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“The LORD possessed me at the beginning of His way, Before His works of old. I have been established from everlasting, From the beginning, before there was ever an earth. When there were no depths I was brought forth, When there were no fountains abounding with water. Before the mountains were settled, Before the hills, I was brought forth; While as yet He had not made the earth or the fields, Or the primeval dust of the world. When He prepared the heavens, I was there, When He drew a circle on the face of the deep, When He…  ( Click for more )

Our study today will be essentially a word study, but with a couple of twists. I promise you it won't be dull, so I beg you to stay with me. Specifically, we will look at a Greek word which appears only four times in the New Testament. We will consider the ways this word is translated and used in Scripture.

The first usage we will consider occurred as Paul was writing about a particular religious error of the day. The passage of interest reads, “...not holding fast to the Head, from whom all the body, nourished and knit together by joints and ligaments, grows with the increase…  ( Click for more )

An axe and an adze are tools that are frequently used for hewing. Sometimes the hewing process is intended to give an object a desired shape and at other times hewing is simply intended to divide or chop an object in two. Now hear God's word through Hosea: "Therefore I have hewn them by the prophets, I have slain them by the words of My mouth." (Hosea 4.5).

This an example of Hebrew parallelism. To hew Israel "by the prophets" is parallel to "I have slain them by the words of My mouth." God's prophets were spokespersons for Him; the words which they…  ( Click for more )

Some of God’s actions cannot be mimicked. All of man’s actions, on the other hand, are capable of being repeated (or even bested) by others with time. Man, by definition, acts within the natural realm. God, on the other hand, is capable of acting within both the natural and the supernatural realms. That is why there is a class of actions that are truly miraculous in nature; they occur in the natural realm and simply cannot be accounted for by natural forces. Today’s message will point out the significance of this difference in our lives.

First, we will begin…  ( Click for more )

Pat and I were recently privileged to see some wonderfully scenic landscapes and seascapes in the state of Maine. I know we used the word beautiful repeated to descripe the things that we saw, but physical beauty really is quite subjective. I knew of a person who was actually frightened by trees and saw them as an ugly reminder of an unhappy past. When we speak of beauty, we usually realize that it is a matter of perspective. However, we need to realize that even the most breathtaking and glorious earthly objects are nothing when compared to the features of a world yet to be revealed.…  ( Click for more )

To “Owe no one anything…” according to Paul’s written admonition (see Romans 13.8) is but one of the moral and ethical rules that ought to govern our lives. However, the believer is in debt from the time he or she commits the first sin until death takes us away. This debt is not a material indebtedness from which we can extricate ourselves by working really, really hard; it is a spiritual debt that can only be erased by the biblical application of God’s grace to our lives.

However, the point that I wish to make just here is this: The lifelong indebtedness…  ( Click for more )

No one has to tell you, the reader of this article, the importance of words. Verbal communication is as old as mankind and it is one of the unique and significant differences between humanity and other living creatures. Just as human communication via words differs substantially from the various forms of communication that are existent in the animal kingdom, so God's word differs from man's. Today we will highlight how different a word is from God when compared to words of human origin.

“Now when Jesus had come into Peter’s house, He saw his [Peter's] wife’s…  ( Click for more )

We hear a lot about truth. Witnesses in legal proceedings are duty bound to speak the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. Under many circumstances, consumers are advised of certain facts under the truth in lending laws. Children are taught the value of truth and the honor that inheres with always telling the truth. Truth is a small word that packs a tremendous wallop when it comes to our lives, our country, our society, our economy, and most importantly to our spiritual welfare.

“Then Pilate entered the Praetorium again, called Jesus, and said to Him,…  ( Click for more )

I suppose it would be nice if life had no downs, no moments in which the spirit takes a nose dive and expresses it with a sigh. One popular public definition of sigh is “...an audible exhalation of air arising from tiredness or emotion, usually sadness, which itself could be stemming from feelings of sadness or futility. A sigh can also arise from positive emotions such as relief. Some people do it just to cool down organs or suppress emotions.” I sometimes sigh only to have someone near me say, “What's the matter?” Usually a sigh is taken in a negative way…  ( Click for more )

“The road to hell is paved with good intentions.” This is not scripture, but it has a scriptural basis. This modern proverb evolved over centuries to its present form, having in earlier days simply been stated, “Hell is paved with good intentions.” In today’s message, our interest is in the scriptural basis for this saying and how it can be applied to our lives today.

Before quoting today’s focus text we will review some critical background information. The Church for which Jesus died (Acts 20.28) was not exclusive of any person due to his or…  ( Click for more )

The time was almost eight centuries before Christ (BC). The powerful nation of Assyria was breathing out threats to all who stood in her aggressive ways. Israel was no exception. However, in spite of the fact that Israel was steeped in sin and stood under God's condemnation for her worldly ways, God's warning to Assyria stood fast. He was going to use Assyria to teach Israel a lesson, but their military success was not to be mistaken as a sign of God's approval. It was in this context that Isaiah wrote about Assyria, saying, “Take counsel together, but it will come to nothing;…  ( Click for more )

I asked my friend what was the most radical position, in a religious context, he had ever seen where a matter of judgment was held to the exclusion of doctrine. In other words, what had he witnessed people do that may have been right in itself, but when pressed to extremes, became harmful or even contradictory to other Bible teachings. He began to talk about a couple of things, one of them being the Lord’s Supper and how it was observed; he also mentioned how some had pressed the idea of one [communion] cup to the point of making it a matter of fellowship.

I had a hidden…  ( Click for more )

Jesus was “…declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead.” (Romans 1.4). Paul further wrote, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.” (Romans 1.16).

These truths were foundational to the whole of Christianity. Since Jesus was resurrected from the dead, the truth of the gospel could stand the scrutiny that a skeptical world might be expected to offer. Because of the…  ( Click for more )

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.” (Romans 1.1). This text has for long ages been called the thesis statement of the book of Romans.

As such, this statement that Paul puts forth in advance of argument is one which captures the essence of his entire book to the believers in Rome. There are no wasted words in it. It is concise and entirely relevant. That being the case, we will stop to examine why Paul and the Holy Spirit thought it necessary…  ( Click for more )

Ready is such a common word! It simply carries the idea of preparedness, maybe even without desire. I may be ready to go to the dentist, but I may not want to go. I may be ready to pay my monthly bills, but that exercise is seldom executed with exuberance. The word Paul used in Romans 1.15 is a word that not only indicates preparedness, it indicates an eagerness to perform the task for which he had declared himself ready. The New American Standard Version translates the verse, “So, for my part, I am eager to preach the gospel to you also who are in Rome.” Today’s…  ( Click for more )

A debtor, very simply put, is someone who owes a debt, or is bound by some obligation to another. Paul declared himself to be a debtor when he wrote, “I am a debtor both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to wise and to unwise. So, as much as is in me, I am ready to preach the gospel to you who are in Rome also.” (Romans 1.14-15). However, the debt was an unusual one in a number of ways. We will consider this unusual debt as Today’s Little Lift.

First, the debt was unusual due to the identity of those whom Paul owed. Specifically, he owed the Greeks and the…  ( Click for more )

“For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ…” (Ephesians 3.14).

The point of this devotional message is not to look at the things for which Paul prayed on this occasion. Rather, it is to look at the phrase “I bow my knees…” and some of the implications of this phrase. The point of the phrase is not to depict a sanctified position of prayer, but rather to indicate the sanctified attitude of prayer displayed by Paul. This does not deny that Paul literally bowed his knees in prayer, for that seems to be the case…  ( Click for more )

“Trying to make sense out of nonsense can drive you crazy!” Have you ever heard this statement? Well, I can testify to the fact that it is true. I guess you can jump one step ahead of me and say, “Ah, so that's what's wrong with you.” Jesus knew that some actions of men just cannot be explained rationally. That is what today's focus text is all about. Let's learn together from it.

“And when all the people heard Him, even the tax collectors justified God, having been baptized with the baptism of John. But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the will…  ( Click for more )

“Its not what you know, its who you know!” Have you ever heard that statement? Usually it is applied to how we as human beings ascend (or descend) on the ladder of success. Let someone get a promotion at work and as likely as not, someone will affirm by this statement that the promotion was unwarranted based on merit, but was prompted by a personal relationship apart from performance. This same not-so-gentle-slam can occur in social settings, politics, legal issues, and almost any venue where advantage can be gained by such shenanigans. Well, as it turns out, this sentiment…  ( Click for more )

Political Correctness (PC) is not a new thing, but it appears to me that the blight has grown stronger than I have ever witnessed it. We live in a culture in which virtually every public figure (actors, athletes, politicians, etc., etc.) has to have a “handler” to keep them straight. One wrong word, or for that matter, even one perceived wrong word has been known to abruptly end the rise of a super star. I thank God that Jesus was not beset by this burden; He called it like it was and let the chips fall where they may! Today's focus text deals with an event where a Gentile…  ( Click for more )

What do you think about the priesthood? No, not the one that has been unfavorably cast in news headlines of late; rather, I speak of the one about which the Bible speaks, the one in which God ordained that all believers serve as priests (see 1 Peter 2.5-9). This priestly service is not elective; it is mandated for all who would be Christians. This priesthood is particularly special because as priests we all serve at the pleasure of our High Priest, the Risen Christ. It is this relationship that we will explore briefly in today's message. First, please consider the passage that…  ( Click for more )

There were times when the speech of Jesus was veiled to one extent or the other. Although people were somewhat ready to accept the moral truths that He taught, there was a greater truth that very, very few were ready to accept. The focus text in today's message sets forth a change in the strategic approach of Jesus during His earthly ministry. Those who were astute listeners could easily and correctly surmise that He was the Christ from His previous messages and actions, but they no longer had to put two and two together to get at this truth; they correctly observed, “He speaks…  ( Click for more )

I've heard of people who have a real knack for turning a phrase. Well, today's devotional is about turning a phrase in another way. We will begin with a quote from Jesus and the sermon on the mount.

“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…  ( Click for more )

What do you think of yes men? Almost everybody has known one or two, if not personally, certainly in the media. Yes men are an essential for egomaniacs. They are needed to sustain the mistaken concepts that such mental aberrations demand. Yes men are not an invention of the twentieth century; they have been around almost as long as time itself. Today's message will begin with some yes men and then proceed with a quick overview of a few others in the Scriptures. Finally, we will examine the cost of listening to the counsel of yes men.

While Israel was in Egyptian captivity, “...The…  ( Click for more )