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Some questions seek information; some questions are posed for effect; some questions are rhetorical. Today’s question (i.e. What is man that You [God] are mindful of him?) is a question of wonderment and awe. On the one hand, God is so mighty and magnificent; on the other hand, man is so weak and non-spectacular. These things being true, why would God stoop to even check on us? Why would He even care? The eighth Psalm answers these questions. Consider the following excerpt and comments.

“When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, The moon and the stars,…  ( Click for more )

“Now Saul [later known as the apostle Paul] was consenting to his [Stephen’s] death. At that time a great persecution arose against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him. As for Saul, he made havoc of the church, entering every house, and dragging off men and women, committing them to prison. Therefore those who were scattered went everywhere preaching the word. Then Philip went down to the city of…  ( Click for more )

It is interesting sometimes to contrast the way Jesus saw things and the way His disciples saw the same things; for instance on one occasion His disciples rebuked people for bringing children to Him, but Jesus said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 19.14). On another occasion two of His disciples wanted to call down fire from heaven to destroy certain Samaritans, but Jesus said, “You do not know what manner of spirit you are of. For the Son of Man did not come to destroy men’s lives…  ( Click for more )

Who was Jesus? What was His demeanor? How did He interact with others? Was He so persuasive and charismatic that He had no enemies? Today’s message will not address all these questions, but it will show that the popular perception of some that Jesus was some sort of a milquetoast pacifist does not square with the facts. In fact, today’s message will show that Jesus could even be seen as confrontational depending on which side of the truth a person comes down on!

The Feast of Tabernacles was the last of the three feasts of the Jews which had “mandatory attendance"…  ( Click for more )

“Therefore He [Jesus Christ] is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them. For such a High Priest was fitting for us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and has become higher than the heavens; who does not need daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the people’s, for this He did once for all when He offered up Himself.” (Hebrews 7.25-27).

There are a few things from an earthly perspective that are done “once…  ( Click for more )

Many children know that Jesus told a story about a Wise Man and a Foolish Man who built houses with very different outcomes. This story, the parable of the Wise Man and the Foolish Man, is actually the conclusion of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. I have sung the children’s song about the Wise Man and the Foolish Man many times; I have watched and heard others sing it many times over! It is truly a classic; it has action, vivid imagery, and sound effects! However, the message of this story is not primarily intended for children; it is a message for thinking adults who are…  ( Click for more )

Forgetting is not always easy, or even possible for that matter. The people of debased and reprobate minds about whom Paul wrote in Romans chapter one had something they wished to forget, but were having a tough time doing so. God had reminded them time and again of His character and His demands for righteousness, but after attempting to call them back, God honored their wishes and “gave them over to a debased mind.” Consider the horrific facts contained in today’s text.

“For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged…  ( Click for more )

Once upon a time there were two chefs. They were equally talented and of equal intelligence. Though they each had very specific objectives and motives, they nonetheless started off business-wise from very similar circumstances. Today’s devotional expands the parable of the two chefs and prompts the reader to examine his spiritual diet and how it is affecting him as far as his spiritual health is concerned.

Chef Bobby began his business career soon after college and launched a small restaurant business on the outskirts of his hometown. His restaurant did extremely well in…  ( Click for more )

In today’s civilized cultures trafficking in slavery (buying/selling people) is unthinkable. It has not been that long since it was commonplace throughout the world. In fact, there are still places where people are bought for a particular sum of money, or for services to be rendered; this does not say that the processes are legal or morally right – just that they are still being done in certain parts of the world.

Today’s message revolves around the fact that as believers we belong to another and hence owe our lives and everything in them to the one who bought…  ( Click for more )

“The fish that were in the river died, the river stank, and the Egyptians could not drink the water of the river. So there was blood throughout all the land of Egypt. Then the magicians of Egypt did so with their enchantments; and Pharaoh's heart grew hard, and he did not heed them, as the LORD had said. And Pharaoh turned and went into his house. Neither was his heart moved by this.” (Exodus 7.21-23).

Today's message will deal with the heart of Pharaoh, the heart of man in general, and the heart as it applies to each living person. One of the classic sermons contained…  ( Click for more )

“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’” (Matthew 7.21-23).

The kingdom of heaven is a place of great blessings, a desirable place to which many aspire. However, not everyone will be allowed to go there.…  ( Click for more )

A Short Treatise on Love (John 21.15-17)

"So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, ‘Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?’ He said to Him, ‘Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.’ He said to him, ‘Feed My lambs.’ He said to him again a second time, ‘Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?’ He said to Him, ‘Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.’ He said to him, ‘Tend My sheep.’ He said to him the third time, ‘Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?’ Peter…  ( Click for more )

Solomon’s Temple was a magnificent structure; his riches were beyond description. So impressed was the Queen of Sheba when she came from the South to view his empire that she exclaimed, “The half was not told me. Your wisdom and prosperity exceed the fame of which I heard.” (see 1 Kings 10.1-7). Solomon’s father, David, had wanted to build the first Temple but God prohibited it due to the fact that he had been “…a man of war and had shed blood.” (1 Chronicles 28.3). When Solomon finished the Temple, the following answer to his…  ( Click for more )

“Talk is cheap!” This modern proverb takes many forms but this one seems to say it best for me. It simply means that it does not take any resources to talk. On the other hand, the doing of a thing is entirely another matter. If talk is all that is of importance and there is no proving of the proposition, I am the fastest man in the world; I can jump higher than anyone now living or who has ever lived. I can shoot straighter and ride faster! There is simply no end to my achievements if talk is all that matters.

The late and beloved Foy E. Wallace, Jr. used to say, “As…  ( Click for more )

“So the Philistines were subdued, and they did not come anymore into the territory of Israel. And the hand of the LORD was against the Philistines all the days of Samuel. Then the cities which the Philistines had taken from Israel were restored to Israel, from Ekron to Gath; and Israel recovered its territory from the hands of the Philistines. Also there was peace between Israel and the Amorites. And Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life. He went from year to year on a circuit to Bethel, Gilgal, and Mizpah, and judged Israel in all those places. But he always returned…  ( Click for more )

Resolutions come in all shapes and forms. There are the typical resolutions which most of us make at the turning of the year – you know the ones that are usually broken by the time we turn the second leaf of the calendar. Then there are the resolutions of a political nature – you know the ones that contain scores of whereas expressions along with an equal number of and boring wherefores. Today's Little Lift concerns one such resolution, but it is far from boring when one considers the times and circumstances of its issuance. The text that appears below is from a pagan…  ( Click for more )

“And Ezra came to Jerusalem in the fifth month, which was in the seventh year of the king. On the first day of the first month he began his journey from Babylon, and on the first day of the fifth month he came to Jerusalem, according to the good hand of his God upon him. For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the Law of the LORD, and to do it, and to teach statutes and ordinances in Israel.” (Ezra 7.8-10). The key phrase in today’s text – Ezra had prepared his heart – is connected to three objectives which Ezra had in mind as he was preparing his heart.…  ( Click for more )

“And Ezra came to Jerusalem in the fifth month, which was in the seventh year of the king. On the first day of the first month he began his journey from Babylon, and on the first day of the fifth month he came to Jerusalem, according to the good hand of his God upon him. For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the Law of the LORD, and to do it, and to teach statutes and ordinances in Israel.” (Ezra 7.8-10). The key phrase in today’s text – Ezra had prepared his heart – is connected to three objectives which Ezra had in mind as he was preparing his heart.…  ( Click for more )

When is three hundred greater than thousands upon thousands? Answer: When the hundreds are under God’s direct guidance. Gideon led such a group at one time. Today’s Little Lift recounts the story of Gideon’s valiant men even though it has been told and retold countless thousands of times.

“And the LORD said to Gideon, ‘The people who are with you are too many for Me to give the Midianites into their hands, lest Israel claim glory for itself against Me, saying, “My own hand has saved me.”Now therefore, proclaim in the hearing of the people,…  ( Click for more )

“After these things I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, on the sea, or on any tree. Then I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God. And he cried with a loud voice to the four angels to whom it was granted to harm the earth and the sea, saying, ‘Do not harm the earth, the sea, or the trees till we have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads.’” (Revelation 7.1-3).

Perhaps no book of the Bible has generated…  ( Click for more )

“Then they said to Him, ‘What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?’ Jesus answered and said to them, ‘This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent.’ Therefore they said to Him, ‘What sign will You perform then, that we may see it and believe You? What work will You do? Our fathers ate the manna in the desert; as it is written, “He gave them bread from heaven to eat.”’ Then Jesus said to them, ‘Most assuredly, I say to you, Moses did not give you the bread from heaven, but My Father gives you the…  ( Click for more )

I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ." (Galatians 1.6-7).

The marvel which sparked Paul's statement was the soon apostasy of the Galatian brethren. Some things are marvels to be held in admiration; others are marvels of dismay and sadness. The apostasy of the saints in Galatia was of the latter sort. Note that their apostasy was one of turning - turning from one thing to another thing. They were turning…  ( Click for more )

I have a challenge for you. Try to remember the last time you heard the word holy used legitimately in day to day conversation. And, by the way, don’t count the times that you heard it as a slang term used in connection with a random noun such as was popularized in the Batman movies and TV series. Also, please discount the slang usages by popular sports figures like Phil Rizzuto and others. When was the last time you heard it used with its original and legitimate meaning? Not to be confused with gambling, but I “betcha” you would have to really stretch your memory…  ( Click for more )

“He [Herod] also swore to her [Herodias' daughter], 'Whatever you ask me, I will give you, up to half of my kingdom.' So she went out and said to her mother, 'What shall I ask?' And she said, 'The head of John the Baptist!' Immediately she came in with haste to the king and asked, saying, 'I want you to give me at once the head of John the Baptist on a platter.' And the king was exceedingly sorry; yet, because of the oaths and because of those who sat with him, he did not want to refuse her. Immediately the king sent an executioner and commanded his head to be brought. And he…  ( Click for more )