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Politics, depending on how and where the word is used, has many shades of meaning. The word can be descriptive of the occupation of a principled patriot, or it can be used to describe the deeds of a despot. The difference arises from the motives and principles of the politician. Some make decisions based upon what they personally expect to get out of the process. They may obtain power, money, fringe benefits, or they may just get to keep their job. In any of the above cases, politics is a dirty word. That is what we get when character is not considered in electing or appointing our…  ( Click for more )

Visualization techniques are modern methods used by athletes and other performers to enhance the outcomes of their efforts. These techniques vary in details but the basics are the same. The performer “sees” himself in a particular desired outcome (as the winner of a race, a star of a show, etc., etc.) and then mentally places himself into that role (including all the feelings and sensations that he might expect and intend to experience). Although these methods produce enhanced performances in the physical realm, there is another visualization technique that God requires…  ( Click for more )

David was far more than an “ordinary Joe” in biblical history. In fact, as a king, he was the “gold standard” against which all other kings were to be measured for centuries. It is not uncommon to read the history of a particular king of Israel only to have it conclude with a statement about whether the ruler walked according to David’s example or not. For this reason, we could surmise that David was “a hard act to follow” when it came to pleasing God.

Yet, in spite of this well deserved reputation, we find this statement concerning Israel’s…  ( Click for more )

It is thought that Aesop lived about 600 years before Christ. Many sayings, mainly fables and proverbs, are attributed to him. One saying, whether he originated it or not, has come down to us and exists today as an American Proverb. It goes roughly as follows: “After all is said and done, a lot more is usually said than done.” We will consider this proverb in the light of what many say and believe about biblical faith.

Hebrews 11 is sometimes referred to tongue-in-cheek as the biblical “Hall of Faith.” Our focus today will be on the type of faith that…  ( Click for more )

Years ago I read an informative and helpful little book entitled, I Know It When I See It! It dealt with the fact that some things are hard to define, but easy enough to recognize. For instance, it may be hard to say what makes a great paint job on a car, but it can usually be spotted easily. It is just as true that the converse of this principle is true – It is sometimes easy to see when a particular quality or trait is missing. Take the same idea of looking at a paint job; I may not know whether it is great or not, but if it is splotchy and the color is inconsistent and dull,…  ( Click for more )

“Death is not optional.” Do you agree with this statement? Well then, how about “Death is optional,” do you agree with this statement? Maybe you agree with both statements. Actually you could agree with both statements and be totally rational since the two statements are not contradictory. How can that be? Today's devotional will answer that question by noting one of the better known events in the New Testament.

“Jesus said to her [Martha], 'Your brother [Lazarus] will rise again.' Martha said to Him, 'I know that he will rise again in the resurrection…  ( Click for more )

When the previously mute person spoke, it was quite enough to convince those who were open-minded of Jesus' authority. However, not everyone concluded that He was sent from God; some accused Him of being one of Satan's ministers. Specifically, they said, “He casts out demons by Beelzebub, the ruler of the demons.” (Luke 11.15).

“But He [Jesus], knowing their thoughts, said to them: 'Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and a house divided against a house falls. If Satan also is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? Because…  ( Click for more )

With friends like these, who needs enemies? Surely at some time in Job’s trials, he must have at least had this thought. After all his troubles were enough to make angels weep, but as if that were not enough, Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar came to “comfort” him. However rather than comfort him, they accosted Job with innuendos, insinuations, and outright accusations of evil on his part. The following excerpt from one of Zophar’s speeches is an example of the haughty and arrogant tirades of his friends.

“If iniquity were in your hand, and you put it far…  ( Click for more )

There’s something about sweet and sour pork that really appeals to me. I think it is the contrast of tastes that I experience when I eat it. Regarding taste, I understand that there are only five different taste sensations that we are capable of experiencing – sweet, bitter, savory, sour, and salty. Sweet and sour are on somewhat opposite ends of the pendulum of tastes; maybe it is this paradox of tastes that makes “sweet and sour” dishes a popular item with me and many other people.

It was this same “poles apart” doctrinal contrast that moved…  ( Click for more )

“So they came to Jerusalem. Then Jesus went into the temple and began to drive out those who bought and sold in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves. And He would not allow anyone to carry wares through the temple. Then He taught, saying to them, 'Is it not written, My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations’? But you have made it a den of thieves.” And the scribes and chief priests heard it and sought how they might destroy Him; for they feared Him, because all the people were astonished…  ( Click for more )

Water is universally needed. All living things depend upon it in one form or another. In times of great thirst or deprivation, men will do almost anything for a drink of water. Sometimes however, our thirst for water is dictated by our wishes and not our needs. Today’s devotional has to do with David, the second king of Israel and his wish regarding water from a special source.

“David was then in the stronghold, and the garrison of the Philistines was then in Bethlehem. And David said with longing, ‘Oh, that someone would give me a drink of water from the well…  ( Click for more )

In a biblical context, what do you think of when you hear the name Thomas? You shouldn't have any problem knowing the Thomas to which we are referring since there is only one in the entirety of the Bible. If you are like most of us, you might refer to this disciple as Doubting Thomas since he refused to believe that Jesus had raised from the dead without firsthand corporeal evidence.

If you wish to know anything about Thomas other than the fact that he was one of the twelve apostles, you will have to read these facts from the book of John. The other three gospel accounts merely…  ( Click for more )

“Now the next day, when they had come out from Bethany, He [Jesus] was hungry. And seeing from afar a fig tree having leaves, He went to see if perhaps He would find something on it. When He came to it, He found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs. In response Jesus said to it, 'Let no one eat fruit from you ever again.' And His disciples heard it.” (Mark 11.12-14). This reading has been the text from which hundreds and thousands of preachers have taken their sermon text. The gist of their sermons take Jesus' words and expand on them such that they conclude…  ( Click for more )

“An idiot will become intelligent, When the foal of a wild donkey is born a man.” (Job 11.12; NASV). “For an empty-headed man will be wise, When a wild donkey’s colt is born a man.” (Job 11.12 NKJV). Do you see any humor in this verse as translated by two popular translations? If not, go back and read it again. It is similar to statements like, “When pigs fly,” or “When cows have wings,” or “When the sun rises in the west.”

Actually these are all adynata, figures of speech in the form of hyperboles taken to such…  ( Click for more )

“By faith Sarah herself also received strength to conceive seed, and she bore a child when she was past the age, because she judged Him faithful who had promised.” (Hebrews 11.11).

The one who had promised Sarah a child was not an angel, though angels may have been involved. Neither was Abraham the one who promised Sarah that she would bear a son. The translators of the New King James version got it right when they capitalized the word Him in Hebrews 11.11 due to the fact that this pronoun clearly refers to God. It was God who had instructed Abram to remove to a land…  ( Click for more )

Every verse of the Bible is true, but only if taken with every other verse of the Bible. Today's text will be used to illustrate this point. More definitively, when one reads the Bible he/she can be assured that the truth is before him/her, but it can only be grasped if the passages being read are taken in their larger biblical context. Consider this fact as you read the balance of this devotional.

Jesus said, “So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks…  ( Click for more )

Motives, expectations, and attitude are usually tied together. In fact, they frequently are inextricably linked. To put it another way, we usually find what we are looking for. It is frequently the case that two people see the same things, but their opinions vary widely and even contradict on another. For instance, I have heard someone comment about a particular church and how extraordinarily friendly they are; on the other hand, I have heard others say the exact opposite about the same congregation. Our view of things is easily influenced by our expectations and attitudes. For example,…  ( Click for more )

An old adage: “Don’t complain about the food with your mouth full!” A small sign in the kitchen reads, “Complaints to the cook can be hazardous to your health.” These are what we might call “Common Sense” proverbs; they are so obvious that no one should have to teach us that they are to be observed.

Yet, this common sense lesson (along with scores of others) was totally missed by the Israelites both before and after their deliverance from Egyptian bondage. Take the following passage for example: “Now the mixed multitude [Egyptians…  ( Click for more )

How do you perceive God’s personality? Is He an old man who sits grumpily in the skies just waiting for someone to foul up so He can bring down His wrath upon the wretched being? Is He ever pleased with anything or anyone? Is He a perfectionist who demands that all things be done just the way He would do them or else they are unacceptable? Just who is God?

Consider the following passage: “By faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death, ‘and was not found, because God had taken him’; for before he was taken he had this testimony, that he pleased…  ( Click for more )

According to Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn, Dead Men Tell No Tales. However, according to the scriptures, dead men do speak, and in so doing tell their stories long after their demise. Such was certainly the case with the long list of people mentioned by the Hebrews writer in the eleventh chapter of his book. One person who spoke long after his death was Abel. Our devotional today will take a look at this ancient character and what the implications are regarding his continued speaking, though dead!

We now quote an inspired text: “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for,…  ( Click for more )

Progress can be defined as “to develop in a positive way,” or “to move forward toward a common goal.” The problem with each of these definitions is they leave it up to the speaker/writer to determine what is positive and whether or not the attainment of the goal is really progress. For instance, a gang of bank robbers might move forward with their plans to rob a bank, but is that really progress. Or, a new subdivision might be planned which destroys hundreds or thousands of years of natural phenomena.” Is that really progress? Not to argue the case one…  ( Click for more )

“In the LORD I put my trust; How can you say to my soul, 'Flee as a bird to your mountain'? For look! The wicked bend their bow, They make ready their arrow on the string, That they may shoot secretly at the upright in heart. If the foundations are destroyed, What can the righteous do? The LORD is in His holy temple, The LORD’s throne is in heaven; His eyes behold, His eyelids test the sons of men. The LORD tests the righteous, But the wicked and the one who loves violence His soul hates. Upon the wicked He will rain coals; Fire and brimstone and a burning wind Shall be…  ( Click for more )

Religious debates are, for all practical purposes, a thing of the past in our culture. This is not to say that they were good or bad, but to recall a point that I saw made in a debate in the early 1970’s. The debate was between two men, both of whom claimed to be Christians and believers in the Bible. One of the men was Trinitarian (subscribed to the belief that the Godhead consists of three persons) and the other was Unitarian (subscribed to the belief that God exists as only one person). As the debate was winding down, Mr. Patterson, the Unitarian introduced his son who was…  ( Click for more )

As a young man I remember hearing a brash, up-and-coming boxer recite a poem which contained the line, “I am the greatest.” This same fighter had several nicknames, one of them being The Louisville Lip. There is no doubt that he was a great fighter even as his record and championship belts bear witness. Was he the greatest? That’s an argument that may never be settled.

The word greatest is a word which involves comparing one thing with others things. The word greater involves comparing one thing with one other thing. Like similar words in the English language…  ( Click for more )