Some things just don’t mix. Milk and orange juice, taxes and freedom, Coca cola and Mentos. But there is one particular mix that can sometimes be fatal. Blood pressure medicine can be a great thing, but when mixed with Advil/Ibuprofen it can harm your body and even give you a brain hemorrhage. If you mix rubbing alcohol and bleach you create chloroform. It’s safe to say that some things in life just don’t mix.

20-30 years after the ascension of Jesus, Paul wrote to a group of Celtic Christians in Galatia warning them of the dangers of mixing two teachings. We find the establishment of these Galatian churches in Acts 13-15 (Derbe, Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch of Pisidia). In 15:1 Some people came down from Judea teaching that circumcision was required for salvation. This occurred right after Paul had converted them. They are new Christians, and Paul had a “great debate” with them there. In Acts 15:5, the Pharisees who “had believed” were the ones commanding this of Christians. Fast forward a decade, and these teachers are back in Galatia teaching that circumcision is required for salvation.

In Galatians one, the question Paul is trying to answer is, “What is required for a person to be saved?” Forget circumcision, forget additional teachings, what does GOD say? Paul gives his answer by basically saying, “We need nothing other than what is contained in scripture to walk in the light.” There is only ONE gospel. In Verse 6 Paul says, “I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different gospel.” He uses the word “amazed” or thaumazo. 

These were Christians who should’ve known better. Their quick acceptance of this addition to the gospel amazed Paul in a negative sense. In Acts 4:13, this same Greek word is used to describe the scribes and Pharisees’ reaction to the apostles’ teachings. Again in Mark 5:20, we read that people were amazed by Jesus’ teaching. Paul now uses this word to describe his reaction to these Christians deserting the gospel! This word could be accurately translated as “deeply disturbed.”

If there is anything added to that which is necessary for the maintaining of your walk in the light, it is not necessary for salvation. These Christians should’ve known better, but sadly sometimes we are the same way. We know what’s right and wrong and yet we still choose poorly (speech, actions, thoughts).

The message that these Christians were to accept was that of the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus and the correct way to be saved. Any requirement outside of the plan of salvation is a false doctrine that must be condemned. If that other requirement is the sinner’s prayer, it must be condemned. If that other requirement is a “new wave of salvation,” as some denominations teach, it is to be condemned. If that other requirement is a tradition not necessary for salvation yet is enforced as such, it is to be condemned. We are only compelled to follow what is contained in God’s Holy Word.

Let’s be careful as Christians to follow and teach solely what God has required of us.

Carl Pollard

The Bible answers all the big questions of life.

• How did I get here?
• Why am I here?
• Why does suffering exist?
• Why am I suffering?
• What happens after death?

The Bible does not answer all the questions of life.

• What job should I take?
• What will happen to me tomorrow?
• What should I eat for lunch?
• How can I get rich?

The Bible is full of people with questions.

• Abram wondering when God’s promise would be fulfilled.
• Job wanting God to show up so they can debate his suffering.
• Habakkuk the prophet asking how God’s righteousness can permit his actions.
• Pilate asked Jesus, perhaps wistfully or cynically, about the nature of truth.
• Israelites desperate to know how to be forgiven of having crucified Christ.
• Saul asking who the Lord is that appeared to him on the road to Damascus and what he must do.

The Bible is full of questions that God asked.

• Where are you?
• What is this you have done?
• What is that in your hand?
• What are you doing here?
• Whom shall I send?

The Bible is full of questions that Jesus asked.

• Who was it that touched me?
• Who do you say that I am?
• Will you also go away?
• What do you want me to do for you?
• Who are you looking for?
• Do you love me?

The Bible is full of good questions and bad, questions that are spot on and ones that are misdirected, sincere questions and disingenuous.

Near the beginning and near the end of the book of Hebrews, the author asks two similar and powerful questions:

Therefore we must pay closer attention to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away. For if the message spoken through angels proved to be so firm that every violation or disobedience received its just penalty, how will we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? Hebrews 2.1-3.

Take care not to refuse the one who is speaking! For if they did not escape when they refused the one who warned them on earth, how much less shall we, if we reject the one who warns from heaven? Hebrews 12.25.

These are thought questions. They deserve much reflection.

What questions in the Bible are your favorites or questions that you have tussled with?

Randal Matheny

Running for 12 hours on a treadmill isn’t exactly at the top of everyone’s goal list. For most people running for 30 minutes at all is a major undertaking, but not for David Staley. When Staley’s friend set the record for the greatest distance run on a treadmill in 12 hours, Staley set out to top him. Since he was already a pretty accomplished runner, all it took was a five-hour and seven-hour practice session before he felt confident he could do it. After twelve grueling hours, David ran a crazy 81.62 miles, beating the previous world record by over a mile.

After the record was set, a discussion took place about what it took for Staley to accomplish this impressive task. Frank B. Wyatt, professor in the department of athletic training and exercise physiology at Midwestern State University, had one of the most intriguing comments. He said, “The average person cannot do this, but every elite athlete was ‘average’ at one time” (Yahoo).

A person doesn’t go from average to elite overnight. It takes serious work and dedication. For Staley, he didn’t go from a couch potato to a world record holder in a few days or even weeks. He had to put in years of serious training and effort to reach this level. He also needed a lot of psychological strength. During the run, David talked about a “pain cave” he retreated in his mind while running. This psychological strength allowed him to make it the whole 12 hours.

No matter the field or the accomplishment, it takes great dedication, practice, and mental strength to become elite. Have you ever wondered how Jesus was able to know Scripture so well and push through the trials He endured? Have you ever wondered how Paul was able to become such an incredible evangelist? The reason the champions of the Bible were so great was because they worked hard and they practiced these qualities daily.

When Moses died, Joshua felt insignificant to follow in his footsteps.  We might even say that Joshua felt very average.  Then God told him how to have spiritual success. God said, “Only be strong and very courageous; be careful to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, so that you may have success wherever you go. This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success” (Joshua 1:7-8).

All great people started out as average. They had to work and practice to become elite. The same is true for us today. Becoming closer to God is going to take work and dedication. Knowing our Bibles and studying consistently is going to take practice and mental endurance. Becoming a great evangelist is going to take effort and courage. We all can become spiritually great if we will follow God’s advice to Joshua.  Let’s dedicate ourselves to the study of Scripture and live it in our lives, never turning away from those Holy Words.

Brett Petrillo

“You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God” (James 4:4-5). When James uses the word “world” he is not speaking of the physical earth on which we walk. James is talking about the sinful pleasure of the world.  The pull of the world is strong! It is all around us. It offers momentary passing pleasure (Hebrews 11:25) because it appeals to our physical and sinful nature. Everyone has this spiritual battle between his or her fleshly and spiritual desires.  

Notice that James said that “friendship with the world is hostility toward God?” Do you want to be at odds with God?  Notice also, those who are friends with the sinful pleasures of the world are enemies with God. Do you really want to be God’s enemy? It is no wonder that Paul exhorts “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed” (Romans 12:2). If we are participating in the sinful activities of the world we are conforming. If we resist the activities of the world we are transforming. Thermometers conform to their surroundings; thermostats transform their surroundings. Spiritually speaking, are you a “thermometer” or a “thermostat?”

The apostle John teaches the same truths that James expressed. He said, “Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life is not from the Father, but is from the world. The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God lives forever” (I John 2:15-17). We manifest love by participation. If we love something we are going to participate in it. If we do not love something we will not participate in it.

James and other New Testament writers are warning against participating in the sinful pleasures that the world has to offer. Remember, he is not writing these exhortations to alien sinners – to those who do not know God, but to those of us who are God’s children. Isn’t it strange that God has to warm Christians with such strong language about participating in the sinful pleasures of the world? Why? Because man’s fleshly nature craves those sinful pleasures. God knows they are not good for us and thus sinful. Participating in these activities shows that we are friends with the world and an enemy of God.

Wayne Burger

Jesus loves me, this I know,

Though my hair is white as snow,

Though my sight is growing dim,

Still He bids me trust in Him. (CHORUS)

Though my steps are getting slow,

With my hand in His I’ll go.

On through life, let come what may,

He will lead me all the way. (CHORUS)

Though I am no longer young,

My last song is still unsung.

Always serving with a smile,

On with Him the “extra mile.” (CHORUS)

When the nights are dark and long,

In my heart He puts a song,

Telling me in words so clear,

“Have no fear, for I am near.” (CHORUS)

When my work on earth is done,

And my battles here are won,

By His grace and matchless love,

I’ll be home with Him above.

CHORUS:

Yes, Jesus loves me,

Yes, Jesus loves me,

Yes, Jesus loves me,

The Bible tells me so!

An anonymous senior version of “Jesus Loves Me” with my revision of verses 3 and 5 – Roy Davison.

“Jesus loves me” was written by Anna Bartlett Warner in 1860.

The tune and chorus were added by William Batchelder Bradbury in 1862.

A story is told about a preacher who was in the middle of his sermon when he turned the focus to Simon of Cyrene, the man who carried the cross of Jesus (Mark 15:21; Luke 23:26). He challenged the congregation to put themselves at the scene and think about how they would have reacted. Before long a nine-year-old boy came walking up the aisle. The preacher stopped and the auditorium fell silent This boy came from a troubled and unfaithful family. His father was a miner and his mother was an outcast. There was no telling why this boy might say.

The boy spoke up and said, “You asked what I would have done if I had been in the crowd when Jesus fell under the weight of His cross.” He looked earnestly up at the preacher. “Sir, I would have helped Him carry it.” The preacher reasoned, “Yes, but if you had helped Him carry His cross, the cruel Roman soldiers would have ruthlessly beaten you across your back.” Unshaken, the boy replied, “I don’t care. I would have helped Him carry it just the same.”

A few weeks later the preacher was standing near the door at the end of services. As the boy was passing by the preacher affectionately patted him on the back. The boy painfully winced away and said, “Please don’t do that.” Having barely touched the boy, the preacher took him over to the side to figure out what was wrong. As the boy lifted his shirt, he revealed several large crisscrossed welts. The preacher cringed in anger, “Who did this?” The boy responded, “My mother did. She whipped me because I came to church” (Illustration by Travis Brown).

Even at such a young age, this boy showed incredible dedication. Despite taking a beating from his mother, the brave nine-year-old chose to put the Lord first, even above his parents. Had he been there the day Jesus carried his cross, certainly this young boy would have kept his word and run out to help Christ carry His cross.

Matthew 10:37-38 says, “He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; and he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me.”

The heart of this Scripture is bold and clear: the Lord must come first in our lives, even above family. This boy was willing to take punishment just to be able to come worship. He was willing to put up with a sore back to come to church.

So how’s your back? Sure, you’re probably not facing physical abuse because you came to worship. But are you putting anything on the line? What excuses have we been telling ourselves to miss out on worship? Yes, we’ve been in the middle of a strange and difficult time, but the church is meeting back together and worshiping God. Are you?

Our Lord gave up every comfort to go to the cross for us. Are we willing to give up some comforts for Him in return?

Brett Petrillo

“An evildoer listens to wicked lips,

A liar pays attention to a destructive tongue”

(Proverbs 17:4)

We love to listen to those juicy morsels of gossip.  After all, we’re not the one spreading it.  That would be wrong!  But listening?  There is really no problem with that, right?

Nope.  Solomon makes it clear that the listener is as guilty as the speaker.  The one who speaks with “wicked lips” is the person who openly defies God and His word.  He has no god but himself.  But what about the person who listens to him?  Solomon says “evildoer!”  But wait!  He didn’t do anything!  Yes, he did.  He listened!  That in itself is an evil deed.  The word “evil” means a person who is guilty of bad or immoral acts.  He has done that which is outside of God’s instructions.  Solomon notes that there are those who have “destructive tongues.”  These are people who love to tear down the good works others are doing.  They do considerable damage to those good works.  In some cases, they are successful in completely destroying them.  But what about the person who listens to him?  Solomon says “liar!”  But wait?  Aren’t liars those who say untruths? Not necessarily.  When he listens he is leaving a false impression.  The lie is found in the fact that he appears to be in agreement.

Here is an easy method for stomping out gossip: don’t listen.  If the wicked speaker has no audience, will he keep talking?  If he does, he’s only talking to himself.  What about the person who loves to destroy the work of others with his critical assessments?  If no one is listening, does he really succeed in tearing anything down?  No one even heard him.

The point of this powerful proverb is not just a method to eliminate wicked and critical talk.  It is also to give notice to all listeners.  They are guilty; as guilty as the speakers!  That is worthy of serious consideration.

Denny Petrillo

A common practice for thousands of years was to drain “bad blood” out of the body. In fact, there are still some cultures today that practice this. The greatest doctors who were thought to be extremely smart would commonly drain the “bad blood” out of their patients if they were sick. For the longest time it was believed that if you were sick you needed to let this poisonous blood out of your body in order to be healed.

Leviticus 17:11 says, “For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it for you on the altar to make atonement for your souls, for it is the blood that makes atonement by the life.”

December 13th 1799 a man was riding a horse through his plantation. It was a day like any other, and everything was perfectly normal. Little did this man know that in less than two days he would be dead. The decision he made that day in December proved to be fatal. While he was out riding he got caught in the rain, and when he returned home he decided to hold off on changing out of his wet clothes because he didn’t want to be late for his dinner party. The next morning, he worked outside in the bitter cold as he had the day before. The whole day he worked through the pain that had developed in his throat. Nevertheless he pushed on and tried to ignore it.

That evening his symptoms worsened, but he decided to see if they would improve by the morning. This man woke up and things had only gotten worse. He called in three well-known physicians and he received good news that it was just a cold and a slight fever. The physicians assured the man that he would be just fine. All they had to do was drain the sickness out of his body and he would be healed.

This fatal decision resulted in the death George Washington.

Bloodletting is now seen as an incompetent practice. Yet it was practiced worldwide until the late 1800s. Millions of people died thanks to this lack of understanding, but guess who knew NOT to do this right from the start? The life is in the blood and God is the one who revealed this fact to us.

Sometimes we are a little slow in catching on to the wisdom that God has revealed in His Word. If God was right about the blood, what else could He be right about?

Carl Pollard

Ahaz, the ungodly king of Judah was in trouble. Rezin, king of Aram (Syria) and Pekah, king of Israel (the northern kingdom) wanted him to join them against Assyria, but he would not. Therefore, they planned to attack and install the son of Tabeel as king of Judah (Isaiah 7:1-9). “When it was reported to the house of David (Ahaz), saying, ‘The Arameans have camped in Ephraim,’ his heart and the hearts of his people shook as the trees of the forest shake with the wind” (Isaiah 8:2).

Ahaz had two choices: (1) Appeal to Tiglath-pileser, king of Assyria, to come to his defense, or (2) Trust in God to protect him and his people. Isaiah tried his best to get him to trust in God, but he would not. As the events began to unfold the LORD commanded Isaiah to write a message down for all to see. Explaining what the future held, the LORD had Isaiah write this, “Inasmuch as these people have rejected the gently flowing waters of Shiloal and rejoice in Rezin and the son of Remaliah; now therefore, behold, the Lord is about to bring on them the strong and abundant waters of the Euphrates, even the king of Assyria and all his glory; and it will rise up over all its channels and go over all its banks. Then it will sweep on into Judah, it will overflow and pass through, it will reach even to the neck” (Isaiah 8:6-8).

God wanted Ahaz to know that appealing to Assyria was not the answer. In addition to Assyria conquering Syria and northern Israel, Assyria would come on into Judah and wipe away most people.

Symbolic Message in the Waters

First, notice that the people of Judah, along with their king, are no longer spoken of as God’s people, but as “these people.” They had “rejected the gently flowing waters of Shiloah” (Isaiah 8:6). Instead of trusting in the gentle flowing waters of Shiloah, “the Lord is about to bring on them the strong an abundant waters of the Euphrates” (v. 7). The “Euphrates” was the primary river in Assyria and that nation was about to bring destruction to Ahaz and his people. “The gentle flowing waters of Shiloah” was the channel of gentle flowing water that came from the Gihon Spring into the pool of Siloam which furnished Jerusalem with water (International Standard Bible Encyclopedia “Siloam”). The message was, “Rather than trusting in the quiet, unassuming presence of God to supply their needs, they sent to Assyria” (John Willis commentary on Isaiah 8).

The Application

When we face a crisis, God just asks us to trust in His quiet providential power to deliver us. Unfortunately, most of us appeal to some big human demonstration or want God to work in some big, impressive, “showy” way. God doesn’t have to work in some mighty, powerful way, to work. Remember, when Elijah was afraid, God was not in a great and strong wind which torn the mountain. Neither was He in an earthquake, nor in a blazing fire, but He appeared in the “sound of a gentle blowing” which caused Elijah to wrap “his face in his mantle” (I Kings 19:9-13).

May we grow in our faith to the point of trusting in God as described in “the gentle flowing waters of Shiloah.” Let’s believe what John wrote, “This is the victory that has overcome the world – our faith” (I John 5:4).

Wayne Burger

In the 14th century two brothers fought for the right to rule over what is now Belgium. The older brother’s name was Raynald, but he was commonly called “Crassus” which in Latin meant “fat” because he was horribly obese. After a heated battle, Raynald’s younger brother, Edward, won and assumed the role of Duke over his lands. Instead of killing Crassus, Edward had a room in his castle built around him with only one door. The door was not locked, the windows were not barred, and Edward promised that Crassus could regain his land and his title any time he wanted to. All he had to do was leave the room. The obstacle was not the door or the windows, but Crassus himself. He was so overweight that even though the door was normal sized he couldn’t fit through it! All he needed to do was diet down to a smaller size then walk out a free man however Edward kept sending all of Crassus’ favorite foods to his room and in the end Crassus’ appetite won over his desire to be free.

In Romans 6 Paul is addressing a false belief that sinful living is not something to avoid because it brings more of God’s grace into our lives. In verse 13 we read, “do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life.” Those “members” that Paul mentions here are those physical parts of us that need careful monitoring. The ears, nose, feet, hands, eyes, etc., can either be used for sin or for serving Him.

This is illustrated in the life of David. When he was young God used his hands to slay the giant for His sake. Later in David’s life sin would use his eyes for wickedness when he pursued Bathsheeba. Freedom in Christ is ours if we want it, but we need to tame our members and use our instruments for His purpose and not our own.

Someone once put it this way, “If grace doesn’t change your life, it won’t save your soul.” In other words, if the gift of Christ doesn’t change how we walk then we can’t expect grace to cover any sin we commit against Him. We have access to many blessings of a spiritual and physical nature but only if we are among the faithful. If we’re not, we are trapped in a prison of our own making.

Dale Pollard

The book of Ecclesiastes is, in some ways, one of the most confusing books in scripture. From the very outset it has an air of depression, speaking frequently of all the things in life that are “vanity” or “fleeting.” As I read through the book, one of the themes that emerges is the unexpected outcomes of any given pursuit.

Take, for example, Ecclesiastes 1:16-18 and the pursuit of wisdom. Having acquired great levels of experience and knowledge Qoheleth says in verse 18, “For in much wisdom is much vexation, and he who increases knowledge increases sorrow.” How can much wisdom and knowledge result in so much annoyance and pain?

The old adage seems to ring true here, “The smarter I get, the dumber I feel.” As we acquire more knowledge and experience, we realize there is always more to learn. More knowledge results in more questions. This is not inherently bad, but it has the potential to be.

For some folks, acquiring all the answers has become the ultimate end, in and of itself. They have pushed themselves so far in the pursuit of answers to life’s questions that to say, “I don’t know” makes their blood pressure rise. To have to admit, “I can’t know” is unspeakable! Oftentimes, these are the people who wind up studying themselves out of belief in God.

I like what Warren Wiersbe says of this text:
Those who go through life living on explanations will always be unhappy for at least two reasons. First, this side of heaven, there are no explanations for some things that happen, and God is not obligated to explain them anyway. (In fact, if He did, we might not understand them!) Second, God has ordained that His people live by promises and not by explanations, by faith and not by sight.[1]

Wisdom and experience are things that we encourage everyone to pursue, and that is good.  I do not think Qoheleth is suggesting that we all remain blissfully ignorant and naïve in our lives? However, in our pursuit of knowledge we need to also understand that some things simply do not have answers on this side of eternity. We need to learn to accept that fact. If we don’t, then our pursuits will only wind up causing unquenchable vexation and sorrow. Rather, let us find solace in the promises of God that drive our need to know him more.

[1] BE Commentary Series: Ecclesiastes

Cory Waddell

Six hundred years before Christ would make His providential appearance, a righteous man finds himself in captivity. While exiled, Ezekiel was able to witness the spirit of God in a very intimate way (Ezekiel 1). Even so, he was still living under the thumb of the Babylonians like every other Israelite with him. While under these unideal circumstances though, he is privileged to see awe inspiring visions from God. Have you ever paid attention to the eerie sensations described throughout this book? In Ezekiel 1:4, the prophet feels a great and stormy wind on the bank of the river Chebar. The wind brings with it a massive cloud with fire flashing around it and a substance like glowing metal in the center of it. The wings of the creatures he saw (verse 24) made sounds like that of roaring waters. The voice of the Almighty was like the sound of a great army camp. What sights he was able to see! This great connection to God didn’t take away his pain or sorrow, though.

Chapter 19 is one long lament as Ezekiel cries over his hard-hearted Israelite brothers. Why won’t they listen to him? Even after Ezekiel performs some radical visual illustrations like eating his bread over dung and laying on his side for an entire year, they won’t respond to the “invitation.” How frustrating is that, preachers? God never abandons His faithful servant but His confused prophet is still left to wonder what God is going to do about the mess which makes up his reality. A familiar feeling for many faithful Christians today.

Never underestimate the hand of the Almighty. This truthful statement can be pulled from Ezekiel 37, when the prophet is taken up and then placed in the middle of a dark valley. Ezekiel is surrounded on all sides by heaps of dry human bones and he’s probably wondering why in the world God has taken him to such a place. The text answers the question by asking a question. God speaks to Ezekiel and says, “Can these dry bones live again?” What an odd thing to ask. However, Ezekiel responds, “Only you know, oh Lord.”

It’s always when we’re deep in the valleys of life that we’re forced to answer the difficult questions about God’s abilities. When we’re surrounded by darkness, the question we have to ask is, “Does God have the power to see me through this?” If you remember, Ezekiel has become frustrated with the fact that Israel just won’t listen to him or Him. He’s lost hope in their ability to change— they’re just too far gone. However, God demonstrates to His prophet in a dramatic way that NOTHING is impossible for Him.

He doesn’t bring the bones to life in the blink of an eye, but we know He could have. Instead, He allows Ezekiel to hear those bones rattle and to hear the sounds of fibers and flesh sticking together. He wanted to leave an impression on Ezekiel to demonstrate the might of the Almighty. Ezekiel had no idea how those bones came to life, but he knew one thing for certain. God did it. You may not understand why God has allowed you to enter your valley, but you can be certain that He has the power to see you through. You are standing on your two feet because God has given you the strength to do so. God has promised His faithful servants a heavenly light at the end of our tunnels and whatever God says— He will always accomplish (Ezekiel 37:14).

Dale Pollard

“All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.”

2 Timothy 3:16-17

The divine verbal inspiration of the Bible is a central tenet of the Christian faith. Being handed down from God to man the Bible is our record of what He has done to save mankind and functions as our final authority for instruction on how we live our lives in response to His work.

Naysayers point to such claims as “double-talk,” and argue against inspiration by asking questions like, “Which one should I believe? There are so many ‘holy books’ out there.”

Obviously, a mere claim of divine inspiration does not automatically make it true. To defend the Bible’s inspiration solely on the basis that it SAYS it is inspired is to be guilty of a blind faith, and will likely lead to failure in trying to persuade non-believers of its inspiration. But what of this notion that it is one among many?

The truth is, claims of divine inspiration are extremely rare. According to author Kenny Barfield, there are only seven religious documents in existence that specifically claim divine verbal inspiration. This may come as somewhat of a shock to some. Indeed, there are countless other creeds and writings which purport to possess a significant importance, and many of their misguided adherents will clamor about defending them as being “divinely inspired.” Yet they are making claims that the documents themselves do not make.

The Bible is not “just one of many” books that claims to have been handed down from God. Such assertions are few and far between.

“[Yet] none of them exhibits such amazing qualities as the predictive prophecy and scientific foreknowledge that can be found in the Bible. Furthermore, the unity of the Bible and its accurate historical documentation of biblical people, places, and events is unparalleled in human history and bears testimony to the fact that the very existence of the Holy Scriptures cannot be explained in any other way except to acknowledge that they are the result of an overriding, superintending, guiding Mind.” (Eric Lyons – The Claim of Inspiration)

Indeed, the Bible is in a category all its own.

Cory Waddell

We all may not have the same bad habits, but the process of breaking them is the same across the board. A habit is an acquired behavior pattern regularly followed until it has become almost involuntary. The world labels actions such as nail biting, smoking, and excessive drinking as bad habits, but as Christians we understand that any continual action or thought that is sinful is a bad habit in need of breaking. So how do we break it?

Psychology Today wrote an article titled “How To Break Bad Habits.” While the information is helpful in telling us how to break habits such as nail biting and smoking, it fails to tell us how to break sinful habits. If sin has become an acquired behavior pattern that is almost involuntary, that is, if we find ourselves practicing the same sins continually, we are no longer walking in the light. A habitual sin problem is the definition of walking in darkness. It is at this point that we have lost our salvation, and the sinful habit needs to be broken.

Psychology Today’s article on breaking bad habits was missing one very important resource: God’s Word. Let’s follow the steps they mention, but incorporate scripture into them so that we can break our sinful bad habits.

Define the concrete behavior you want to change or develop. It’s good to say “I’m going to stop sinning,” but that’s too vague. In order to break a sinful habit we need to be specific. David wrote an entire psalm specifically asking God to forgive him of his sin with Bathsheba (Psalm 51). Peter told Simon the sorcerer to repent and pray to God concerning a specific wicked deed he had done (Acts 8). Be specific in identifying the sin, and in praying to God.

Once we have pinpointed the sin, identify the triggers. For example, if you struggle with pornography, identify the trigger. Things like being alone with your computer or phone. Identify and recognize the temptation when it comes. Joseph was faced with temptation in the form of Potiphar’s wife in Genesis 39.

Identifying the triggers is the first step, but we must also learn to deal with the triggers. This is where we must be proactive. If we wish to break a sinful habit, we must actively look for ways to avoid the temptation. Joseph did so by running away and leaving his coat in Potiphar’s wife’s hands (Gen. 39).

Next we need to develop a substitute plan. As Psychology Today points out, breaking a habit isn’t about stopping but substituting. Once we have dealt with the trigger, we must substitute the sin with something else. In this case the best substitute for sin would be scripture or time spent in prayer. When Jesus was tempted by Satan, He refuted the Devil using scripture (Matt. 4). He substituted the sinful propositions with God’s word. The habits we are breaking should be substituted with something that will help us continue breaking our sinful habits. In this case, that would be God’s Word.

Next we must change the larger pattern. It’s no longer just about a singular sinful habit. It’s about focusing on our Christian walk as a whole, changing our daily routine so that it’s harder for sin to have a place in our everyday lives. If we are focused wholeheartedly on living for Christ, sin will no longer be relevant to our goal (Luke 9:23).

To help us in our goal we must also get supports. Find a brother or sister in Christ to talk to and pray with. When the temptations come we should use our Christian family resources. God designed the church as a place we can go to for help, encouragement, and support (1 Thes. 5:11)

In everything we must be persistent and patient. Realize that we aren’t prefect and as humans it will take some time to completely rid ourselves of a sinful habit. Don’t use a single “mess up” as an excuse to quit altogether, and don’t see it as an impossible task. Living a godly life takes persistence and patience (Col. 2:6).

Finally, if we have done everything we can to rid ourselves of a sinful habit and we can’t seem to break it, get professional help. This may be in form of a Christian counselor, an elder, a preacher, or someone you look up to. Ask for help from those that are grounded and rooted in their faith. There’s no such thing as a professional Christian, but each one of us can think of people that have wisdom and knowledge far greater than our own. Seeking out help means swallowing our pride and admitting we can’t do it on our own (Matthew 8:5).

Carl Pollard

Source consulted: Psychology Today Article

Not all kids will be killed or harmed in an alcohol related incident, but many are. Not all marriages will be destroyed by alcohol-fueled abuse, but many have been. Not every crime that’s committed will somehow involve alcohol, but many do. As a preacher, I don’t need the Bible to help me formulate my opinion on alcohol. Nobody does. While the Bible has a lot to say about a lot of things, one doesn’t need to crack open The Good Book to find out whether or not alcohol will improve lives— or make lives worse. Consider the following statistics pulled from non-religious and globally respected sources.

This is the reality. 

Youth And Alcohol Don’t Mix 

People ages 12 to 20 drink 3.4% of all alcohol consumed in the United States. Although youth drink less often than adults, when they do drink, they drink more. More than 90% of all alcohol drinks consumed by youth are consumed through binge drinking

In 2021, 5.9 million youth ages 12 to 20 reported drinking alcohol beyond “just a few sips” in the past month.

In 2021, approximately 613,000 youth ages 12 to 20 reported binge drinking on 5 or more days over the past month. 

What could possibly go wrong? 

The possibilities are endless, and none of them are good. Problems related to underage drinking include trouble in school, unsafe sexual behavior, drinking and driving, aggressive or violent behavior, and trouble with the law. 

It Could Kill Them: Alcohol is a major factor in the deaths of people younger than 21 in the US each year. This includes deaths from car crashes, homicides, alcohol overdoses, falls, burns, drowning, and suicides. 

It Could Harm Them: In 2011 alone, about 188,000 underage drinkers found themselves in the emergency room for alcohol-related injuries. 

It Could Permanently Damage Them: Underage drinking leads to a higher risk of alcohol use disorder (AUD) later in life. Adults 26 and older who started drinking before age 15 are 3.5 times more likely to report having AUD in just the past year. 

Source: National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism 

Alcohol And Marriage Don’t Mix 

Two-thirds of victims of spousal abuse report that the perpetrator had been drinking at the time of the incident(s). This doesn’t just apply to the United States. Global studies show higher odds of domestic abuse if one or both partners are dependent on alcohol. 

Around 50% of marriages end in divorce. When alcohol abuse is present in a household, the chances of divorce nearly triple. 

Source: Alcohol Rehab Guide (Apr. 20, 2023) 

Alcohol And Crime Don’t Mix 

Excessive drinking has the ability to lower inhibitions, impair a person’s judgement and increase the risk of aggressive behaviors. Because of this, alcohol-related violence and crime rates are on the rise throughout the country. 

Alcohol is a leading cause of traffic fatalities. Drinking and driving kills 28 people a day in the U.S. — about one person every 52 minutes — according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). That’s more than 10,000 lives lost each year to drunk driving. 

Add. Source: National Institutes of Health (Mar 16,2023) 

These statistics speak for themselves. We should be careful as Christians what we say about alcohol consumption because it’s taken a lot from countless people. It’s taken health, wealth, children, spouses, and ruined otherwise bright futures. Alcohol simply costs far too much to fool with– and that’s not up for debate. 

Dale Pollard

In reading the New Testament I have been impressed with the number of times the word “first” is used in what I consider to be strategic passages.  It is a word that indicates primacy, that which is to be paramount, foremost, and pre-eminent, that which is of the highest and most urgent importance.  Consider the following.

1. “For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures” (1 Corinthians 15:3-4).  Paul is here defining the gospel—that is consists of the death of Christ for human sins, that He was buried, and that He rose again.  Paul affirms that this is that which he first preached to the Corinthians.  Earlier he had said, “And I, brethren, when I came to you, did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the testimony of God.  For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified (1 Corinthians 2:1-2).  Paul was first and foremost a gospel preacher!  He was not ashamed of the gospel of Christ (Romans 1:16).

It must be that way today.  Regardless of what else may be said of a preacher, if he is not a gospel preacher he is of no benefit to his hearers.  If he does not preach the gospel it makes no difference what else he preaches.  His “polish,” his poise, his personality, his oratory, his learning, his attractiveness are of no value to his hearers spiritually.  Unfortunately, there are preachers who are first of all everything but gospel preachers!  Their sermons have little scripture in them, they preach human wisdom, the doctrines and commandments of men, their denominational traditions, or they are always on some “issue” or religious “hobby.”

The importance of preaching the gospel is seen in the fact that the word of God is the seed of the kingdom (Luke 8:11).  If the seed is not sown, the plant will not be grown!  If the gospel is not preached Christians will not be produced and the kingdom will not exist.

The truth is that which makes men free (John 8:32), and God’s word is truth (John 17:17).  If the truth is not preached, people will remain in bondage to sin and error. They can be made free only by the truth of the gospel.

One is begotten to spiritual life by the word of truth (James 1:18).  If that word is not preached, people will not be brought to spiritual life.  Without the proclamation of the word of God one cannot be born again (John 3:3-5; 1 Peter 1:23-25).

The word of God is able to build up Christians (Acts 20:32).  If that word is not preached, God’s people will remain spiritually weak and anemic; in fact, they will eventually die (see Revelation 3:1-3).

Thus, first, last, and always we must recognize the primacy of preaching the gospel.  Christ did (Mark 16:15).  Paul did (2 Timothy 4:2).

2. “…knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation” (2 Peter 1:20).  There was something that Peter wanted his readers to know, and he wanted them to know it first!  What was it?  That no prophecy of Scripture is of private interpretation!

   This verse has been misunderstood because terms have not been adequately and properly defined.  “Prophecy” is literally “the speaking forth of the mind or will of another.”  A prophet is a spokesperson, one who speaks for another.  The prophets of God spoke for God by divine inspiration.  Sometimes their proclamations involved the foretelling or predicting of certain events, but such was not inherent in the meaning of “prophet.”  “Prophecy of Scripture” is the mind or will or another (in this case, God) set forth in writing or script (the root of the word “scripture”).

“Private interpretation” has been used to teach that we are not to interpret the Scriptures, but the fact is that anything we read (or hear) has to be interpreted in that it has to be correctly understood.  This is true whether one is reading the newspaper, a magazine, a book, the Bible, or listening to a television news broadcast. It is of course true that in reading the Bible one does not have the right to assign any meaning to a text that he/she may choose.  But when Peter said that “no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation” he was declaring that the Scriptures did not arise out of the private, personal, subjective thoughts and ideas of those composing the Scriptures.  In the very next verse (2 Peter 1:21) he states how the Scriptures did arise:  “…for prophecy never came by the will of man (private interpretation), but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.”

David declared, “The Spirit of the Lord spoke by me, and His word was in my tongue” (2 Samuel 23:2).  Peter said of David, “Men and brethren, this Scripture had to be fulfilled which the Holy Spirit spoke before by the mouth of David concerning Judas who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus” (Acts 1:16).  What was true of David was true of all of God’s faithful Old Testament spokesmen.

In the New Testament Christ promised the apostles that the Holy Spirit would guide them into all truth (John 16:13).  Paul stated, “These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches (private interpretation of the speaker/writer, hf), but which the Spirit teaches…” (1 Corinthians 2:13).  He affirmed that God made the New Testament known “by the Spirit to His holy apostles and prophets” (Ephesians 3:3-5).  In a grand, all-inclusive statement he declared, “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God” (2 Timothy 3:16).

In any study or discussion of the Scriptures this understanding of their divine origin must come first.  Nothing will ever be settled or solved by them until it does.  Let us recognize and honor the primacy of the divine inspiration of the Scriptures!

3. “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you” (Matthew 6:33).  The child of God, the citizen of the kingdom of heaven, will never experience lasting joy and happiness until the kingdom and righteousness of God become the paramount pursuit of his/her life, his/her all-consuming passion.  There must be a total surrender of one’s self to the Lord, a total abandonment of oneself to the cause of righteousness.  “For the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit” (Romans 14:17, ASV).

There is much more to “seeking first the kingdom of God and His righteousness” than simply “going and giving.”  Surely, these things are important, and no one putting the kingdom first will neglect these matters (Hebrews 10:25; 1 Corinthians 16:1-2; Acts 20:7).  But to “seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness” means to do God’s will in every way every day of one’s life.  It means to trust God completely.  It means to recognize, honor, and submit to the reign of Christ in our life.  It means demonstrating the fruit of the Spirit in our life, living in the Spirit, walking in the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-26), living by the Spirit’s instructions and guidance as set forth in Scripture (see # 2 above).  It means becoming “transformed to the image of His Son” (Romans 8:29) and becoming “partakers of the divine nature” (2 Peter 1:3-4).  “Seeking first the kingdom of God and His righteousness” means diligently adding the Christian graces of virtue, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness, and love to our lives so that ultimately we can have an abundant entrance into “the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 1:5-11).

Not much progress is going to be made for the kingdom of God here on earth until its citizens learn that it must be absolutely first in our lives!

Here, still somewhat close to a brand new year, let us recognize the primacy of these “firsts” of the Christian faith.

Hugh Fulford

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Lee Parish

“The master commended the dishonest manager because he had acted shrewdly. For the people of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own kind than are the people of the light. I tell you, use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings.” (Luke 16:8-9)

The ‘parable of the shrewd manager’ is one which some Christians are puzzled about. Why would Jesus commend the manager when he was dishonest? But notice that he did not commend him for his dishonesty but because of his being shrewd in taking care of himself. Perhaps what Jesus said next will help us to better understand his point.

“Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches? And if you have not been trustworthy with someone else’s property, who will give you property of your own?” (Luke 16:10-12)

Jesus’ teaching should cause us to think about how we use the blessings we have been given. Do we sometimes wonder why we haven’t been blessed with an abundance? Perhaps it is because we aren’t wisely using the little with which we have been blessed.

The point Jesus made is true: someone who can be trusted with a little can be trusted with much. If you find someone who is trustworthy with a small amount, or perhaps with a small task, then we can trust them to handle something of more value or something of greater importance. How they will deal with something of greater value can be seen in how they deal with what has less value. No wonder, when talking about those who would serve a congregation, Paul emphasized that they needed to first be tested.

And the converse is true as well. If someone is dishonest with something small, or with very little, we can be confident they will be even more dishonest when they have a lot more or it is something greater.

Perhaps this explains what Jesus said about using worldly wealth to gain friends so when it is gone we will be welcomed into eternal dwellings. You see, they weren’t using the wealth on themselves but were using it for others. Maybe this gets towards the meaning of what Jesus was saying.

I’ve often heard Christians say that if they had more income, or more time, or more of something else, then they would be able to do more for the Lord. But that isn’t the question. The question isn’t what we would do if we had more. The real question is: what are we doing with that which we now have? If we aren’t using what we now have can we expect that God will bless us with more? If we can’t handle worldly wealth then who is going to entrust us with true riches?

“No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.” (Luke 16:13)

What we do with what we have exposes our heart. It can then be seen who we are really serving. I think many try to serve both God and Money. They want more to spend on themselves, to give themselves a good lifestyle and security. But they don’t realize where true security can be found.

The problem when we try to serve two masters is that eventually we will have to make a choice. That choice shows to whom we are really devoted.

May we learn to use our worldly blessings to store up true riches.

by Jon Galloway

Russians used to put frogs in their milk buckets. That seems strange at first, but frogs secrete an antibiotic liquid from their skin that keeps milk from spoiling. To get the measure of calcium that’s in an 8 ounce glass of milk, you’d need to eat 7 oranges, 1/4 cup of broccoli, or six slices of bread. In a recent report, the countries whose residents consume the most dairy per capita, win the most Nobel Prizes.

This may seem like a strange list of random milk facts and that’s because it is. It’s almost as if I Googled “strange milk facts.” But there’s a point to all the milk facts. The church at Corinth had problems. There was division. They failed to have unity. Paul wrote to them in an attempt to correct these issues. Because of their problems, Paul had to deal with them like little children. Since they displayed this childlike spirituality, Paul gave them milk because they couldn’t handle meat.

There is a very clear distinction between milk and meat. It is up to us to discern between milk and meat. Our end goal is spiritual maturity as Christians.

In 1 Corinthians 3:1-3, Paul writes, “But I, brothers, could not address you as spiritual people, but as people of the flesh, as infants in Christ. I fed you with milk, not solid food, for you were not ready for it. And even now you are not yet ready, for you are still of the flesh. For while there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not of the flesh and behaving only in a human way?”

When compared side by side, milk and meat are quite similar. Both milk and meat contain high levels of protein. Both milk and meat have fat (unless it’s skim milk aka “white water). This isn’t that surprising since they both usually come from the same source. The content of milk and meat is basically the same.

This principle is true in the world of education. You see this in reading, writing, math, and history. From Pre-K through college the same things are taught but with increasing complexity. In math, the milk would be 2+2 while the meat would be the square root of 10. The milk can be easily understood and the answer isn’t too hard to come up with. 2+2=4. While the meat is harder to answer since the number 10 is not a perfect square which has a number 0 at its unit place. Since the number 10 is an even number but not a prime number, it has 4 multiple factors: 1,2,5 and 10. The square root of 10 would be 1.414×2.236 which gives us the approximate answer of 3.162. Okay enough math. Do you see the difference?

Milk and meat have the same content, but at different levels of difficulty. Spiritual milk contains the same teaching as spiritual meat. The same spiritual nutrition is contained in both. All teachings in scripture, whether milk or meat, comes from the inspired word of God (2 Tim. 3:16-17). By drinking the milk of the word and eating the meat of scripture, there will be spiritual growth. Whether it is milk or meat it still contains the same basic truths, but at varying levels of difficulty.

With these facts in mind, we can deduce several points:

1. New converts cannot digest meat.
2. Christians must mature and grow from milk to meat.
3. There is spiritually a time and place for both.

   Carl Pollard

In 1 Thessalonians 1:2-10, Paul is praising the Christians in Thessalonica for their growing faith and reputation as faithful followers of Christ. In verse four he confidently states, “For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you,” because of how the gospel came to them and how they received it. A great nugget, though, sits in the middle of the section in verse five.

“You know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake.”

This specific knowledge, possessed by the Thessalonians, led to two major results: 1) They “became imitators of us and of the Lord…” (v. 6). 2) They “became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia…” (v. 7).

What stands out is the pattern that Example begets Imitation, which begets Example. Paul and his companions were very particular in the kinds of lives they lived among the Thessalonian people, knowing that their influence would be made or broken by that manner of life. The Thessalonians saw something in them that was worth imitating, which allowed them to live the same kinds of lives among the entire region. Paul’s Example led to Imitation by the Thessalonians, which led to them becoming Examples for Macedonia and Achaia.

You and I have all kinds of roles to play and circles we walk in. For example, I am a Christian, husband, father, son, brother, minister, instructor, and friend. In each of these functions I must recognize the reality of this pattern if I want to be effective and truly influential. The example I set will be imitated, on some level, by the people I interact with. Their imitation of my attitudes, actions, and mentalities will, in turn, become examples for the people they influence. Thus, like ripples from a stone in the water, my life can have some sort of impact on unknown and untold lives for a long time. The same is true for YOUR influence.

This is both an encouragement and a warning. For one, we know what kind of people we must be in order to represent God well. Scripture teaches us how to be holy, kind, gentle, generous, just, and strong. In doing so, we are challenged to live in a way that is worth imitating. It’s comforting that we can know what kind of life makes a good influence. On the other hand, a bad influence spreads with the same sort of effect as a good one. If we don’t live by those standards, that will also touch the lives of unknown people through the imitation of those we touched. The idea that I can have a network of influence for years to come is both sobering and powerful.

This is the time of year we often tend to reflect on how the last year has gone and what sorts of people we want to be in the coming year. As you evaluate your current state, remember the pattern of influence Paul described. Example begets Imitation, which begets Example. Are you setting the kind of example that will make a community better? Are you setting an example that, when imitated, will draw others closer to Jesus? If not, what needs to change?

Cory Waddell