Many of life’s problems are caused by wrong words spoken in the wrong spirit. Peter exhorts us to: (1) Have unity of mind. Unity is not uniformity. Unity is cooperation despite diversity. (2) Have compassion. Compassion or sympathy means to have a sincere feeling for and with the needs …
The farmers and vine growers had reason to mourn since the fruit of their labor had been destroyed (vv. 11-12) Joel cries out to the temple priests to recognize their desperate condition, to gird themselves with sackcloth and to prostrate themselves all night before God i …
This chapter defines the boundaries of Judah’s inheritance (vv. 1-12). As we listen to Joshua parcel out the inheritance of the land to the various tribes and observe the reaction of what was given to them, it is not hard to see ourselves. We find Caleb getting down to business and defeating the …
This parable is not to be confused with the parable of the great supper (Luke 14:16-24). The period described here must be after Jesus’ resurrection and ascension and the coming of the Holy Spirit. The Father is still inviting the people of Israel to come, despite what they did to His Son. The king …
As Jesus travels toward Jerusalem and eventually the cross, He is teaching His disciples and preparing them for the time He will no longer be with them. In the passage we are reading today he is teaching them about forgiveness and faithfulness: Forgiveness (vv. 1- …
Chapter 23 opens with Paul standing before the Sanhedrin presenting his case. Gazing earnestly at the council, he told them he had lived before God, doing his duty with a perfectly good conscience (v. 1). Ananias, a corrupt high priest, order that Paul should be slapped across the mouth to forcibly …
If there is to be reconciliation between God and man, the initiative and action must come from God. These false teachers in Colosse said that the angels could in some way bring men closer to God. But it was only through the blood of Christ that peace was made between God and ma …
These verses emphasize God’s role as sovereign king of the universe. We may make plans, but the answers are from God (v. 1). We think our ways are pure, but God weighs the motives of each of us (v. 2). It says that “the Lord weighs the spirits.” It takes …
Christ died to set us free from sin and from a long list of laws and regulations. He came to set us free but not free to do whatever we want because that would lead us back into slavery to our selfish desires. Paul says to stand fast in our liberty in Christ (v. 1). He often tell …
There are books written by liberal theologians that take the position that the Flood was local. They say that it was confined to the Tigris ?“ Euphrates valley and formed sort of a big swimming pool over there, and that is all there was. May I say that the Bible makes it very clear that there was a …