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There are federal and state laws which define the minimum wages that are applicable for workers in the United States of America. Laws of this nature are effected in order to insure that employees receive a salary that is at least equal to an amount established by the legislative bodies responsible for such matters. This wage typically goes up periodically as the cost of living increases due to inflation or other factors. Frequently history has been changed by well organized campaigns organized for the sole purpose of increasing the minimum wage. For the record, as far as this writer…  ( Click for more )

"Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, ‘Take the rod; you and your brother Aaron gather the congregation together. Speak to the rock before their eyes, and it will yield its water; thus you shall bring water for them out of the rock, and give drink to the congregation and their animals.’ So Moses took the rod from before the LORD as He commanded him. And Moses and Aaron gathered the assembly together before the rock; and he said to them, ‘Hear now, you rebels! Must we bring water for you out of this rock?’ Then Moses lifted his hand and struck the rock…  ( Click for more )

“Thus God, determining to show more abundantly to the heirs of promise the immutability of His counsel, confirmed it by an oath, that by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we might have strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before us. This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence behind the veil, where the forerunner has entered for us, even Jesus, having become High Priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.” (Hebrews 6.17-20).

As one who…  ( Click for more )

“But I will establish My covenant with you; and you shall go into the ark—you, your sons, your wife, and your sons’ wives with you. And of every living thing of all flesh you shall bring two of every sort into the ark, to keep them alive with you; they shall be male and female. Of the birds after their kind, of animals after their kind, and of every creeping thing of the earth after its kind, two of every kind will come to you to keep them alive.” (Genesis 6.18-20).

The focus passage contains the very first recorded usage of the word covenant in the Scriptures.…  ( Click for more )

Pay attention to verb tenses; they literally spell the difference between life and death. Consider the following passage: “But God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered. And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness.” (Romans 6.17-18). Paul was not thanking God that the Roman believers had been sinners; he was thanking God that they had become believers in spite of their past!

Obedience to the first principles of the Gospel of Jesus Christ is essential if…  ( Click for more )

“‘Because from the least of them even to the greatest of them, Everyone is given to covetousness; And from the prophet even to the priest, Everyone deals falsely. They have also healed the hurt of My people slightly, Saying, “Peace, peace!” When there is no peace. Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination? No! They were not at all ashamed; Nor did they know how to blush. Therefore they shall fall among those who fall; At the time I punish them, They shall be cast down,’ says the LORD. Thus says the LORD: ‘Stand in the ways and see, And…  ( Click for more )

“Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel…  ( Click for more )

“And He called the twelve to Himself, and began to send them out two by two, and gave them power over unclean spirits. He commanded them to take nothing for the journey except a staff—no bag, no bread, no copper in their money belts— but to wear sandals, and not to put on two tunics. Also He said to them, ‘In whatever place you enter a house, stay there till you depart from that place. And whoever will not receive you nor hear you, when you depart from there, shake off the dust under your feet as a testimony against them. Assuredly, I say to you, it will be…  ( Click for more )

Daniel in the Lion's Den is perhaps one of the best known stories in the Bible. It has been told and retold millions upon millions of times; it is a children's favorite. However, do you know the circumstances that led up to Daniel's being cast into the lion's den. Today's message will see what got Daniel into this predicament as well as note some of Daniel's traits worthy of imitation.

“So the governors and satraps [regional government officials] sought to find some charge against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find no charge or fault, because he was faithful;…  ( Click for more )

“When He opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the testimony which they held. And they cried with a loud voice, saying, ‘How long, O Lord, holy and true, until You judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?’ Then a white robe was given to each of them; and it was said to them that they should rest a little while longer, until both the number of their fellow servants and their brethren, who would be killed as they were, was completed.” (Revelation 6.9-11).

The language…  ( Click for more )

"But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord. This is the genealogy of Noah. Noah was a just man, perfect in his generations. Noah walked with God." (Genesis 6.8-9).

When one considers the condition of the world in which Noah lived, today's focus text is astounding. While we do not know the exact population of the earth at the time Noah lived, by making some conservative assumptions we can see that the earth was not void of mankind by any stretch of the imagination. There were almost certainly millions of people who inhabited the earth and who were part of the universal…  ( Click for more )

Isaiah was not the first reluctant prophet; Moses had reservations about his qualifications too. In fact it took an epiphany to convince Moses that He ought to free his fellow Hebrews from the clutches of Egyptian tyranny. God had to demonstrate to Isaiah that He intends to use imperfect people to deliver His message to their fellowman. That lesson was needed then and it is needed today.

Isaiah's response when he saw images of heavenly origins was to say, “Woe is me, for I am undone! Because I am a man of unclean lips, And I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips;…  ( Click for more )

When it comes to the Lord’s Church, slackers and opportunists need not apply! Why so? Because among those who believe, the Lord commands “…each one shall bear his own load.” (Galatians 6.5).

It is a given in the context of this verse that each Christian has a load to bear. Stated another way, there is work for all to do – NO EXCEPTIONS! The design of the Church of our Lord demands that such be the case. As we have previously observed in this column, although we are saved as individuals, we are not left alone to sink or swim. God designed it such…  ( Click for more )

“But let each one examine his own work, and then he will have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another.” (Galatians 6.4).

Our focus today will be on Paul’s commandment for believers to examine their own work. There is, as always, a context in which this command was given; the reader is strongly encouraged to consider this context as he/she seeks to fully understand and apply this verse to real-life situations. Our study today will primarily be a “word study” focused on the key verb, “examine.”

First, it is noteworthy that every…  ( Click for more )

“For if anyone thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself.” (Galatians 6.3).

Thinking is a human capability that is both marvelous and fearsome at the same time. While the ability to think is a wonderful gift it is also implies awesome responsibilities. For that reason, civilized societies establish laws and guidelines of human behavior and then hold their citizens accountable to those laws. When these laws are broken, almost all court systems and judicial venues take into account the intent of the one guilty of breaking the law as well…  ( Click for more )

“Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” (Galatians 6.2).

More time and space could be used than we have in discussing the erroneous position that some take in saying, “The Christian is free from law; all law!” However I will not take your time nor mine defending the obvious import of this verse. This one inspired (and inspiring) verse disproves that doctrine without any comment from uninspired persons like me. Rather than approach this verse in a negative vein, we will look at it from the tremendously positive aspects which…  ( Click for more )

Biblical passages sometimes “jump out at you” due to their relevance or a particular need that is pressing. Today’s text is just such a passage for me; perhaps it will also be something you need. Due to the nature and style of these devotionals, the passage today will progress one verse at a time throughout this entire week. As we begin, we will quote the five verses to be addressed.

“Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted. Bear one…  ( Click for more )

“And when they [the temple guards or officials] had brought them [the apostles], they set them before the council. And the high priest asked them, saying, 'Did we not strictly command you not to teach in this name? And look, you have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this Man’s blood on us!' But Peter and the other apostles answered and said: 'We ought to obey God rather than men.'” (Acts 5.27-29; all emphasis mine, above & below, jeb)

The council was, to put things in perspective, an august body of men similar to our supreme court.…  ( Click for more )

“You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” (Matthew 5.27-28; all emphasis mine, above & below, jeb). This saying is one of five times that Jesus used the “But I say...” expression during the Sermon on the Mount. However, these are not the only times that he used it. According to the other inspired records of His ministry, there were at least six other times when He uttered these words.…  ( Click for more )

“Now a certain woman had a flow of blood for twelve years, and had suffered many things from many physicians. She had spent all that she had and was no better, but rather grew worse. When she heard about Jesus, she came behind Him in the crowd and touched His garment. For she said, 'If only I may touch His clothes, I shall be made well.' Immediately the fountain of her blood was dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of the affliction.” (Mark 5.25-29; all emphasis mine, above & below, jeb). This same event is recorded in Matthew 9 and Luke 8; we will…  ( Click for more )

There are twelve (12) “lettuce” [let us] passages in the book of Hebrews. These make great sermon material and can easily be divided into three sermons of four points each. However, Paul also raised some “lettuce not” [let us not] patches that are worth looking into. Our devotional today, will take a very brief look at these passages.

“Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.” (Galatians 5.26; all emphasis mine above and below). This text is especially ripe for study because it contains three prohibitions and…  ( Click for more )

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.” (Galatians 5.22-23; all emphasis mine above and below). If one notices closely, he will see that the first word of today's focus verse is the little word but. It is a word of contrast. Today's message will look at this contrast and some of its implications.

The contrasting verses appear just prior to today's verses. “Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness,…  ( Click for more )

The last few verses of 1 Thessalonians 5 contain some pithy yet wise counsel. Among the sage advice offered is this: “Test all things; hold fast what is good.” (1 Thessalonians 5.21). While the statement is easily understood, Albert Barnes’ comments on the verse are well worth repeating; the following paragraph is from his commentary on the book of First Thessalonians.

“Subject everything submitted to you to be believed to the proper test. The word here used [for test] is one that is properly applicable to metals, referring to the art of the…  ( Click for more )

Do you know who was the oldest man whose age is recorded in the Bible? Of course you do – Methuselah at 969 years. Everybody knows that! Well how about the second oldest? Do you know him? Have you ever heard of Jared? He was the second oldest man and he lived 962 years. Yet, how many times do you hear his name mentioned? What did he ever do? Is he well known because he came in second or for any other reason for that matter? We'll explore that a bit in today's devotional.

“Jared lived one hundred and sixty-two years, and begot Enoch. After he begot Enoch, Jared lived…  ( Click for more )