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Do we ever justify ourselves? Before you answer this question, I would beg you to complete the reading of this article.

Yesterday we read where Luke wrote about a lawyer who came to Jesus with some very legitimate sounding questions. However, there was more to the purpose of the lawyer than met the eye. First, his very purpose in coming to Jesus was in order to test him (Luke 10.25). Secondly, when he was questioned by Jesus, he responded with the primary motive of justifying himself (Luke 10.29). These few facts certainly do not raise an honest person's opinion of the lawyer;…  ( Click for more )

One of the best known parables, The Good Samaritan, was spoken in response to an insincere question! This doesn't make the answer which Jesus gave any less significant or true, but it does shed light on just how far we are capable of going in order to divert the attention from ourselves when we are wrong and to thereby “justify ourselves.” This message begins a short series on the subject of biblical justification. By the very nature of subject, it will also focus on the systems of false justification that we have invented to ourselves. We begin by noting the events that…  ( Click for more )

Of all the forms of exercise that humans can choose, perhaps the most universally accepted and practiced form is walking. There are all sorts and types of walking that one can do. It can be fast, slow, intense, leisurely, long, short, uphill, downhill, straight, or crooked. It can be in the heat of the day or in the cool of the evening. It can be done alone, as a couple, in a small group, or even in huge numbers to raise funds for some worthy cause. There are almost as many styles of walking as there are people on the earth. Some have such distinct walks that their identity can be…  ( Click for more )

"…[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 way, without grace, we would have no hope.…  ( Click for more )

Some things just take time! No one can argue with this statement. Also it seems like the things we want most take an abundance of time to come to pass. At times we may have exclaimed while waiting for a long anticipated event, “It seems like time is standing still!” Today's Little Lift takes a brief look at one such event. It was a long time coming and its effects will be a long time lasting. Consider this truly one-of-a-kind event!

Paul wrote about it when he penned, “But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under…  ( Click for more )

Freedom of speech is one of the most revered and precious freedoms which we have in the USA. We can, with very few restrains, literally say anything that we wish to without fear of recrimination from those who might differ or object. This is vastly different from what exists in the majority of the world's population. Governments with state run radio and television stations know nothing of such freedom; every word that is broadcast is carefully scrubbed and polished so as to present only the best side of the government to the listening public.

Freedom to speak, however, does not…  ( Click for more )

Scoop: Code Adam at Temple; Boy of 12Missing! Once again Dr. Luke scooped the other three gospel writers with this unique and interesting story. Whether you are familiar with this happening or not, you will find a blessing in reading it as our current installment of Today's Little Lift.

“His [Jesus'] parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover. And when He was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem according to the custom of the feast. When they had finished the days, as they returned, the Boy Jesus lingered behind in Jerusalem. And Joseph and…  ( Click for more )

Scoop: Under the Steeple are ALL My People! Luke scoops the other three gospel writers by specifically applying Isaiah's prophecies concerning God's people to all flesh. Israel, according to Isaiah as well as Luke's citation of Isaiah, was not to be the sole recipient of God's blessings announced by the Messiah's forerunner. As we will see, both Matthew and Mark cited a part of Isaiah's prophecy about the comfort that was coming to God's people, but only Luke extended the prophecy to its rightful end, i.e. the Gentiles seeing the salvation of the Lord!

Luke writes, “And…  ( Click for more )

Scoop: Disciples Shout while Thomas Doubts! In keeping with my intention to present a few spiritual scoops as articles, today's message contains one of my all time favorite biblical stories. Were it not for John's gospel, we would have no knowledge of this faith-building event. Enjoy Doubting Thomas!

“Then, the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them, 'Peace be with you.' When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His…  ( Click for more )

Do you know the scoop? Well, the scoop is this: The meaning of words is fixed by the context. And, the word scoop is no exception. Without context it could mean: 1) A deep shovel, 2) A particular style of neckline on ladies' apparel, or 3) Information of interest that has been obtained and published exclusively. Scoop can be used either as a noun or as a verb. Today's message and a few messages to follow will be about spiritual scoops. For our purposes, a spiritual scoop is information of eternal interest that is stated exclusively by a single biblical writer or speaker.

Here's…  ( Click for more )

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 command Philemon to receive Onesimus back; rather, he appealed to him out of love…  ( Click for more )

Consider the following list of words: Wise, holy, thankful, just, lawful, worthy, merciful, loving, forgiven, fruitful, godly, penitent, righteous, clean, believing, faithful, profitable. Do you like this list of words? Do you see these words as positive human attributes/conditions? To anyone who actually loves God, this list is a virtual recipe for success both here on in eternity. Now let’s turn that list around.

Consider each of the words again from this list. Now, in order to illustrate a point, place the little prefix “un” directly before each of these words.…  ( Click for more )

Snow came to Atlanta last week and caused me to look at the word snow and related matters in the Bible. Three previous messages this week resulted from this brief look into the scriptures. Today's message will be the final one in this miniseries. Lest you think my mind is entirely disconnected, I beg your indulgence in reading until the connection becomes clear.

My father's given names were different. I didn't know exactly how different they were until recently. His first name, Evart, is my middle name; I am the only person of whom I am aware with this name. I did find a town…  ( Click for more )

It was right between the sidewalk and the street, the largest one third of a snowman I had ever seen. I don't know who made it, but it appeared on day one of Atlanta's snow last week. Actually I don't even know that it was intended to be a third of a snowman, but it seemed to fit. It appeared that someone had intended to build a gigantic snowman, but all the energy was sapped out of him/her just from preparing the lower body of the snowman. Besides, even if the person could have managed to make the middle sphere of the snowman's body, it would have taken a construction crane to have…  ( Click for more )

During the sunny but cold days that followed last week’s snowfall in Atlanta, I found it necessary to wear sunglasses when driving for any length of time. I had seen snow before, but not like this. Immediately after the snow fell, a slow and extremely cold rain began to fall and formed a crust of ice on top of the snow. The grass, trees, bushes and everything close to the surface of the earth reflected light from all directions; the indirect light literally hurt!

For centuries, the word snow has been used to describe objects that are extremely white. In fact, the Bible uses…  ( Click for more )

The Sunny South is an expression I have heard all my life. I was born here and I have lived here all my life. I have ventured into the northern states a few times during the winter months and was always glad to get home to a more moderate clime. Last week in Atlanta was an entirely different and unprecedented week for the Sunny South. What fell as about a three or four inch snow proved to be our match. In fact as I was driving to work on Thursday (one of only three days I was able to get to the office due to icy road conditions), I spotted a white flag marking one of the holes on…  ( Click for more )

Who needs help? The plain fact is: We all do! That was the principle behind God’s creation of woman, i.e. to be a helper suitable for man. As much as we might like to believe and/or have others believe to the contrary, no one is entirely sufficient in and of himself or herself. The strongest man and the strongest woman – both need help from time to time.

The principle of fellowship involves helping; it involves more but certainly helping one another is included. The New Testament is replete with examples and commands that involve helping one another. Jesus Himself…  ( Click for more )

Jude’s marvelous benediction reads: "To God our Savior, Who alone is wise, Be glory and majesty, Dominion and power, Both now and forever. Amen." (Jude 1.25). There is one phrase in this closing sentence of Jude’s short book which may escape our attention unless something drives us to observe it. That shall be the purpose of this 5 part miniseries, i.e. to drive us to consider the phrase, Who Alone Is Wise.

Wisdom is a valuable asset. It cannot insure that we always have only what is best, but it can go a long way toward that end. Circumstances beyond our…  ( Click for more )

Tired of ordinary sermons? For a refreshing change, try the Sermon on the Mount. The contents of this timeless sermon are not ordinary; its speaker was not ordinary; its purpose was not ordinary; its implications were not ordinary. About the only thing ordinary about the Sermon on the Mount were the issues with which the hearers were dealing. These were as old as time itself; they have not changed since then by any appreciable amount. The names are different, the customs are different, but the struggles are the same. It is a timeless message aimed directly at the heart of humanity. …  ( Click for more )

Pleasures come in all varieties and types and today's study will show this to be the case. Some have erroneously thought that pleasures of any kind were to be avoided. It is true that pleasure can involve doubtful or even sinful behavior, but it is also true that, depending upon one's frame of reference, pleasure can also be derived from that which edifies and builds up.

To set the stage for this message, I call to your remembrance the well known fact that the apostle Paul had his infamous “thorn in the flesh.” (see 2 Corinthians 12.7). This was not Paul's “A”…  ( Click for more )

“But when they [Paul and Barnabas] departed from Perga, they came to Antioch in Pisidia, and went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day and sat down. And after the reading of the Law and the Prophets, the rulers of the synagogue sent to them, saying, 'Men and brethren, if you have any word of exhortation for the people, say on.'” (Acts 13.14-15).

Regardless of what chronology one believes, the journey of Paul and Barnabas into the mission fields of the Jews and Gentiles was not one second too soon. Needless to say, they were not well received in all ports, but that…  ( Click for more )

So the story goes that a youthful salesman stopped by a farm one day to peddle his wares. Looking out over the field, he saw the farmer hoisting a pig up into the air so he could reach one of the ripened apples on the tree. Somewhat stumped by the event, he continued to watch; amazed, he saw the farmer do this a half dozen times – lift the pig up, let him down to eat a choice apple, lift the pig up – and repeat the cycle. Being somewhat aware of time management, the salesman could not manage his curiosity. He made his way out to the farmer, introduced himself, and began…  ( Click for more )

The greatest story, the story of comfort and light, continues with quotations from Luke 2:

21And when eight days were completed for the circumcision of the Child, His name was called JESUS, the name given by the angel before He was conceived in the womb.

22Now when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were completed, they brought Him to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord

23 (as it is written in the law of the Lord, Every male who opens the womb shall be called holy to the LORD),

24 and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the law…  ( Click for more )

Peace and good will toward man are wonderful and unfathomable blessings! Among the significant sayings of the angelic chorus to the shepherds, perhaps their words about peace are best known. As a part of our study on comfort, we submit the greater context (Luke 2) in which the angel's words about peace are found.

1And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed.

2 (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)

3And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.

4And…  ( Click for more )