Subscription Lists
Today's Little Lift
by Jim Bullington
He was a radio comedian during the 50’s and 60’s. He called himself Brother Dave. I recall one of his schemes in which he had come up with a system that would eliminate all crime. That’s exactly what he said, “…eliminate ALL crime!” That, by any standards, would be an impressive feat. Yet, reflecting on his proposal, I think he was right; he had a plan that would result in the elimination of all crime. What was his suggestion? Simple; make everything legal and crime would be instantly eliminated!
Paul wrote about something akin to Brother Dave’s ( Click for more )
He was a radio comedian during the 50’s and 60’s. He called himself Brother Dave. I recall one of his schemes in which he had come up with a system that would eliminate all crime. That’s exactly what he said, “…eliminate ALL crime!” That, by any standards, would be an impressive feat. Yet, reflecting on his proposal, I think he was right; he had a plan that would result in the elimination of all crime. What was his suggestion? Simple; make everything legal and crime would be instantly eliminated!
Paul wrote about something akin to Brother Dave’s ( Click for more )
“Also He said to them, ‘Is a lamp brought to be put under a basket or under a bed? Is it not to be set on a lampstand? For there is nothing hidden which will not be revealed, nor has anything been kept secret but that it should come to light. If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.’ Then He said to them, ‘Take heed what you hear. With the same measure you use, it will be measured to you; and to you who hear, more will be given. For whoever has, to him more will be given; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.’” ( Click for more )
Justification is a word we need to understand! Now let’s tone that down a bit; justification is a word that we would do well to try to understand. There is a side to justification that rests in God’s prevue and humans are only permitted to benefit from it as we make our own feeble attempts to comprehend it.
However, when it comes to comprehending justification, the truth of the matter is this: When we barely “scratch the surface” regarding the concepts of justification, we soon discover implications about ourselves that are most unpalatable. We find that ( Click for more )
Regardless of what anyone says to the contrary, God cannot be put in a box; He is not owned by anyone or by any group of persons. God is God! He transcends all creation. He was before all things and all things that exist were created by Him. It would be the height of arrogance to think that I had any type of monopoly on Him. Yet, that was essentially the attitude of the Jews when it came to Jehovah God and their relationship with Him.
Hear Paul’s words regarding this erroneous attitude: “Or is He the God of the Jews only? Is He not also the God of the Gentiles? Yes, ( Click for more )
“Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin.” (Romans 3.20).
The specific law under primary consideration is the Law of Moses, but it could include any law which demands perfect law keeping in order to be right in God’s sight. This fact is true because we become guilty by such laws, justification being something that must occur apart from that law. In every dispensation and era man has come up woefully short when he came to depend upon his own goodness to be in good standing with God. All ( Click for more )
Guilty is such a terrible verdict. This is not to say that such a verdict is not correct at times, just that it is not ordinarily that which we desire. “Not guilty” has a much more pleasant ring. No right thinking person wishes to be found guilty of crimes and subsequently to be sentenced as payment for such crimes. Yet, the sad truth is this: All humanity is guilty before God! This may not be what I want to hear, but it is reality. The somewhat lengthy text that follows captures this awful truth and expresses it in such a way as to give hope to otherwise lost humanity. ( Click for more )
It isn’t magic; it’s God’s word! From the beginning of time, God has spoken to man. Even if we do not understand how that was done, if one is a believer he has to accept this as absolute fact. The alternatives to this position leave one in a quagmire of subjectivism and touchy-feely nothingness. On the other hand, if God has spoken, and if His words have meaning, humanity has good reason to think that God can be pleased by our actions of faith. This type of reasoning is primer; it is equivalent to “See Jane. See Jane run. See Spot. See Spot run!” The ( Click for more )
Just how important are genealogies? They were of great importance during the Old Testament era. Likewise, the New Testament writings of Matthew and Luke virtually begin with genealogies, specifically those that related to Mary’s son, Jesus Christ. Some still see genealogies as having great spiritual significance today. We will examine some of these matters as we look at Paul’s statements to the Romans regarding just who it is that is truly a Jew.
“For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh; but he is a Jew ( Click for more )
The words accuse and excuse are words that are poles apart. To be accused of something is to have the finger of blame pointed at me. To be excused of something is to have that blame deflected or to be exonerated from such an accusation. In the eternal world to come, that distinction is the literal difference between heaven (eternal bliss) and hell (eternal condemnation). In this message we will note how these two words impacted the Gentile nations in previous dispensations and how they still impact persons living today.
Paul wrote, “For as many as have sinned without law ( Click for more )
Almost everyone is aware of the impact that inflated appraisals can and is having on the housing market. The recent downturn in real estate sales in the US has painfully reminded us of the need to keep appraisals realistic and not ethereal in substance. After all real estate is supposed to be real estate, not unreal estate! There is another arena in which appraisals need to be real, but in which the consequences are far more devastating; that arena is the appraisal of ourselves against God’s standard of worth.
Paul chided some of the Jews with the following: “Indeed ( Click for more )
Do you realize that each and every person on the face of this earth is an active participant in God’s Layaway Plan? It is a plan which we do not have to sign up for; enrollment is automatic when you join the human race! We will note what Paul had to say about this plan in the second chapter of Romans.
“But in accordance with your hardness and your impenitent heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, who ‘will render to each one according to his deeds’: eternal life to those who by ( Click for more )
Do you realize that each and every person on the face of this earth is an active participant in God’s Layaway Plan? It is a plan which we do not have to sign up for; enrollment is automatic when you join the human race! We will note what Paul had to say about this plan in the second chapter of Romans.
“But in accordance with your hardness and your impenitent heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, who ‘will render to each one according to his deeds’: eternal life to those who by ( Click for more )
If God grades on a curve I might have a chance, but it isn't a chance that I want; its surety. Today's text (Roman’s 2.1-4) settles whether or not God grades on a curve. First, let's look at the text: “Therefore you are inexcusable, O man, whoever you are who judge, for in whatever you judge another you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things. But we know that the judgment of God is according to truth against those who practice such things. And do you think this, O man, you who judge those practicing such things, and doing the same, that you will ( Click for more )
Sometimes we erroneously hear that knowledge is the assurance of success. While it is true that it is virtually impossible to succeed without knowledge, it is not the case that knowledge in any sense guarantees success! Paul addressed this fact when he wrote about certain Gentiles “[W]ho, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them.” (Romans 1.32). We will analyze this statement phrase by phrase.
First, notice that the people spoken of by Paul knew ( Click for more )
The truth of God is not a commodity to be traded. It is comprised of eternal principles that can never be replaced or remedied. Any action, choice, or activity that requires the compromise of truth is an incredibly bad bargain. Furthermore, it will lead to remorse whether now or later. Like some debts, the payment of the interest and even the principal on such trades can be delayed, but it can never be avoided.
The Gentiles about whom Paul wrote in the latter half of Romans the first chapter were people whom God gave up “to uncleanness, in the lust of their hearts, to dishonor ( Click for more )
The Series: To All Who are in Rome; The Article: World's Absolute Worst Bargain (Part 1); The Text: Romans 1.20-25
I admit it; I am horrible when it comes to bartering. If I traded two dimes for a nickel, somehow I would still come out on the short end of the stick! If there is comfort in numbers, however, I can still feel okay about myself since many others share in this malady. The hurt caused by a bad trade when it comes to physical assets can last a lifetime. However, the hurt caused by a bad trade when it comes to spiritual things can last for eternity. Let’s ( Click for more )
The Series: To All Who are in Rome; The Article: I Am not Ashamed (Part 6); The Text: Romans 1.16-20
Guilt has a way of robbing my bank of words! After all, what is there to say when you are caught red-handed? Anything that even sounds like an excuse just makes matters worse. When we are without excuse, we are at our lowest.
In eternity, men will face God without excuse. Every accountable man has all the evidence he needs to conclude concretely that God exists. Paul was not ashamed to declare the gospel even though the message that saved some condemned others. Those ( Click for more )
The Series - To All Who are in Rome; The Article - I am not Ashamed (Part 5); Focus Text - Romans 1.16-18
Paul was a logician; his writings contain some of the most skillfully woven arguments about God, His existence, eternity, humanity, and righteousness that one will ever encounter. God is reasonable and so are those who, with His approval, proclaim His word. God used Paul’s intellect and his sense of reason to proclaim and defend, when necessary, the gospel. Paul’s penchant for reason will easily be seen in today’s message. There are actually five fors ( Click for more )
The Series - To All Who are in Rome; The Article - I am not Ashamed (Part 4); Text - Romans 1.16,17
Did you ever play a little game where someone gives you three guesses to try to find out a bit of information? It may be fun when it comes to matters of little consequence, or just for the fun of the game. However, if failing to guess correctly is going to jeopardize anything of importance, a person would do well to refuse to play. Well, when it comes to matters of eternal importance, it might be surprising to find out how many people needlessly play three guesses. Let’s ( Click for more )
The Series - To All Who are in Rome; The Article - I am not Ashamed (Part 3); Focus Text - Romans 1.16
Guaranteed 100% effective 100% of the time! Products that have 100% effectiveness would be a boon to any sales person. However, almost any product that one can imagine will not work for someone. Even a brand new automobile that costs only $1.00 is of no value (as an automobile) to someone who has no roads. A pair of eyeglasses that are guaranteed to correct any sighted person’s vision deficiency are of no value to someone who has no sight at all. Whatever ( Click for more )
The Series - Jesus, Unique & Unequaled Teacher (50/TBD)
Focus Text: John 14.1-3
Here are the reasons. You guess the situation that elicited them. The college administration changed its policy. The money available in the budget would not permit it. The transportation we had arranged failed to arrive as indicated. The weather just did not cooperate with us. There is a danger of infectious disease which makes the trip totally out of the question.
What you just read is a list of reasons why different teachers failed to keep promises made to students even though the ( Click for more )
The Series - Jesus, Unique & Unequaled Teacher (49/50)
Focus Text: Acts 1.4-8
How many questions did the apostles ask Jesus during His ministry? I don’t know the answer but it would probably prove to be an interesting exercise to go through the gospel accounts and study each of these as well as Jesus’ response. Today’s devotional does not deal with all the questions Jesus was asked by the apostles, just the last one. This final question is presented along with the immediate context in today’s focus text.
“And [Jesus] being assembled together ( Click for more )
The Series - Jesus, Unique & Unequaled Teacher (48/50)
Focus Text: Acts 1.4-8
“And [Jesus] being assembled together with them [the apostles], He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, ‘which,’ He said, ‘you have heard from Me; for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.’ Therefore, when they had come together, they asked Him, saying, ‘Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?’ And He said to them, ‘It ( Click for more )
The Series - Jesus, Unique & Unequaled Teacher (47/50)
Focus Text: John 21.18-22
“‘Most assuredly, I [Jesus] say to you [Simon Peter], when you were younger, you girded yourself and walked where you wished; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish.’ This He spoke, signifying by what death he would glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He said to him, ‘Follow Me.’ Then Peter, turning around, saw the disciple whom Jesus loved [John] following, who also had leaned ( Click for more )
Receive the newest devotional each week in your inbox by joining the "Today's Little Lift" subscription list. Enter your email address below, click "Go!" and we will send you a confirmation email. Follow the instructions in the email to confirm your addition to this list.