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"I taught that class everything I know and they are still way below average!" This tongue-in-cheek one liner, or variants of it, have brought smiles for a long time. After all, if I impart all I know to someone else about a given subject and that person's level of understanding is still below par, is it the student or the teacher who is to blame? Lifting someone to my level may be a reality, but it just might not be a point of pride; it all depends on where I am on the scale! Today's message deals with someone lifting another person up and the amazing result.

We begin…  ( Click for more )

Glory is a legitimate English word, but when was the last time you heard it in day-to-day conversation? If you are a classic movie buff, you might recall Katharine Hepburn's role in a 1933 drama, Morning Glory. Or if you love flowers, especially those that thrive in poor soil and without special care, the Morning Glory might be one with which you are familiar. Besides these usages though, the word glory has little use in our common speech. Perhaps that's the reason for today's message; there is an aspect of Jesus that we miss if we do not understand the concepts inherent in the word…  ( Click for more )

Mere man cannot stand in the presence of Holy God. The contrast is so stark that it cannot be described nor fully understood by our finite minds. Moses was allowed to see a portion of God’s glory, but the effects of the event were such that the people who saw Moses later could not even look directly upon his face (see 2 Corinthians 3 for a fuller account). Both physically and spiritually there is such a gulf between God and man that a “bridge” is required to span this infinite gap. Jesus is that bridge even as today’s focus text assures us. You are invited…  ( Click for more )

Just to verify the facts, I looked at the web site of a brand name ice cream retailer. I was right! Ice cream comes in an infinite number of flavors and combinations. There is fat free, sugar free, dairy free, reduced fat, sorbet, light, yogurt, churned, ad infinitum (but not ad nauseam!). Words are like ice cream, they also come in all flavors and combinations. In fact, almost every great thought that has ever been communicated to another person has been conveyed with words. But on the other hand, so has almost every not-so-great thought. Today's devotional will take a look at a…  ( Click for more )

“Try it; you'll like it!” I don't know who first said these words. I do know that a well known antacid product used this catchphrase in some old TV commercials. I also know that a number of people know the success of such advertising. That is why it is commonplace to see samples of food being given away in grocery stores and mall food court areas. Their hope is simple: Take a bite and you will want more. “Try it; you'll like it!

Consider the following text and the “Try it; you'll like it” approach: “Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit,…  ( Click for more )

Classroom note taking was not something I learned before graduating from high school. That is not to say it wasn't taught or that I shouldn't have learned to take notes, just that I didn't. I learned to write notes and pass notes to fellow students, but not how to take class notes. However, in work after high school, I learned the value of hearing and transcribing at least a part of what the instructor said. One point that became obvious was this: When an instructor repeats a statement, especially if it is repeated a number of times, it is important and will be on the test!

It…  ( Click for more )

“Why do the nations rage, And the people plot a vain thing? The kings of the earth set themselves, And the rulers take counsel together, Against the LORD and against His Anointed, saying, “Let us break Their bonds in pieces And cast away Their cords from us.” (Psalm 2.1-3).

The second Psalm had a specific objective, namely the foretelling of certain aspects of the Messiah's reign. It is quoted repeatedly in the New Testament with that explicit fulfillment in view (see Acts 13, Hebrews 1, and others). Among other things, the second Psalm foretold the fact that…  ( Click for more )

“The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1.29).

There are so many, many wondrous parts of this passage that it is difficult to choose the one on which to focus. For instance, we could direct our attention toward the fact that the word sin is singular in the passage. Jesus takes away the sin of the world. The world surely has more that one sin, but he spoke of the cumulative total of all sin in the singular. Jesus takes away the totality of all the sins that have been committed…  ( Click for more )

Soundbites are just that, soundbites. They do not an entire meal describe! They are a small sample of one ingredient that was used in the recipe of one item of a seven course meal! The title of today's message, Religion is Useless is a sound bite; moreover, it is an example of how very wrong we can be when we isolate one fragment of what has been said on a subject and treat it as though it were all that was said!

Here's the text from which this soundbite is taken: “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word…  ( Click for more )

Dirt isn’t always obvious. Sometimes it hides behind a young boy’s ears; ask any mother! Sometimes it masquerades as wholesome and clean. The biblical writers frequently wrote from a perspective that seems a bit odd to us, especially as we adapt and conform to the world around us. James warned about dirt, dirt that can soil and damage our spiritual existence. The dirt about which he warned was not of the ordinary type, the type that hides behind boy’s ears; the dirt of which he warned was a more insidious type and capable of far greater harm. As we continue our look…  ( Click for more )

Some biblical texts are richer than others in practical and meaningful applications. For instance, it takes some effort on my part to get a practical lesson from, “Of Ezra, Meshullam; of Amariah, Jehohanan; Of Melicu, Jonathan; of Shebaniah, Joseph; Of Harim, Adna; of Meraioth, Helkai; Of Iddo, Zechariah; of Ginnethon, Meshullam;” (Nehemiah 12.13-16). Don't get me wrong, there is a practical lesson there, but it takes work to see it. Some passages aren't like that; the gems are exposed without so much as a spade to turn over the surface soil! Today's message and the two…  ( Click for more )

“Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart, having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever, because 'All flesh is as grass, And all the glory of man as the flower of the grass. The grass withers, And its flower falls away, But the word of the LORD endures forever.' Now this is the word which by the gospel was preached to you.” (1 Peter 1.22-25).

Jesus gave commandment to His…  ( Click for more )

What do you know? What do you really know? Do you know God? Do you really know God? Are you aware that there are several ways of knowing God, but only one of them results in eternal bliss? Today’s message will note a few ways that the Bible speaks of knowing God and distinguish between the futile ways and the true way of knowing Him.

Concerning the Gentile nations, Paul wrote, “For since the creation of the world His [God’s] invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they [the…  ( Click for more )

We could start this message with the age-old question, “What’s in a name?” Or, perhaps it would be better to just wait and let events reveal the larger question: “Must I let circumstances decide who I am?”

“Now the two of them [Naomi and Ruth] went until they came to Bethlehem. And it happened, when they had come to Bethlehem, that all the city was excited because of them; and the women said, ‘Is this Naomi?’ But she said to them, ‘Do not call me Naomi; call me Mara, for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me. I went…  ( Click for more )

What is the Bible? Is it, as some claim, man’s record of his attempts to find God? Or, is it something entirely different, i.e. God’s means by which He revealed Himself to man?

Surely there is a world of difference in how one treats the Bible based upon how it is perceived. These various perceptions are the basis for the tremendous differences in how we as human beings respond to the Bible. Not so long ago, I worked with a man who was fond of referring to Jesus and His apostles as JC and his boys! As an atheist, he used this phrase for its shock value. However, had…  ( Click for more )

Here’s a logic test for you. God said, “When you spread out your hands, I will hide My eyes from you; Even though you make many prayers, I will not hear. Your hands are full of blood.” (Isaiah 1.15). A spokesperson for God said, “The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous, And His ears are open to their cry.” (Proverbs 34.15). Given that both of the above statements are accurately quoted and can be trusted as truthful, what can you know about the people to whom God was speaking in the first passage?

If my thinking is correct, I believe that we can…  ( Click for more )

How can mortal man comment on such a lofty concept? What can be written that has not already been said in more eloquent or understandable terms? What possible light can a frail one such as I shed on such a gigantic source of illumination? Some passages only beg to be exposed to the heart and mind and let the power of God take it from there. Today’s focus text is one such verse; our efforts will be limited to merely opening the passage before your eyes and allowing God to speak to you through that process.

“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld…  ( Click for more )

“And the evening and the morning were the third day.” (Genesis 1.13). Not to be monotonous, but the same can be said for the first, second, fourth, fifth, and sixth days (see Genesis 1 verses 5,8,19,23, and 31)! Concerning creation, details were omitted that pique my interest and some details were included that seem not so important to me. But, I’m not God so it doesn’t matter a great deal what I think about Genesis 1. I have, however, wondered why He said the same thing six times about the evening and the morning constituting each of the six days. Today’s…  ( Click for more )

“He [Jesus] was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God." (John 1.10-13)

The word right in the focus text (above) can also be understood as meaning power or ability. The right to become is the power to become. The power to become is man's greatest power. The acorn has…  ( Click for more )

Freedom to speak is a treasured privilege. As Americans, we pride ourselves in the fact that we are free to speak our minds about any subject as long as we do not cross the line into illegal activities such as slander or libel. However, this does not mean that messages which oppose common decency and goodness should be allowed to stand without opposition. People are free to say what they will, but so are we free to counteract that which we believe to be egregious or evil. Such were Paul’s directions to Titus in today’s focus text.

He wrote: “For there are many…  ( Click for more )

Jesus Christ is not a lesser god; He is God with no qualifications! The New Testament repeatedly affirms this proposition. Today's focus text is one of many clear passages which teaches this truth. It reads as follows: “But to the Son He [God the Father] says: 'Your throne, O God, is forever and ever; A scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your kingdom.'” (Hebrews 1.8). Our message today will note some marvelous implications derived from this verse.

First, let me say that I do not claim to understand all the mysteries of the Trinity. However, the fact that I…  ( Click for more )

“Curiosity,” it is said, “killed the cat.” When O. Henry wrote Schools and Schools in the early 1900's, I doubt that he knew that his original expression would be altered and carried forward as a common proverb. Regardless of his intentions, the cat and curiosity have been inextricably linked for all time. However, cats are not the only curious creatures that God made; humans also have their share of the population that is almost willing to die just to find out a bit of hidden information. Today's message deals with curiosity from a biblical perspective.

“And…  ( Click for more )

Is it possible to be wrong while exercising a right? Today's message responds to this question.

Speech is a gift. The ability to speak and the right to speak are privileges we frequently take for granted, especially here in America. These rights are guaranteed by the first amendment to our constitution; it reads: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.…  ( Click for more )

The Bible claims to contain messages that were not authored by mere men; it claims in thousands of places that God authored its words and transferred them to men in a variety of ways. To cite one such passage, the book of Hebrews begins this way: “God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son...” (Hebrews 1.1-2). This is one of many claims. However claims are just that; proof is something entirely different.

What assurance do we have that the words that are contained in…  ( Click for more )