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Some One Chapter Blessings – Philemon

Focus Text: Philemon 1.11

A leopard can’t change its spots but what has that to do with human beings? God is a God of second, third, and fourth chances! Thankfully, He is not like we are in that His patience and mercy is virtually inexhaustible. Consider the need for second chances as you consider the case of Onesimus, a runaway slave.

Concerning Onesimus, Paul told Philemon that he "…once was unprofitable to you, but now is profitable to you and to me." (Philemon 1.11). The very word Onesimus means profitable…  ( Click for more )

Some One Chapter Blessings – Philemon

Focus Text: Philemon 1.17

What right had Paul to speak to Philemon as he did? What special relationship existed that allowed Paul to appeal as he did to the heart of Philemon? Wasn’t the matter of slavery just a business matter which should have dealt with outside the context of emotions and strictly according to the business principles that prevailed?

First, hear Paul’s admonition to Philemon regarding the return of Onesimus: "If then you count me as a partner, receive him as you would me." (Philemon 1.17).…  ( Click for more )

Some One Chapter Blessings – Philemon

Focus Text: Philemon 1.8-10

As an apostle of Christ, Paul had more authority (power) at his disposal than any person now living! He could heal the sick, cast out evil spirits, strike certain people blind (such as Elymas the sorcerer), and even raise the dead (see Acts 9.12; 13.11; 20.9-12). Yet to Philemon, he wrote, "Therefore, though I might be very bold in Christ to command you what is fitting, yet for love's sake I rather appeal to you…" (Philemon 1.8-10). In spite of his tremendous authority, Paul refused to…  ( Click for more )

"Therefore, Receive Him, that is, My Own Heart"

Focus Text: Philemon 1.10-12

This one chapter book was written to Philemon. Paul was the immediate author, inspired by the Holy Spirit. Onesimus was a slave who had run away from his master Philemon. However, the heart of Onesimus had been touched by the gospel and the heart of Paul had been touched by Onesimus. Because of these events, Paul wrote to Philemon, "I appeal to you for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten while in my chains, who once was unprofitable to you, but now is profitable to you and to me. I am sending…  ( Click for more )

The Blessings of Faith, Hope and Love

Focus Text: 1 Corinthians 13.1-13

The three previous installments of Today’s Little Lift have treated the following topics: The Blessings of Faith, The Blessings of Hope, and the Blessings of Love. Today’s installment will be short and to the point. It is A Short Treatise on the Blessings of Faith, Hope, and Love.

For the first time in the history of this column, a guest writer’s words will comprise the majority (and the balance) of this [today’s] message. I do this because there simply is no way that…  ( Click for more )

The Blessings of Hope

Focus Text: 1 Corinthians 15.12-19

Hope may be defined as the reasonable expectation of something better. Hope is not a baseless wild dream, but is based upon evidence, and in a spiritual context, is based upon faith. Hope has the capacity to see men through the darkest of days if only a reasonable expectation of a brighter day awaits. Hope is the antithesis of despair and is always attended by a "can do" attitude, not because of the conditions that prevail now, but because of what we expect to exist in the future.

Paul, though frequently in…  ( Click for more )

The Blessings of Faith

Focus Texts: John 20.29-31

"Jesus said to him, ‘Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.’ And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name." (John 20.29-31).

Before proceeding, mark it down: In the Scriptures there is no essential difference between the word faith (and…  ( Click for more )

God is LOVE (10 of 10)

Focus Text: John 14.21-24

On the night of His betrayal, Jesus told Jude [paraphrased], "I will love those who love Me and manifest Myself to them." (see John 14.21). He DID NOT mean that He would only love those who love Him, but He DID MEAN that He would only manifest Himself to those who love Him. Jude, hearing this statement, correctly inferred these truths when he said, "Lord, how is it that You will manifest Yourself to us, and not to the world?" (John 14.22). Before going any further in this devotional, think about what has just been stated:…  ( Click for more )

God is LOVE (9 of 10)

Focus Texts: John 14.21-24

God is love! Such is the explicit declaration of the scriptures (see 1 John 4.8, 16). The world does not understand nor appreciate that love. To the masses that love seems almost as if it is a foreign language spoken to confuse; when confronted with the love of God, they do double takes and struggle to keep their balance! Why can the world not, at least in part, comprehend and appreciate the love of God? We address this question as we complete this mini-series.

On the night of His betrayal, an interesting exchange…  ( Click for more )

The Grace of God (5 of 8)

Focus Verses: Titus 2.11-14

"…[W]e should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ." (Titus 2.12-13). The grace of God that brings salvation teaches the believer a number of things, among them how we ought to look for the second coming of Jesus and the things that will accompany His return. Our focus today will be to look at the phrase "the blessed hope" as it appears in the quoted verse.

Hope is born of grace. To say it another…  ( Click for more )

God Opened the Door of Faith to the Gentiles

Scripture Reading: Acts 14.19-28

For the better part of three years Paul and Barnabas labored in the spiritual fields of Cyprus and Asia Minor. They preached to, exhorted, strengthened, and equipped the new converts so they could stand fast in the faith once they were on their own. As one of the final acts before departing and returning to Antioch in Syria, Paul and Barnabas "…appointed elders in every church, and prayed with fasting." (Acts 14.23). Once they arrived back at their sending congregation, Paul and…  ( Click for more )

Tribulations, the Door to the Kingdom

Scripture Reading: Acts 14.8-18

A pattern exists where actions repeat themselves over and over. See if you can see a pattern emerging from the three events below.

Dateline – 1st Journey; Antioch of Pisidia: Paul and Barnabas preach the gospel in the Jewish synagogue and to Gentiles. "And the word of the Lord was being spread throughout all the region. But the Jews stirred up the devout and prominent women and the chief men of the city, raised up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them from their…  ( Click for more )

Jesus - Man of Sorrows  (2 of 5)

This installment as well as all others in this series is written to help us focus on the person of Christ and the characteristics that He possessed.  This is done so that we can consciously allow God to transform our lives by stamping the image of His dear Son deep on our heart.  If we do not know the traits of the Christ, it is impossible to follow in His footsteps, hence the need for this series.

Concerning the Christ, Isaiah wrote almost eight centuries before His birth, “He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows,…  ( Click for more )

Jesus - Uncompromising (2/5)

The requirements for discipleship seemed always to be a topic of discussion during Jesus' earthly ministry. Perhaps this was because there were so many reasons why some wanted to be with Him. However, as many would-be followers discovered, the walk with Him was a most demanding adventure – and it was one with no compromises. To illustrate these facts, consider the following lines summarized from John the 6th chapter.

Jesus was teaching, as He frequently did, near the Sea of Galilee. Great multitude came to hear Him, but more…  ( Click for more )

In some arenas, one who is willing to compromise is a hero. However, when it comes to spiritual truth, compromise is deadly to the compromiser as well as those who follow him/her. Jesus, though conciliatory in many ways, had no give and take when it came to spiritual truth. He stood against all forms of error without regards to who might stand with Him or against Him when He took such a stance. Consider some instances when compromise would have been a lesser man's way to resolve an issue but in which Jesus refused to compromise.

The Pharisees in Matthew 12.38 asked Jesus for…  ( Click for more )

Jesus, Example of Patience (5/5)

So Jesus was patient; what is that to me? Is there some response that God desires of me because of the patience displayed by His Son?

Hear Hebrews 12.1-3: "Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right…  ( Click for more )

Jesus, Example of Patience (4/5)

"From that time Jesus began to show to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day. Then Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, 'Far be it from You, Lord; this shall not happen to You!' But He turned and said to Peter, 'Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men.'" (Matthew 16.21-23).

Consider carefully the response to Peter's expression…  ( Click for more )

Jesus, Example of Patience (3/5)

"Then the multitude came together again, so that they could not so much as eat bread. But when His own people heard about this, they went out to lay hold of Him, for they said, 'He is out of His mind.' And the scribes who came down from Jerusalem said, 'He has Beelzebub,' and, 'By the ruler of the demons He casts out demons.'" (Mark 3.20-22).

The accusation by the scribes from Jerusalem – He has Beelzebub - was to be expected! After all, they seemed to hound Him during virtually all His ministry. However, note who the other…  ( Click for more )

Jesus, Example of Patience (2/5)

Jesus rarely used the word "patient" or "patience" as recorded in the gospel records. Neither is Jesus explicitly spoken of by the other inspired New Testament writers as being a person who exhibited exemplary patience. However, by noticing the life of Jesus and His demeanor while upon the earth, a serious student of the scriptures will soon conclude that He was patient to the ultimate degree.

To begin to understand the patience of Christ, we look to the end of His earthly life. Note some of the taunts which He heard at Calvary:…  ( Click for more )

Jesus, Example of Patience (1/5)

"But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love." (2 Peter 1.5-7). This list of what has frequently been styled as the "Christian Graces" reflects attributes that were certainly prominent in the life of Jesus. This particular miniseries will focus on the trait of perseverance (or patience as it is more commonly translated).

One common…  ( Click for more )

Jesus Lover of Truth (5/5)

Since Jesus is the lover of truth, what does He expect of me regarding truth? If I am to be molded in the image of Christ, what does that mean as far as my relationship and responsibility toward truth?

First, I am sure that Jesus expects me to love the truth. In as much as those who do not receive the love of the truth are subject to believe a lie and be damned (2 Thessalonians 2.10), it should be apparent that we ought to love truth. The passionless Christian does not love truth and it is doubtful that such a one is a Christian at…  ( Click for more )

Jesus Lover of Truth (4/5)

Jesus' love for truth, or perhaps more accurately His love for humanity that could be saved by truth, prompted Him to promise His apostles that they would be guided into all truth. (John 16.13). After His departure, Jesus fulfilled His promise by sending the Holy Spirit to reveal the truths of the gospel to His holy apostles and prophets. The remainder of this installment will examine some of what these inspired men said about truth as it related to their message.

The apostle Paul stood condemned by his own countrymen because he openly…  ( Click for more )

Jesus Lover of Truth (3/5)

Saving truth is objective. Man's thought processes are incremental due to the way we learn. In order to understand algebra a basis must be formed in fundamental mathematics. In order to understand Solid Geometry, a basis must be formed in Plane Geometry. In order to understand the parts of speech in the English language, a basis must be formed in fundamental grammar.

Truth, like each of the named disciplines, consists of a body of knowledge but it cannot be absorbed instantaneously; it has to be learned incrementally. Jesus loved…  ( Click for more )

Jesus Loved Truth (2/5)

Truth, like water, comes in more than one form. Water does not cease being water when it becomes ice nor does it cease being water when it becomes steam. Ice and steam are still water. Truth translated into action is still truth even though it is non-verbal in form. This installment has to do with Jesus' reaction to those who failed miserably in translating truth into action. His love for truth caused Him to forcefully and forthrightly oppose some whose lives were walking contradictions of truth!

The word "hypocrite" or its plural form…  ( Click for more )