As we end one year and begin another we tend to think about how we have spent our time. My time management is questionable at times. I do a lot of things last minute, especially school work–mainly geometry. It is a reminder that we must use the time we have been given. It is more valuable than money. Money can be made again but time once lost, is gone forever. We must be intentional with how we spend our limited time. James 4:14 says “Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? Even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.”

Time is a gift. We make time for school, work, sports, video games, friends, and family. Are we making time for the most important things in life? How many minutes a day do we spend studying God’s word? For me, I could be doing better. It’s easy to let minutes wasted on my computer turn into hours.

How do we get a better understanding of how to best use our time? Matthew 22:37 says, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.” To do that we must

1. Put God first in our life. Romans 6:13 says, “Give yourselves to God, surrender your whole being to him to be used for righteous purposes.” So, keep our priorities straight. Matthew 6:33 tells us, “Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given unto you.” Seek him above all other things in our daily life.
2. If the axe is dull and its edge unsharpened, more strength is needed but wisdom brings success” (Ecclesiastes 10:10). We must use our time to strengthen our knowledge of God’s word. We need to work smarter in managing our time and completing tasks. Add our Bible study to our TO DO list. Put it at the top until it becomes a habit.
3. Make time spent on important things into a goal. Proverbs 16:9 says, “A man’s heart plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.” At school they tell us to make SMART goals. We can use this in our Bible study life too. Specific goal, Measurable goal (how many minutes to read) , Action oriented- what am I doing to meet this time goal, Realistic- remember my actual attention span, and Timely- actually make progress. Share your goal with a friend and help each other.
4. Finally understand the limit of the time we are given. We are certainly not promised tomorrow (even if a teenager). Ephesians 5:15-17 tells us, “Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.” Are my time choices bringing me closer to the relationship?

I need to have with God. James 4:14 asks, “Why you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.”

The way you spend your time has eternal consequences. Maybe you have not made the best choices on how you spend your time. Maybe you need to make the most important decision of your time here on earth. If you haven’t made the decision to be baptized now is the perfect time. Or if you have any other need there is no better time than the present.

Maddox Wilson

For the first time in several years, the power was out in our house last night. It had obviously been a while since the power had gone out because we were clearly unprepared. When we looked for lights in our camping gear, we found out that the large lantern didn’t have batteries. My wife found a lamp we use in our tent and lit a few candles. The candles, mind you, mainly were for scent and not for light. To make matters worse, our new house that we have been in since September has remarkably poor cell service. So there we were, sitting in the dark with no internet (even on our phones), and there wasn’t a thing we could do about it.

As I got ready for bed, I couldn’t help but think how dependent we had become on electricity. If my house loses power, my basic life is so interrupted that it looks nothing like my day-to-day routine. Without power, I had to adjust the way I entertained myself, the way I communicated, and the way I prepared for the coming day. It reminded me of how dependent I am on God’s power.

In a western 21st century culture, we like to talk about how we should depend on God. While I understand the sentiment we are trying to express with such a statement, it, unfortunately, conveys the idea that we have a choice in the matter. American culture is hallmarked by fierce individualism. “Pull yourself up by your bootstraps” is a favorite expression used to describe the attitude we should all have to make America great. We seem to take the same attitude toward God. We only need Him for the things that we cannot accomplish ourselves.

In the ancient culture and the Bible, however, God is viewed as the sustainer of all things. Think of passages like Colossians 1:17 where it says, “And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.” Or Hebrews 1:3, “…he upholds the universe by the word of his power.” Or Job 12:10, “In his hand is the life of every living thing and the breath of all mankind.”

When the power went out in my house, I had to “improvise, adapt, overcome.” What would happen if God’s power went out in my life? It is possible that I have fallen into the bootstrapped American mindset where I feel like I would be okay until I hit something too big for me to handle. I would be able to adapt and overcome for a little while.

We need to be careful that we don’t fall into that mindset. God has created me to be able to do amazing things, but I could not exist for one second without his power. Since he is not just the creator but also the sustainer, I need to recognize my total dependence on Him. I want to be sure to echo the psalmist and say, “Bless the Lord, O my soul!” and thank him for keeping the power on all the time.

Brian Ketchem

“Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes” (Matthew 11:21, ESV).

Within the past 24 hours I have spoken with three different groups of Christians via the internet in two South Asian countries and have taught more Bible lessons and discussed evangelistic plans in both of those, plus one other neighboring nation. I was able to both hear and see those people online, as they were able to see and hear me, in spite of the distance of approximately ten thousand miles (in a straight line) between us.

When I began preaching in the 1960s it was still common for missionaries to travel between continents by ship, though airline travel for those purposes was becoming more practical and common. The legendary twentieth century evangelist, Marshal Keeble, titled his memoirs, From Muleback to Super Jet with the Gospel. If I were to write a similar volume it might be called, “From Plane Flights to Zoom.”

Our modern technology is wonderful. It enables us to communicate worldwide with ease and comfort. Yet, I am also reminded that this technology is only as good as the use to which it is put.

Television ads for electronic services (mobile phone, television, internet, etc.) state that the average American family home contains 8 devices capable of receiving their signals. The majority of those devices are used primarily for entertainment and casual communications. Unfortunately, many are also tools used for gambling, pornography, and criminal behavior.

I read a story many years ago about a man who talked to the author, Henry David Thoreau, about Alexander Graham Bell’s invention of the telephone. “Just think,” he said, “A man here in New York can speak directly to a man in Texas over that instrument.” Thoreau is said to have responded, “But what if the man in New York has nothing to say to the man in Texas?”

The emphasis of evangelism has always been and must always remain on the message delivered rather than the method of delivery. We all have watched new methods become fads, from mass media to Power Point presentations, to streaming services. Each of these offers advantages in time and cost, yet each of these may easily be abused and misused. The power to save is not in the method – it is always in the Word (message) which is proclaimed (James 1:21).

I have often considered the vast challenge of the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20) and wondered how any generation could hope to accomplish that awesome task. As the world’s population swells to well over 7 billion people it seems more difficult than ever. Yet, with the means we now have those billions may be reached more quickly, at less relative expense, than ever before.

That consideration makes me turn to the words of Jesus regarding the cities in which he performed miracles and taught (Chorazin, Bethsaida, and Capernaum, Matthew 11:20-24). He stated that notoriously evil pagan cities such as Sodom, Tyre and Sidon would have repented had they experienced what the Judean cities had seen and heard. He was invoking the principle often called, “the peril of privilege.” In other words, the more we have been given the more we are accountable for how we use it.

As we enjoy our devices and connections let us each reflect on how we are using them to serve God and do the work of his kingdom. Entertainment is not wrong, but excessive pleasure without corresponding service is certainly not responsible stewardship. We are greatly blessed. Are we responding to those blessings appropriately?

Michael Brooks

A few years back while working in a fabrication shop in Boulder, I learned a trick to help find lost things. I was working with many parts on my workstation and inevitably something would always roll off my desk, landing in the dark depths of the floor. Perhaps you’ve experienced the same type of frustration. My friend picked up a tactic from a MIT graduate called “send a rescue team,” and eventually showed me the trick as well. If a bolt rolled off the table and he couldn’t find it, he would simulate the same process with a second bolt and watch it. While it may not land in the exact same area, it would give you an idea as to how far it went and then using the proximity of that, he could almost always find that which went missing.

I can’t help but think of Jesus in this manner. Through sin, God has lost many souls to their various desires (Is. 59:2). We’ve all been deserted in dark places with little hope to cling on to. That separation motivated God to send in a “rescue team.” The Hebrew writer states, “we do not have a High Priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin” (Heb. 4:15). We don’t have an exhaustive list of all the temptations Jesus endured, but we know they were many. Examples like Luke 4:1,2 show us that Jesus was not merely tempted three times but many. The text says “for forty days, being tempted by the devil” (present passive participle), meaning he was continually being tempted through those days.

By sending Jesus, God was able to have His presence with humanity in an effort to find the lost (Luke 19:10). He was able to see and feel the proximity for which mankind had fallen. His experience of the crucifixion was a tell for how wicked the hearts had gotten. Yet even in man’s darkest moments, Jesus was able to reveal a beacon of light for any who desired salvation. Jesus remains as our method of being found.

Tyler King

Why is money such a sensitive topic, even for Christians? Jesus said quite a bit about how we use our money. The apostles addressed this many times in their letters. Yet most people still aren’t comfortable when this is brought up. Perhaps we know we could use what God has blessed us with better than we do and don’t like to be reminded about it. Notice this incident from Jesus’ life.

“As Jesus looked up, he saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury. He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins. ‘Truly I tell you,’ he said, ‘this poor widow has put in more than all the others. All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on’” (Luke 21:1-4 NIV).

Imagine you were one of the disciples who were with Jesus at this time. You were in the temple in the week leading up to Passover. As a result, there would be a lot of people there. You are in the area where there are chests where people made donations to the temple treasury. You are impressed by the large amounts that many people are giving.

Then Jesus points out one poor widow. She wasn’t elaborate about her giving – she didn’t make a big show. She simply put in two very small copper coins – it really wasn’t very much. You might wonder why she even put that in.

The Greek text tells us that the coins were ‘leptas’. They were the smallest and least valuable coins in circulation in Judea at that time. Each was only worth 1/128^th of a denarius, a day’s wage. By today’s living wage standards two leptas would be barely worth a £1.00 in the UK or around $1.50 in the USA.

Then you heard Jesus comment on what the widow gave: “this poor widow has put in more than all the others”. You wonder if he saw what you saw – how could these two small coins be more than the vast sums the other people were giving?

Then Jesus explained: she had given everything she had while the others were giving from their surplus – they still had plenty to live on. You might wonder what the poor widow did that evening to feed herself.

This incident teaches us about giving and especially giving that is sacrificial. Although people get concerned about the amount, Jesus wasn’t impressed by big numbers. It wasn’t the amount that was important. What impressed Jesus was the willingness to give all that she had because she wanted to serve the Lord.

How does our giving compare to the poor widow? Do we give out of our abundant surplus? Or do we give all that we have? Jesus doesn’t ask us to give what we don’t have. But he does expect us to give from what we do have.

We see another example of this in the Christians in Macedonia.

“And now, brothers and sisters, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. In the midst of a very severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the Lord’s people. And they exceeded our expectations: they gave themselves first of all to the Lord, and then by the will of God also to us” (2 Corinthians 8:1-5).

And that is the key, isn’t it? To be willing to give of what we have, we need to first give ourselves to the Lord. Think about it.

Jon Galloway

Some people’s sin struggles are evident. If they wrestle with foul language or lying, you can hear it. If they wrestle with immodesty or drunkenness, you can see it. Some spiritual weaknesses, though, are insidiously difficult to see–especially in ourselves. In Luke 9:46-56, in events that follow each other in very short order, the disciples’ struggle with pride is exposed by Jesus. We can understand why they struggled with pride. They were walking with the Messiah! He was training them for a special mission. Now, the only matter for them to settle was how they ranked among each other. Jesus exposes that very mindset in these verses.

PRIDE SEEKS PREEMINENCE (46-48). The disciples argue among themselves about who might be the greatest. Not only is this childish, but it reflects their short memory. They just displayed a deficiency of faith that prevented them from casting out the unclean spirit. Perhaps Peter, James, and John, given privy to the transfiguration, might have felt that if they had been among these other disciples they would have been able to cast it out. We don’t know. All we know is that Jesus rebukes the very idea of the arguing by placing a child in their midst. Children were barely noticed among first-century adults, but Jesus makes paying attention to and ministering to the least of people the mark of greatness. Discipleship is not about glory and visibility. It’s about having our eyes open to the humble and our hearts open to serving them.

PRIDE SHOWS PREJUDICE (49-50). While some have tried to use these verses to say that there are saved Christians in religious groups outside of the New Testament church, they totally misunderstand Jesus’ point (not to mention, miss the teaching of a great many passages). What was John’s bone of contention? There was a disciple of Jesus who was doing works in His name (acting by His authority; recognizing His identity). They tried to prevent him “because he does not follow along with us” (49). They concluded this person couldn’t be acceptable because he wasn’t accompanying them. Jesus knows this man is on His side, but the disciples’ needed to hear this: “Do not hinder him; for he who is not against you is for you” (50). This territorial mentality can creep into our thinking. We should hold hands with all those who are on the Lord’s side, doing the Lord’s work. This is true if it regards the good works of others in the local congregation or if it is area congregations.

PRIDE SEEKS PUNISHMENT (51-56). Pride shows itself in a very different way shortly after this. Jesus sends some followers on a mission, but they were rejected. James and John’s solution was to exact vengeance on them. They were anxious to call down fire from heaven and consume them. Whatever they expected as Jesus’ reaction, they had to be surprised at His rebuke. He corrects their thinking, saying that He came to this earth to save rather than destroy men’s lives. Jesus’ solution was simply to move on to more receptive hearts (56). Sometimes our impatience with others or disappointment in their displays of unbelief can make us trigger happy. Whether we are indignant on the Lord’s behalf or we feel personally slighted, we need to remember the patient, charitable response Jesus makes to those who, in the moment, refused to receive Him. That patience and kindness may or may not ultimately reach their hearts, but it is the best route to success in trying to both be a disciple and win disciples for Jesus.

Do a Bible search and see what God says about pride. It’s at the top of the list in those deadly sins of Proverbs 6:16-19, things God says He hates! Both Testaments say that it leads to our downfall (Prov. 3:34; Jas. 4:6; 1 Pet. 5:5). So often, we see it as a struggle for those who are already in the body of Christ. I must constantly watch for this self-centered behavior, keeping my focus on other disciples, the lost, the less fortunate and weak, and especially the Lord. Let me remember that it’s all about Him and them, and say with John the Baptist, “He must increase, but I must decrease” (John 3:30).

Neal Pollard

A lot of you do not know this about me but I grew up on a dairy farm. Holstein cows were a part of every day of my life up until about five or six years ago.

I have milked, showed, studied, and researched cows for years and invested so much time, effort and even money into cows. I can answer almost any question and have a deep conversation at any moment and can be confident in my answers when it comes to a Holstein cow… who won the show, who owns it, where it came from, her genetics.

The thing is… cows are no longer part of my life. I still have all that knowledge that worked so hard for, but it is basically useless in my everyday life.

Most people I deal with today would think I was crazy and probably take offense if I came up and asked what they thought about the rump and legs on that cow.

The need for that knowledge faded away just like every other earthly thing will and does for each of us.

I am sure we all have things in our life that seemed so important at one time and that we have moved on from. It faded away and was not near as important as we thought it was. Things of this earth will always fade away at some point.

God, Jesus, and the Bible does not fade away and never will!

1 Peter 1:4 tells us that God has given us an inheritance that is incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away. It is reserved in heaven for each of us because of the blood that Jesus shed for us. We should have the same knowledge and confidence in the Bible and about Jesus that we have about our hobby or job or whatever else it is that consumes our time and know that it will never become useless. If anything, it should get more and more important in our lives.

We should be able to have:

-Have a conversation about Jesus and not be nervous
-Be confident in answering questions about the Bible
-Quote scripture and passages from heart just as we can the facts about our hobby or job and whatever interest we have that consumes us on a daily basis.

1 Peter 3:15 says, “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear;” God has given us everything we need to be prepared to win souls AND to save our own soul.  2 Timothy 3:16-17 tells us, “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

We need that same knowledge, passion, and fire for studying the Word of God and being the “workman” that we are for our hobbies and earthly things. Being able to teach anyone at any time about Jesus and have ready answers for them. There are people out there that want to hear about Jesus. We need to be ready and able to talk to them, teach them and most importantly be an example to them. Remember: ““Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Tim. 2:15).

• –  Are you the worker God wants you to be?
• –  Are you ready to use the tools He has given you? The Bible, your abilities and talents
• –  Are you ready to put in the time and effort that you need to be the Christian that God wants you to be? To study and learn from something that will never fade away or become useless.

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

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

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

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

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

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

by John Henson

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

by Jon Galloway

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

1.4-8

Some things never change.

2.24-25

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

3.9-11

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

4.9-12

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

5.19-20

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

6.6

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

7.13-15

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

8.16-18

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

9.11-12

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

10.8-15

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

11.7-8

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

12.11

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

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

Neal Pollard

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

by Michael Brooks

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Jon Galloway

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

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

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

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

It is dangerous to seek revenge.

Paul Holland

“The wise woman builds her house,

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

(Proverbs 14:1)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Denny Petrillo

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Michael Brooks

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Have a great day!

Alan Smith

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

So we are supposed to worship in fear? YES.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Carl Pollard

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

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

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

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

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

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

Cory Waddell

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

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

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

John Moore

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

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

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

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

Brent Pollard