After these things I heard what sounded like the loud voice of a vast throng in heaven, saying, ‘Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God, because his judgments are true and just. For he has judged the great prostitute who corrupted the earth with her sexual immorality, and has avenged the blood of his servants poured out by her own hands!’” (Revelation 19:1-2 NET).

As we mentioned in our previous article, John’s Revelation is not the easiest to understand. There are many explanations and interpretations, but there are also eternal truths in the word-pictures that John used to paint a picture for us.

In this picture, John saw the people of God celebrating. Why? Because God had come in judgment. Whatever our interpretation of the “great prostitute” we can see that when God comes in judgment, it is not biased. God’s “judgments are true and just.”

Isn’t this the type of God that we want to serve? Not one who is influenced by a person’s position or who they are, but one who is just. People long today for justice – but sadly they often don’t find it. With God, we know that his judgments are the correct ones. This should cause us, as God’s people, to rejoice.

“Then a second time the crowd shouted, ‘Hallelujah!’ The smoke rises from her forever and ever. The twenty-four elders and the four living creatures threw themselves to the ground and worshiped God, who was seated on the throne, saying: ‘Amen! Hallelujah!’ Then a voice came from the throne, saying: ‘Praise our God all you his servants, and all you who fear him, both the small and the great!’” (Revelation 19:3-5).

Although judgment is coming, we don’t rejoice that there will be those who are lost. We, like God himself, want all to be saved, to have an eternity with Jesus forever. But sadly, we realize that not everyone will turn to God and obey his word. To be ready for judgment we must belong to God – we must be his people.

“Then I heard what sounded like the voice of a vast throng, like the roar of many waters and like loud crashes of thunder. They were shouting: ‘Hallelujah! For the Lord our God, the All-Powerful, reigns! Let us rejoice and exult and give him glory, because the wedding celebration of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready. She was permitted to be dressed in bright, clean, fine linen’ (for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints)” (Revelation 19:6-8).

Throughout the writings of the apostle, the “bride” of the Lamb is God’s people, the ekklesia, the Christian community. Our obedience, our “righteous deeds” provide the bride with her bright, clean, white dress because we are God’s people. Notice that the bride was ready for her groom and the wedding celebration.

The question for us is simply this: are we ready? Are we one of God’s people? Are we providing the “righteous deeds” needed for the bride? Or do we live for ourselves and have only God’s judgment to expect?

You see, the choice is ours. Our lives on earth will one day end. Are we ready to face God’s judgment and eternity? If we are faithful to him we have nothing to fear, because God’s judgments are true and just!

Are we ready?

Jon Galloway

“Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery kept secret since the world began but now made manifest, and by the prophetic Scriptures made known to all nations, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, for obedience to the faith – to God, alone wise, be glory through Jesus Christ forever. Amen” (Romans 16:25-27 NKJV).

A doxology is a statement of praise and honor towards and / or about God. The word derives from the Greek word “doxa” meaning “brightness, splendor, and radiance.” In its verbal form it is often rendered “to praise, honor, magnify, or glorify.”

Casual readers of the Bible may be unaware of the many doxologies which are part of its text such as that which is cited at the beginning of this article. These are formal statements of praise containing many doctrinal and theological themes which add significantly to our understanding of the nature and identity of God.

When one takes the gospel of Jesus Christ into cultures based on other religions with other gods or pantheons of divinity, the question of our God’s identity becomes critical. Just as Paul struggled to distinguish between his “unknown God” before the very religious, but pagan, Greeks (Acts 17:22-34), we also must make clear to our audiences that it is not enough to simply believe that gods exist, or to add another name to a long list of beings to worship.

The God whom we worship demands our exclusive allegiance and seeks to be known by us in all of his wisdom, might, and glory. Reading these doxologies carefully helps our understanding. I invite you to consider the following characteristics of God which are given in Romans 16:25-27.

1. He is the Redeemer (25a). Paul states that God is “able to establish you.” In this context “establish” is equivalent to “redeem” or “save.” In Romans the apostle has already shown that all accountable humans are estranged from God through sin (Romans 3:23). We all are fallen, without hope, and under condemnation. But God can change that. Most importantly, only God can change that.
2. He is the keeper of mystery (25b). God knew from before creation what mankind would need, and what he himself would do to meet that need. His knowledge is complete and perfect. There is nothing that he does not know.
3. He is the revealer of secrets (26). God is not selfish with his knowledge or inordinately proud and jealous of it as was charged by the serpent in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3:1-5). God began to announce his intentions hundreds of years before his son Jesus came into the world, revealing them through prophets whom he inspired.
4. He is everlasting (26b). God has always been and will always be. He is “The Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, . . . who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty” (Revelation 1:8). It is a truism that “the only thing constant is change.” God is the exception to that rule. He never changes and never ceases to be other than he has always been.
5. He is the only source of true wisdom (27). As ancient Solomon wrote, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge” (Proverbs 1:7). Again, “For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding” (Proverbs 2:6). Jesus taught “Your word is truth” (John 17:17). Paul simply affirms, “to God, alone wise” (Romans 16:27).

Classic scholars describing the attributes or characteristics of God included his perfect wisdom by the word “omniscient.” It is typically defined as “all-knowing” but includes more than simply the total awareness of facts or truth. God’s wisdom is practically applied. He not only knows all things but understands them and applies them perfectly to any and all situations.

A human scholar might be able to describe all the chemical and botanical characteristics of the coffee bean, but not know how to brew a cup of coffee. That is never the case which God. He knows the answers to all of the major questions — “What? When? Who? How? Why?” Because of his wisdom he solves every problem troubling the human race. We can trust his knowledge.

Of course there are many other attributes of God not considered in this text. He is also all-powerful, all-loving, and all-present. These qualities give us confidence that he knows what to do, is able to do it, and is willing to act on mankind’s behalf. Our faith is well-founded if placed in the only “true and living God” (1 Thessalonians 1:9).

Michael Brooks

A popular scooter for children warns: “This product moves when used.”

A label on an electric hand blender using for “blending, whipping, chopping and dicing,” warns: “Never remove food or other items from the blades while the product is operating.”

A label on a baby stroller warns: “Remove child before folding.”

A brass fishing lure with a three-pronged hook on the end warns: “Harmful if swallowed.”

A household iron warns users: “Never iron clothes while they are being worn.”

A label on a hair dryer reads, “Never use hair dryer while sleeping.”

A warning on an electric drill made for carpenters cautions: “This product not intended for use as a dental drill.”

The label on a bottle of drain cleaner warns: “If you do not understand, or cannot read, all directions, cautions and warnings, do not use this product.”

A can of self-defense pepper spray warns users: “May irritate eyes.”

A cardboard car sunshield that keeps sun off the dashboard warns, “Do not drive with sunshield in place.”

On a hotel-provided shower cap in a box: “Fits one head.”

Some of those warning labels conjure up some humorous images. Like the last one — can you imagine trying to fit a shower cap onto two heads at once? Ridiculous, huh?

Almost as ridiculous as taking the body of Christ and suggesting it has more than one head. There is one body (Eph. 4:4), and it has only one head. Fortunately, that head is no earthly person or group of people. It is none other than the Son of God himself.

“And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.” (Colossians 1:18)

Alan Smith

Oscar Lynagh has found a way to make his mark in the world.  A video was carried in a story last week by United Press International that shows how he did it.  With the help of a young lady his head was covered with a large amount of shaving cream.  He then took a bowl filled with ping pong balls, bounced them one at a time off the wall, and then caught them in the shaving cream on his head.  In 30 seconds he caught 12 balls, setting a new Guinness World Record.

When I saw the video, I thought to myself, “What?!  Does this fellow have nothing better to do?”  I can only imagine the pride (?) he will feel when he shows it to his grandchildren years from now to show how he made his mark in the world.

I don’t mean to be unkind to Oscar; there are many, many others in our world who seek out similar ways to be included in that world record lineup.  Most of them are similarly impractical, such as the man who set a record for pullups (32 in one minute) while hanging from an airborne helicopter, another who set a record for shooting (backward) and scoring with a basketball from 85 feet away, the most consecutive hours tattooing people (64 tattooed in 91 hours), etc.

It’s not wrong to want to make a mark in this world.  The principle we’re referring to is “meaning in life”.  When I reach the end of my journey, will my life have had meaning?

Jesus provided a better and practical answer to that question, and it’s found in the Parable of the Good Samaritan.  A victim of a violent robbery was left lying in the ditch, and others ignored him as they walked by.  One man, a Samaritan, didn’t ignore him, but took time to tend to his wounds, take him to an inn, and provided for whatever needs the man might have.  That story, recorded in Luke 10:30-37, ends with Jesus’ words, “Go and do likewise.”

Someone might object by pointing to the fact that Jesus never gave the name of the Samaritan.  That’s true, no name is found in that passage.  Here’s a truth that must not be overlooked, however, stated in Hebrews 6:10: “For God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love which you have shown toward His name, in that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister.”  Which is more lasting: To make our mark with the world (which will soon forget our records), or with God?

Making a mark doesn’t require large expenditures of time, money, or energy, according to Jesus: “And whoever gives one of these little ones only a cup of cold water in the name of a disciple, assuredly, I say to you, he shall by no means lose his reward” (Matthew 10:42).  Simple gifts are often what are needed.

Someone has stated it well: “To the world you may just be one person, but to one person you may be the world.”  Your love and compassion may have a domino effect, and start a “pay it forward” type of reaction.  One small act of kindness, like one snowflake, can soon become an avalanche of change.

Yes, you can make a mark on this world without ever putting shaving cream on your head.  Start by putting on Jesus Christ (see Galatians 3:26,27).  No one ever made a greater mark than Him!

Come to the light God offers!  Study His word, the Bible.  Worship Him in spirit and truth (John 4:24).  Get in touch with us if you’d like to discuss these ideas further.

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Copyright, 2023, Timothy D. Hall