“The Lord said to him, ‘What is that in your hand?’ He said, ‘A staff’” (Exodus 4:2 ESV).

Anthropologists and other scientists tell us that the two physiological features that most clearly differentiate human beings from the rest of the animal kingdom are the size (and complexity) of their brains and the unique capabilities of their hands, especially because of the opposing thumbs that only humans possess. These hands allow for the efficient use of inanimate objects (i.e., tools) which almost infinitely extend the power and efficiency of human endeavors. Note that the ability of the hand to grip and use tools is paired with the ability of the brain to invent and adapt their use.

When Moses argued with God that he was a poor choice for the leadership and delivery of Israel from slavery in Egypt, God drew attention to his hand and the tool which it held. The point was perfectly clear – Moses already possessed all that God would need to use him as deliverer of God’s chosen people. He was not unique, maybe not even “special.” But he was human and God chooses to use humans to accomplish his purpose within humanity. He always has, and so long as creation continues, he always will.

His question to Moses is no different from what he might ask any one of us who shrinks before a spiritual responsibility. What is in our hands? That is, what resources do we already have that God may use in order to achieve his purpose?

Moses held a staff. This was at least one of his primary tools as a shepherd. It could be a weapon to fight off predators, or an aid to steady or rescue vulnerable sheep from peril. As the shepherd of God’s people this staff would continue to be his principle implement.

In his service to Israel and its God, Moses would lift up his staff to turn water into blood (Exodus 7:14-24); part the waters of the Red Sea (Exodus 14:16); bring water out of a rock (Exodus 17:5-6); and assist Israel in battle against her enemies (Exodus 17:8-13). During forty years in the wilderness many of God’s miraculous acts of deliverance began with the instruction, “Take in your hand the staff. . . .”

Today God uses ordinary people with everyday resources to do great things. Peter and others of the Twelve Apostles were fishermen, handy with nets. Jesus told them, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men” (Luke 5:10). They did not need elaborate new equipment to serve God’s son. They continued to think like fishermen and to redirect their tradecraft toward the Lord’s mission.

We in the Church today tend to think of special gifts and skills as being necessary for any significant role in the Lord’s business. Like Moses of old, if we are not polished speakers (Exodus 4:10), or highly accredited scholars we feel inadequate for most offices or tasks. But we have hands which can use tools and minds which can direct that use. Paul spoke of all of our individual resources when he instructed: “Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them” (Romans 12:6).

Our gifts include material resources, general abilities, refined skills, and opportunities. As the song teaches, “There is much to do, there’s work on every hand.” Jesus reminds us, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few” (Luke 10:2). Every member of Jesus’ body is called upon to help in that harvest (Ephesians 4:15-16).

Perhaps we all need to answer the question, “What is in our hands?” What are our tools? How have we learned to use them, and how can we adapt that skill to the Lord’s work? Moses finally came to recognize that he was not as inadequate as he had believed. Great things resulted. God can use us in much the same way as he used the ancient Hebrew. But first we must learn to think of ourselves “as we ought to think” so as to appreciate our gifts (Romans 12:3).

Michael Brooks

“There is no one righteous, not even one, there is no one who understands, there is no one who seeks God. All have turned away, together they have become worthless; there is no one who shows kindness, not even one. Their throats are open graves, they deceive with their tongues, the poison of asps is under their lips, their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness. Their feet are swift to shed blood, ruin and misery are in their paths, and the way of peace they have not known. There is no fear of God before their eyes” (Romans 3:10-18, NET).

During decades of travel in many parts of the world, I have frequently been shocked at the amount and intensity of corruption and violence which prevails in places I have visited. I have been tempted to rate locations as to which was most corrupt, or most dangerous. However I have come to the realization that those qualities exist everywhere I have been, and am now convinced that they are truly universal. Wherever people live there are bad people with evil intent.

This is borne out by the teaching of inspired Scripture. In Romans 3 the Apostle Paul summarized his previous assertions that “Jews and Greeks alike are all under sin” (Romans 3:9) by quoting from several Old Testament passages both to describe the evil nature of sin and to prove that all are under condemnation because of it. This leads finally to the verdict, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).

This Biblical doctrine is not the same as the modern false doctrine of total corruption. Man was not created evil. Sinfulness was not and is not an inherited quality, passed down from Adam. Human flesh is prone to sin, but it is not innately and inescapably evil. “So then, just as sin entered the world through one man and death through sin, and so death spread to all people because all sinned” (Romans 5:12). Note that man is not guilty because of Adam’s (the one man’s) sin, but because “all sinned.” Each person’s guilt and condemnation to death is a result of his or her own sin; it is not inherited.

As we consider the extent of evil however we may lose sight of the fact that there is also much good wherever we are. Evil may be everywhere, but it is never all that is there. In every location there are honest people, generous people, loving people. There may or may not be as many of those as there are their opposites, but they exist.

Equally, there is beauty, joy, and every kind of goodness throughout this world in which we live. They do not eliminate the ugliness, pain, and sorrow caused by evil, but once again those elements exist. The message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ is about the presence and availability of good in this world – good which can be attained even by those who have been evil, that is those who have sinned (Romans 5:8).

So the Apostle asked, “Wretched man that I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 7:24)!

The question of the universality of evil is to a degree a matter of defining “universal.” Yes, evil is everywhere, all over this humanity inhabited world. Yet evil is not everything! That is, it is not the only quality that exists. There is also good, everywhere in this world. Our challenge is to choose the good, resisting the evil.

“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is worthy of respect, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if something is excellent of praiseworthy, think about these things” (Philippians 4:8).

There are lovely, pure, commendable things and it is those which deserve our attention. Let us never become discouraged and overwhelmed by the negative perception of others. There is much else to which we may cling.

Michael Brooks

Have you ever struggled with the idea that you aren’t “cut out” to live the Christian lifestyle? Have you ever struggled with the notion that you aren’t “good enough” to be a Christian? These thoughts or questions may have never even crossed your mind, but there are some who may be struggling with sin in their lives to the point where they feel so hopeless and so helpless that these types of destructive thoughts creep in.

Fortunately, God provides us with a number of examples of sinful people, who are also followers of Him, that we can look to for hope as we deal with sin in our lives.

It is important though that we don’t try to compare the severity our sins to someone else’s. We must be careful that we don’t justify one sin over another, or say that one sin is better than another; but it is important to understand how God used “prominent” sinners in the Bible to do His work.

1 Tim 1:8-15 – Paul lists a number of qualities that the Law (Christian principles) can be used for. But he also goes on to talk about how God was able to use him to be of service, even though he was a persecutor of the church. In verse 15, he would go on to proclaim himself foremost of all sinners. You see, even though Paul was a violent aggressor of 1^st century Christians, God was still able to use him to a great extent in the furtherance of the gospel.

Again, we have to be careful when we start to compare our sins against someone else’s, for God hates all sin; but Paul’s conversion begs the question, if God can use someone like Paul (a persecutor of the church), then what can he do with me? Or perhaps better stated, what can a sinner like me do for Him?

If the despair of your sin brings you to a place where you think you’re “not good enough” to live the Christian lifestyle, remember how God used the apostle Paul and other prominent figures from scripture.

Peter denied Jesus – Mat 26:69-75

David and Bathsheba – 2 Sam 11:4

Solomon’s many foreign wives – 1 Kings 11:1-8

Noah drank wine and slept naked – Gen 9:20-21

All have sinned – Rom 3:23

Lastly, remember that you are not alone in your struggles with sin. We are all sinners and are all struggling with something. Don’t be afraid to reach out to another brother or sister in Christ for encouragement. We have a responsibility to our fellow Christians to help each other through our struggles (Gal 6:1-2), and in doing so, bring glory to God.

Paul Wolf

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

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

– by Earl Fly

“I know where you live!”  Uttered by the wrong person, those can be pretty intimidating, even frightening, words.  Sometimes when they are uttered by the right person they can get your attention; especially if you have been doing something you should not be doing.  When they are uttered by Jesus Himself, the Righteous Judge, they can be terrifying for the sinner.  But wait a minute!  Isn’t this supposed to be a message of encouragement?  Yes, it is!

On one particular occasion, Jesus made the statement, “I know where you live” to a group of Christians who very much needed encouragement.  The church of Jesus Christ in Pergamum, Asia (the southwestern-most province of Asia Minor, now Turkey) was in a difficult position.  Pergamum was the seat of the Roman government in that province.  Very likely the pressure on Christians to engage in emperor worship was greater there than in any of the other cities of that area.  Faithful Christians refused to worship any other god but Jehovah God and many paid the ultimate price for their faith.  In fact, in the same verse (Revelation 2:13) Jesus praised the brethren of the church in Pergamum for not denying the faith, even in the face of death.

Jesus said, “I know where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is; and you hold fast My name, and did not deny My faith even in the days of Antipas, My witness, My faithful one, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells.”  One of their number had already been killed and still they remained faithful.  They were to be commended and Jesus did just that.

Do you ever feel like Satan lives right next door?  Or maybe he is renting out a room in your own house?  I don’t mean that you have invited him in; it just seems that he is always around.  He is always right there with another temptation.  He never lets up.  It’s pressure, Pressure, PRESSURE!!!  Sometimes you just want to give up and scream.  You wonder where God is.  Where is that “way of escape” He promised in 1 Corinthians 10:13?  Well, it’s there.  He did promise it and you can bet it is there if you look hard enough.  One of the reasons it is so hard to see, is that Satan makes these temptations so attractive that it is hard to really take our eyes off of them long enough to find the way of escape.  But do not doubt for a minute that it is there.

Sometimes the temptation is so attractive, the pressure to succumb is so great, that it is like the sound of a mighty, rushing wind, the sound of which drowns out all other sounds.  You cannot hear the warnings of friends and loved ones; you cannot hear your own conscience.  You are being dragged kicking and screaming against your own will (or so it seems) into the pit of sin and destruction.  You cry out, “God, where are You?”  If you really want to hear it, there comes an answer.  “I know where you live!”  He knows where you are.  He can sympathize with what you are suffering right now (Hebrews 4:15).  He has been there.  He has suffered through the same agony.  In fact, He has made the same cry (Matthew 27:46).  Our Father in heaven was in the same place for His Only Begotten Son when He cried out on the cross as He is when you and I cry out.  He knows where you live!  He knows what you are suffering.  He hurts when you hurt.  He hurts more when you give in.

Don’t give in!  Hold fast, stand firm keep fighting!!  Our brothers and sisters in Pergamum did not deny the faith, even when one of their own was killed.  Others of that congregation of the Lord’s church may very well have died, but the faithful did not give up the faith.  Jesus promised them something if they would overcome the temptation to quit.  He said that to the one who overcomes, He would give some of the hidden manna (spiritual food that would make them even stronger); He would give a white stone (a symbol given to slaves who had been freed to show they were free) and upon that stone would be written a new name which no one knows but the one who receives it.  The new name might be the name of Jesus, Whom no one really knows except those who belong to Him.  It really does not matter what the new name is.  He said no one would know it but the one to whom it was given and that is good enough for me.  The point is this:  if you will remain faithful, God knows all about it, even if no one else does.  He knows where you live; He knows what you are suffering.  And He promises to be there for you no matter what, if you will simply remain faithful to Him.

What a lovely thought!  What a comfort to know!  I hope that thought gives you some comfort today and throughout this week as you serve Him and suffer through the temptations and trials of your life.

Donnie Bates

Did you hear about the teacher who was helping one of her kindergarten students put his boots on?  He asked for help and she could see why.  With her pulling and him pushing, the boots still didn’t want to go on.  When the second boot was on, she had worked up a sweat.  She almost whimpered when the little boy said, “Teacher, they’re on the wrong feet.” She looked and, sure enough, they were.

It wasn’t any easier pulling the boots off than it was putting them on.  She managed to keep her cool as together they worked to get the boots back on-this time on the right feet.  He then announced, “These aren’t my boots.”

She bit her tongue rather than get right in his face and scream, “Why didn’t you say so?” like she wanted to.  Once again, she struggled to help him pull the ill-fitting boots off.  He then said, “They’re my brother’s boots. My Mom made me wear them.”

She didn’t know if she should laugh or cry. She mustered up the grace to wrestle the boots on his feet again. She said, “Now, where are your mittens?” He said, “I stuffed them in the toes of my boots…”

As I read that, I thought about how many of our frustrations come about as the result of having to do something over and over.  Let me give you an example.  A number of years ago, I was having some back trouble and the doctor told me I needed surgery.  I counted down the days until I could find some relief.  The surgery went well (in fact, I went home less than 12 hours after surgery), but the recuperation didn’t go as planned.  Instead of getting relief, I found myself back under the doctor’s knife six weeks later.

I remember that the greatest source of frustration wasn’t the surgery itself.  It was the fact that I thought I was getting better, but I had to start all over again.  Just when I thought I was making progress, I encountered a setback.  I was able to easily muster the emotional strength to face the first surgery, but it was much tougher the second time.

I’ve seen the same thing happen in a number of different areas.  I suspect you have, too.  Maybe you were hoping to get bills cleared up only to be hit with an unexpected dentist bill or car repair.  Maybe it’s harsh criticism you’re dealing with, a situation at work that’s making it difficult to maintain your Christian standards, or perhaps the struggles of dealing with a rebellious child.  You think, “I can handle the difficulty I’m going through as long as I can see the light at the end of the tunnel”.  Only just when you’re about at the end of the tunnel and you have taken about all you can take, you realize that there’s more adversity ahead and the light is barely visible.  I understand; I’ve been there.

The Christian life is long and sometimes difficult.  There are times we feel we just can’t take it anymore and we want to give up, especially when we’ve had to face the same adversity over and over and over again.  May this passage serve as a source of comfort and strength to you:

“He gives power to the weak, and to those who have no might He increases strength.  Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall, but those who wait on the LORD shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.” (Isa. 40:29-31).

I pray that your strength will be renewed this day as you wait upon the Lord.  Hang in there!

Have a great day!

Alan Smith

I find the term believer fascinating. Some of these intriguing facets include the frequency of its usage and its obfuscating usage.

If someone were to ask you, “What is the most common word Christians use to identify a follower of Christ?” What would you say?

My experience is that “believer” trumps Christian, disciple, saint, or any other New Testament designation for Jesus’ followers.  Would it surprise us that at best it is relatively rare (about eight times) and at worst it never appears in the New Testament?

In the original language, pistos is an adjective that means faithful. When faithful refers to a man or woman, translators might render it as “believer.” Thus, “the son of a faithful Jewish woman” might become “the son of a Jewish woman who was a believer” (Acts 16:1).

What is happening is that in order to facilitate an easy English some translations will express pistos as a noun (“If you consider me to be a believer in the Lord,” Acts 16:15). Other translations will adhere to its adjectival nature (“If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord” ESV).

Still yet, some translations will insert believer into the text to facilitate an easy flow in the English translation without that idea existing in the original text. For example, “them” might become “believers” (Acts 16:4; 20:2).

By way of contrast, consider the frequency of the adjective agios (holy) in the New Testament when it refers to those in Christ.  Like pistos, it too might be translated as a noun, namely “saint” (Colossians 1:2; Acts 9:13). Whether expressed as “saints” or “holy people” to designate God’s people, agios occurs over 40 times in just the epistles! Yet, how often have you heard someone call a Christian either holy person or saint?

So why does our usage invert the frequencies of “holy people/ saints” and “faithful people/ believers” as found in the New Testament? I suspect a popular contemporary theology as well as the desire to evade a holier than thou criticism play significant roles.

Another fascinating aspect about the term believer is its facility to support the fallacy of equivocation. What is equivocation? Equivocation occurs when someone shifts the definition of a word from one meaning to another meaning. This is an informal method of reasoning that contributes to supporting false conclusions.

What does this have to do with the term believer?  First, when used in reference to Christ, by definition believer means the designated individual believes in Christ.

Here’s the rub. If someone believes Christ is who he claimed to be, does this automatically make that person a follower of Jesus? No! John 12:42 clearly points this out. And let’s not forget that the demons have no doubt about who Jesus is!

To be a follower of Christ involves more than just being confident that certain things about Christ are true. A belief in Christ resulting in a person becoming part of the body of Christ requires relying upon Christ. This is so much more than mere belief.

Now notice the sly shift in definition that can occur. Sometimes when people identify others as believers, what they mean is that those people are Christians, members of the body of Christ. Thus merely believing becomes equated with belonging.

While this might support one theological perspective regarding how people become followers of Christ, scripture describes becoming a disciple and becoming a saved child of God in Christ as requiring us to rely upon Christ through baptism, an act of faith (Matthew 28:19; Mark 16:16; Galatians 3:26-27; Colossians 2:12-13).

Believer. Yep, it is an interesting word.

Barry Newton

The world isn’t much concerned with doing right. It prefers to do what feels good. People look for immediate gratification rather than adhere to a standard and enjoy the fruit of righteousness. Opinions then become an individual’s guide and the arbitrator of what is good and right. This explains a major part of the mess the world is in.

Those who have decided to be right about what God’s message is, and to get right with God, can then be certain of doing right. They then have the possibility of doing right.

Being right and getting right are the framework within which any doing must possess in order for us to do right. That means that two people can perform the same actions, and one will be doing right and the other will be doing wrong.

The author of Hebrews calls the gospel “the word [message] of righteousness” Hebrews 5.13. He may mean that it is the word that God uses to make us right with him. Several versions understand it to mean, however, that it is the word which informs us about what is right-doing.

• NLT: “For someone who lives on milk is still an infant and doesn’t know how to do what is right.”
• GW: “All those who live on milk lack the experience to talk about what is right. They are still babies.”

The importance of doing right appears early in the Bible. After the Fall, Cain faces the great choice of all mankind since. His sacrifice is rejected. What now? God appears to him in all kindness to point the way:

Is it not true that if you do what is right, you will be fine? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at the door. It desires to dominate you, but you must subdue it, Genesis 4.7.

God chose Abraham on this same basis. While the choosing was an act of grace that kicked off the marvelous plan of salvation, it came with conditions. He said about the patriarch:

I have chosen him so that he may command his children and his household after him to keep the way of the Lord by doing what is right and just. Then the Lord will give to Abraham what he promised him, Genesis 18.19.

People these days talk about “doing church,” quite the odious phrase. But the Bible does talk, if we read it literally, about us “doing righteousness” (see ESV, NASB, NRSV). That would never be a popular phrase among religious folk today—much too restrictive. Abraham “did righteousness” because he was certain that “the judge of the whole earth [would] do what is right” Genesis 18.25.

At the bitter waters of Marah, the people of Israel learned what would be to them a bitter lesson because they refused it.

He said, “If you will diligently obey the Lord your God, and do what is right in his sight, and pay attention to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, then all the diseases that I brought on the Egyptians I will not bring on you, for I, the Lord, am your healer” Exodus 15.26.

The healer heals those who do what is right in his sight. And so it is today.

Where do we discover what is right in God’s sight? You know where I’m going with this. Straight to the Scriptures. And the Bible needs no editor. God requires submission, not erudition that cuts and pastes and redefines. He requires “diligent obedience” of all his statutes (see Matthew 28.20), not a pick-and-choose process that puts human intelligence above the Word of God.

It took Peter a while to come to the right conclusion, but finally, finally, as he looked upon Cornelius and household, he declared,

I now truly understand that God does not show favoritism in dealing with people, but in every nation the person who fears him and does what is right is welcomed before him, Acts 10.34-35.

His statement still stands as a fine inspired description of the person that God welcomes in his presence.

J. Randal Matheny

“Adam, Seth, Enosh, Kenan, Mahalalel, Jared, Enoch, Methuselah, Lamech, Noah. The sons of Noah: Shem, Ham and Japheth” (1 Chronicles 1:1–4 NIV).

Names. Genealogies. People who lived long ago.

These usually don’t mean much to us. In fact, we probably think these are the most boring parts of scripture and perhaps we even skip over them when we read them. The Reader’s Digest Condensed Bible left them out as being irrelevant.

Although we may struggle to become excited about these lists of names, what if it were the names of our ancestors? My family tree is in the photo above – at least my parents, my siblings, my children, and my sibling’s children. I can get rather excited about these names, even going back several generations. The difference, you see, is that these people mean something to me. They are my family. They are my loved ones.

We need to realize that the lists of names found throughout scripture are the ancestors of God’s people, Israel. And some of them would even be our ancestors – in faith at least, if not in life.

Most of the people who are listed in the genealogies we know nothing about. They are but a name. But there are a few who were outstanding for doing good and there are a few who are infamous for doing evil.

Perhaps this should prompt us to consider our lives. What will people remember about us 100 years from now? 200 years from now? 500 years from now? – providing that the Lord delays coming that long. Will we be remembered for anything that we did? And if we are, will we be remembered for doing good and our faithfulness to the Lord?

Moses had this same sentiment when he wrote the following in the only Psalm attributed to him:

“All our days pass away under your wrath; we finish our years with a moan. Our days may come to seventy years, or eighty, if our strength endures; yet the best of them are but trouble and sorrow, for they quickly pass, and we fly away. If only we knew the power of your anger! Your wrath is as great as the fear that is your due. Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom” (Psalm 90:9-12).

Our lives are short. Even seventy or eighty years seems to be short the older that we get. But are we using what time we have wisely? Are we seeking to serve God? Are we diligent in applying his word to our lives so that we can gain wisdom?

As we begin to read the Chronicles we begin with lists of names, Israel’s ancestors. There are nine chapters of these lists, leading us from Adam to Abraham to Jacob and then his sons and their descendants. Maybe it isn’t exciting reading to us, but we do find the ancestry of King David, which is also the lineage of Jesus the Messiah. Some of these names, then, should have importance to us.

While this may not be exciting to read, look out for recurring names as well as places of significance. See how many names you do recognize. Notice the brief details that are given about a very few of these people.

And as you read, be asking yourself how we can better “number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.”

Jon Galloway

You worship the Bible! You only talk about the Bible! You’re obsessed with the Bible!

Christians have heard these accusations time and again. In a way, they are right. We are people of the Bible. Because it’s the only way to respect Christ as Lord.

Only the Bible is the word of God. The Bible claims to be his word and proves it. Some affirm the Bible is proof for the existence of God. We can always start with the Bible, with any person, anywhere, to help a soul come to God.

Do we worship the Bible? We do not worship any single copy of the Scriptures, nor any translation. (KJV-only people come close.) If the Bible is the word of God, it deserves our highest respect and allegiance. So the Psalmist thinks:

In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can flesh do to me? Psalm 56.4, 10 ESV.

We praise God’s word, because it is part and parcel of the God we worship. How can we not hold it in high esteem?

Obviously, we don’t talk only about the Bible. We talk about things of this life, such as pastimes, eating, health, and work. But when it comes to matters of the spirit, the Bible is the only book in town. We start every evangelistic study with the subject of the Bible, because in it we have God’s revelation, God’s authorization, and God’s power. Man’s thoughts, permissions, and efforts in the spiritual realm just don’t mean much.

Does that mean we’re obsessed with the Bible? The word “obsessed” carries a negative connotation, denotes an unhealthy domination of thoughts by an idea. To those who live by their own wills and wits, it probably looks like we are obsessed with the Bible. Because they are obsessed with fulfilling their own desires and serving their own gods. But if the Bible is light and life, ought we not give it our full attention and complete devotion?

The second verse of the book of Psalms sees it as the key to success: “Instead he finds pleasure in obeying the Lord’s commands; he meditates on his commands day and night” Psalm 1.2 NET. The alternative to this is to “follow the advice of the wicked, or stand in the pathway with sinners, or sit in the assembly of scoffers” v. 1.

So we must agree with Psalm 119.97 and follow the example of the inspired writer: “O how I love your law! All day long I meditate on it.” If that’s an obsession, so be it. It will do us much more good — eternal good — than any physical or emotional addiction, fleshly pursuit, or worldly interest.

The apostle Paul refocused Timothy’s attention to the “holy writings” — another fine phrase to describe the Bible — because they “are able to give you wisdom for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus” 2 Timothy 3.15. No other book, no other author, no other speaker can do that.

Time is short. Life is brief. Earth is doomed. Nothing here really satisfies. As good as life might get, it will be over all too soon. We were created for more than 70 short years.

The Bible reminds us of that truth and shows us how to make the jump into the blessed side of eternity.

Isn’t that worth obsessing over?

Randal Matheny

There is a great bit of wisdom that has come from the lips of the Lord. We understand it as the “golden rule.” We are to do unto to others as we would want others to do unto us (Matthew 7:12).

It is a sad occasion when Christians are encouraged to think that others have an attitude of coolness (or just plain cold) to a brother  in Christ. To borrow the words of James, “my brothers, this ought not to be.” How can good come from such a way of thinking?

It has been said, many times, that life, among other things, is a matter of interpretation. It is not possible for us to live is a  world where we don’t interpret what we see and hear. We make evaluations based upon our way of thinking at the time of what we see and hear. But it is an entirely different matter when we interpret and make certain conclusions without important facts. The Lord encourages us to make righteous judgments. Be careful about interpreting the motivations and intentions of others (cf. John 7:24).

Jesus said we are to judge righteously. That implies that we WILL make a judgment. But the standard by which we judge another  must be the standard that we want another to judge us; this is the golden rule.

Making judgments are not the problem; problems occur when we use a standard the Lord won’t recognize.

By Ron Thomas

Thanksgiving was yesterday, and I can’t help but wonder how many people in the United States took a moment to thank God. While some reject the day due to its association with Plymouth and the “original Thanksgiving” celebration, the fact remains that all of our presidents have thanked God in their Thanksgiving proclamations. Therefore, I am okay with doing away with the pilgrims as long as we can maintain the day’s significance set forth by historical figures such as Abraham Lincoln. On Thanksgiving Day, we reflect on our blessings, express our gratitude to God, and ask for His continued beneficent providence in our national life. Thus, unlike Easter and Christmas, which carry pagan baggage from the standpoint of their traditions, Thanksgiving is the most Christian of all federal holidays.

Luke records an instance during Christ’s ministry in which He encountered ingratitude on a par with modern America. Only one of the ten lepers He healed returned to thank Christ for what He had done (Luke 17.11–19). Jesus even asked, “Were there not ten cleansed?” (NASB Luke 17.17) People do their best to spin the nine’s actions in a positive light. Emotion overcame the nine, and they longed to return to their previous lives. Besides, they followed Christ’s command to go and show themselves to the priests. And what if the Samaritan only returned because he lacked a priest to whom he could present himself as a foreigner? In any case, Jesus told the Samaritan that his actions had made him “well” (Luke 17.19).

What prevents us from showing gratitude like the Samaritan? Here are seven possible reasons:

We are too busy and distracted. Modern life can be busy and distracting, making it difficult to appreciate the present moment and count blessings.

We can be too materialistic. It can be challenging to be grateful for what one has in consumerist societies because materialism has overtaken the value placed on intangibles like relationships and experiences.

We compare ourselves to others. Due to constant comparison with others and the influence of social media, one may experience feelings of inadequacy or jealousy, which can prevent one from feeling grateful for their life and circumstances.

We may have a negativity bias. People naturally tend to dwell on negative rather than positive things. Instead of focusing on what we have, we will concentrate on what we don’t. That inclination is a negativity bias.

We are on a hedonic treadmill. This phenomenon of becoming accustomed to pleasure is known as hedonic adaptation. In simpler terms, we get used to things emotionally. For example, when I acquire a new and shiny object, it brings me happiness. However, this happiness is short-lived, as I soon become accustomed to it.

Similarly, when something terrible happens, I feel sad but adapt to the change over time, and my happiness levels return to normal. As a side note, we note that God offers us joy, not happiness. Joy is renewed from within, avoiding the hedonic treadmill. Hence, it can even be an implied imperative (see Philippians 4.4).

We forget to be still. This results from failing to heed Psalm 46.10, which says, “Be still, and know that I am God” (KJV). A similar root cause is that people are too preoccupied with their lives to stop and offer thanks. Luke 11.24–26 shows that refraining from one bad behavior is not enough to prevent the substitution of another bad behavior. We need to fill the void by starting something useful. New Agers and Buddhists would call this “practicing mindfulness.”

But Christians do engage in their form of mindfulness as well. A Christian sets aside specific times for quiet reflection, away from the distractions of daily life, rather than sitting in the lotus position and breathing deeply. Christian mindfulness is about creating a space to focus inwardly and become more aware of God’s presence. Praying and reading the Bible are two of the best ways to accomplish this. Those who commit to being still and knowing God will be grateful.

We feel entitled. Individuals may feel entitled in societies where success and happiness are highly valued. This thinking can dull people’s gratitude and lead them to take their blessings for granted. Gifts become their norm rather than providential occurrences (see James 1.17).

As Thanksgiving draws near, we must truly understand what this holiday is all about. It’s not only a time for food and family gatherings but also genuine gratitude. In our busy lives, full of distractions and the pursuit of material comforts, we often forget to give thanks for the simple things. However, this day allows us to break free from these tendencies. It encourages us to step off the hedonic treadmill, put aside our negativity bias and the sense of entitlement that clouds our perception, and instead embrace a spirit of thankfulness. By being still, as suggested in Psalm 46:10, we can truly appreciate the blessings bestowed upon us, recognizing them as gifts from God rather than mere entitlements or passing pleasures. Thanksgiving, at its core, is a day to emulate the gratitude of the Samaritan leper, acknowledging our blessings and expressing our heartfelt thanks to the Divine. In doing so, we honor the tradition set forth by figures like Abraham Lincoln and cultivate a more profound sense of joy and contentment in our lives. So, let this Thanksgiving remind us to pause, reflect, and give thanks with a full heart.

Brent Pollard

Our yearly Thanksgiving Holiday is a great time for our families to give thanks for all the blessings we have received in this country.  It is good to pause and be thankful. As Christians we are encouraged to always have a spirit of thanksgiving about us.

Fifteen times in Paul’s writings he spoke of giving thanks; for those who risked their lives for him (Ro. 16:4), for the love and faith of others (2 Th. 1:3),  for the food he ate (1 Co. 10:30-31), for the churches he loved (Ph. 1:3).   “In everything give thanks,” he wrote (1 Th. 5:18). We give thanks through our prayers (Co. 1:3), and through our songs, “the fruit of our lips” (He. 13:15). Failing to pause and give thanks to God can darken our hearts and destroy our lives (Ro. 1:21-23).

In the Lord’s Prayer there are great topics; praise, the kingdom, and forgiveness.  But in the midst of this model prayer Jesus reminds us to be thankful for “our daily bread” (Mt. 6:9-13). As we gather around a table overflowing with the food of this day called “Thanksgiving,” let us be so very thankful. But no more so than for the wonderful blessings we enjoy every day. “Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving” (Co. 4:2).

-Dennis Doughty

This should have been common sense. This should have been known as the most fundamental rule of online security. Sadly, one man decided to post all of his passwords online. He was trying to prove that “all this online security stuff is overrated and overhyped.” So, he posted the passwords for his Facebook, Twitter, CNN, and other accounts on a national news website. He mockingly told people to go post for him, change his profile pictures, and whatever else they would like to do. People did just this. All of his accounts were hacked. All of his personal information was found. He later discovered that hackers with some skill could even use his basic information to gain access to his bank account, credit cards, and pretty much anything else they wanted. A short time later, the man admitted this was a terrible idea and now seems to be a believer in online security (Washington Post).

There is no telling what consequences he is now reaping because of his severe lack of common sense. Hopefully, for his sake, it won’t lead to lifelong problems. Whether it is in our homes, cars, or online, it’s never a good idea to drop our security. This seems like common sense, and yet there are times when we drop our security and let threats walk right into our homes.

For people who are so security-minded, sometimes we are surprisingly relaxed when it comes to our spiritual security. We would feel extremely uncomfortable, maybe even outraged, if people were using foul language around us, yet we drop our security measures when the TV comes on. We would take steps to avoid and look away from a person who is dressed immodestly, yet some are willing to sit through movies with much more revealing content. We would be quite upset if someone was using mature, crude, and sexual words in front of our children, and yet many parents have turned a blind eye to the content their children are accessing on TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat, etc.

For some reason, entertainment has blurred the lines between what we see as good and bad. Something that is obscene in public has become commonplace when it’s shining through the plasma screen or on our iPhones. We would do well to adopt David’s mindset when he said, “…I will walk within my house in the integrity of my heart. I will set no worthless thing before my eyes…” (Psalm 101:2-3).

Let’s keep our spiritual security systems on high alert. It would be unsafe to allow people to access our homes, cars, and computers. It’s far more dangerous to allow Satan access into our lives through the disguise of entertainment (Ephesians 4:7). In all of the entertainment we place before ourselves, let’s follow the great advice of Philippians 4:8, “Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.”

Brett Petrillo

A Chinese legend tells of some cultured gentlemen who often met to exchange wisdom and drink tea.  Each host tried to impress the guests with the finest and most costly teas.  When it came time for the most esteemed and respected one of the group to entertain, he served what appeared to be a truly exquisite tea.  He showcased a small golden box.  Glistening in the light, the host opened the lid and carefully measured out the tea leaves.  After drinking the tea, the guests praised the host for this most exceptional tea.  The host smiled and said, “The tea you have found so delightful is the same tea our peasants drink.  I hope it will be a reminder to all that the good things in life are not necessarily the rarest or the most costly.”

 What a great reminder!  Truly all of the greatest parts of this life are free, because the greatest parts are the ones that come from God.  Take Romans 6:23 for example, “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”  Consider Ephesians 1:6-8 as well, “to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved.  In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace which He lavished on us…”

The eternal life, grace, redemption, and forgiveness God offers us doesn’t cost us a dime.  These gifts aren’t even rare since they are offered to everyone on earth.  We don’t have to scour to the ends of the earth to find these incredible blessings.  We don’t have to complete some impossible task.  God freely gives them.

What does make these gifts rare, however, is the fact that so many in this life reject them (Acts 4:11-12).  It seems the Lord’s precious gifts have the opposite effect as in the story above.  The Lord’s box isn’t flashy and expensive looking.  Instead, it appears simple and meek (i.e. Christ), yet it contains the greatest parts of this life.  Many do not see the tremendous value found in Christ and His gifts.  What a tragedy this is.

Let’s remember how little we had to pay for God’s incredible gifts to us.  Let’s accept these gifts through obedience to God (Acts 2:38; 1 Peter 3:21).  Above all, let’s praise the Lord for giving us far beyond what we deserve (Romans 6:23).

Brett Petrillo

In Numbers 12:3, the Bible describes Moses as a man who was “very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth.” (KJV)  Typically, when we think of someone today as “meek,” we attribute that to someone who is not very aggressive or is considered weak or timid.  Nothing could be further from an accurate description of who Moses was as a man.  When God described Moses as meek, He was describing a man who was humble, gentle, saintly, and lowly.  Yet this meek man stood up to the most powerful ruler in the world at the time.  He challenged Pharaoh on every level until Pharaoh let the Israelites leave Egypt.  This meek leader led the Israelites out of Egypt into the wilderness and wandered with them for 40 years.  He was their leader, their judge, and God’s messenger to the Israelites throughout their journey in the wilderness.  He received the law from God’s own finger (Ex 31:18) and delivered it to the Israelites.  Nothing Moses ever did could be described as “weak” or “timid!”

Moses was a man who not only revered and respected God, but had the same love for his own brethren.  At one point, when God was ready to destroy all the Israelites, Moses begged God to take his life in place of destroying the people. (Ex 32:31-34; Deut 9:9-29)

It should come as no surprise, then, that Jesus was self-described as meek. (Matt 11:29; 21:5)  On the great sermon He delivered, which is recorded in Matthew, He taught, “blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.” (Matt 5:5)  Jesus was quoting Psa 37:11. He was emphasizing how important this trait was for God’s children. This would carry forward the theme of the Psalmist and the Old Testament Prophets extolling the virtues and the rewards of the meek.

The meek will delight themselves in the abundance of peace. (Psa 37:11)  The Lord lifts up the meek (Psa 147:6) and the meek will be satisfied as they praise the Lord. (Ps 22:26)  Isaiah wrote that the Lord would provide equity for the meek (Is 11:4) and that they would find increased joy in their pursuit of the Lord. (Is 29:19)  Ultimately, salvation awaits the meek of the earth. (Ps 149:4; 76:7-9)

Peter described the good Christian woman and wife as one who possessed a meek and quiet spirit of a person who had an incorruptible heart. (1 Pet 3:4)  Peter says this spirit is “very precious in the sight of God.”  If meekness is a quality that is precious in the sight of God, would it not be an attribute that all His children would strive daily to obtain and embrace?

Therefore, let us all strive in meekness (Zeph 2:3) to forebear “one another in love” (Eph 5:2), to embody the fruit of the Spirit (Gal 5:23), to exemplify the elect of God (Col 3:2), and to emulate the meekness and gentleness of Christ (2 Cor 10:1).  In all of these things we can truly receive the blessings of the meek.

Randy Reagan

Years ago a study was conducted by the Institute for Child Behavior Research. Bernard Rimland, the institute’s director, asked each person involved in the study to list the ten people they knew best and then to label them as happy or unhappy. Next, they were told to go through the same list of people and label them as selfish or unselfish.  Amazingly, Rimland found that every single person who was labeled “happy” was also labeled “unselfish.” He wrote that those “whose activities are devoted to bringing themselves happiness…are far less likely to be happy than those whose efforts are devoted to making others happy” (Rimland, Bernard. The Altruism Paradox. Psychological Reports 51, 1982: p. 521-2).

Many people spend their entire lives in an unending pursuit of happiness. In reality, happiness isn’t some mysterious secret. In some ways, it’s sad that a study had to be done to teach us where happiness comes from. All this study did, however, was confirm what God already told us about happiness. Consider the following Scriptures.

• “Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merelylook out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others (Philippians 2:3-4).
• “In everything, therefore, treat people the same way you want them to treat you…” (Matthew 7:12).
• “…It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35).
• “But the greatest among you shall be your servant” (Matthew 23:11).

Both the study and the Bible confirm it, happiness and unselfishness go together. Happiness will come through being loving, being servants, and being selfless. If we want to be happy, then the secret is to stop thinking about our own happiness and start working to make others happy.

Brett Petrillo

Several years ago, I wrote the following story. It is a fictional account of the Good Fight that all Christians are fighting. It was originally written to call attention to the fact that all of us are in a fight. It is the story of one old soldier, doing his very best to remain faithful to his King, fight the Good Fight and help as many of his fellow soldiers as possible.

The old soldier groaned as he lowered himself to the ground and leaned back against the rock. It had been a hard campaign. There had been victories, as well as, defeats for his company. Some of his men were becoming stronger and better soldiers with each battle. Others were beginning to lose heart. Sadly, the old soldier realized that unless he was able to help these regain their spirits, they would likely be the first ones lost in the next battle.

Suddenly, there was a shout and the King rode up on His beautiful white horse. All the men stood and cheered their King. Even the old soldier joined in the exultation. As the cheering died down, the King spoke words of encouragement that were soon drowned out by renewed cheering.

Afterward, the King walked over to the old soldier and bade him make himself comfortable. Together King and King’s man sat more like brothers than Liege and minion.

“How goes the struggle?” asked the King, although He knew full well the strategic situation

“The men are tired, my Prince,” replied the old soldier. “Some of them want to rest. Others, I think would as soon flee. Still others are eager to advance the cause of their Lord. Your presence here today has given them all new life. Even I feel a surge of loyalty and fealty where I had thought none was lacking.” 

The King looked at His servant with eyes at once loving and sad. “Would that I could convince them that I am always with them,” He said sadly. “I never leave them. Not one falls without my tears. If they would see, the power they feel today will be at their side in tomorrow’s battle and every battle until the end.”

As he listened to his King’s words, a single tear made its way down the dirty face of the old warrior. “Forgive me, Master,” he said softly, his voice quivering with emotion.

His own eyes growing moist, the King smiled and laid a hand on the shoulder of His faithful servant and replied, “Done! And never forget that I am with you and will never forsake you, and victory is ours!”

It is my strongest prayer that this story help you find the strength and courage to continue fighting the Good Fight. All the problems that assail us are flaming arrows of our enemy and they threaten to destroy us, but we have One on our side Who cannot be overcome. He is fighting alongside you and for you and you cannot be overcome with Him on your side. Do not give up, keep the faith, fight the Good Fight and enter into the joy of your Master.

Donnie Bates