Anxiety
Proverbs 12:25 says, “Anxiety in the heart of man causes depression, But a good word makes it glad.” There are three observations that need to be made about this proverb. First, this proverb is not gender-specific. It is using the word “man” in a generic sense of a human being. Thus, the truth of it […]
At the End of My Life
I had the opportunity to attend a funeral recently. I say “opportunity” because Solomon said it is good to visit the “house of mourning” (Ecclesiastes 7:2). I have no idea when the end of my life will come. I also have no idea when the Lord will come. But I want to be able to […]
Judging With Righteous Judgment
The ability to reason from observable evidence to reach a conclusion is God-given. The ability to reason manifests itself every time we make a judgment about a person or action. However, judgment is so serious a responsibility that there are admonitions in scriptures warning us to judge with righteous judgment. Jesus Himself warns, “Judge not […]
Should I Attend a Dance?
Should a Christian or anyone who wants to be godly attend the Homecoming dance or Prom? There are a lot of high school activities in which young people can involve themselves. Many of these are appropriate, but that does not mean that every school activity is one in which they should be involved. How does […]
What Is Wrong With One Drink?
A generation ago, it was a given that if you belonged to a denominational church, you did not drink. Period. End of discussion. Drinking was something that Lutherans and Catholics did. People in denominations did not want any part of it. However, the denominational consensus against social drinking has largely evaporated in the last several […]
How to Be Useful
One of the saddest circumstances for a gospel preacher is to talk to an older member who feels that they’re no longer useful. Or maybe a younger person feels that they haven’t “come into their own” and therefore aren’t very useful to the kingdom of God. But people can be more useful than they think, […]
Caleb Claims a Promise
In Joshua 14:6-15, Israel had come into the promised land of Canaan and had conquered much of it. It was time to divide the land among the tribes. Caleb, who with Joshua were the only two men who entered the land from the older generation, looks to claim a promise that had been given him […]
Escaping the Cult of Busyness
The account of Martha and Mary in the Bible has always fascinated me. In Luke 10:38-42, Jesus is at the home of Mary and Martha — two women who, along with their brother Lazarus, are close companions of Jesus. As any host would be with such a distinguished guest, Martha is the epitome of busyness, […]
“Rise Up, and Call Her Blessed”
Near the end of the description of the worthy woman, Lemuel says, “Her children rise up and call her blessed; Her husband also, and he praises her: ‘Many daughters have done well, But you excel them all’” (Proverbs 31:28-29). This has been a point I’ve thought about a lot. Ephesians 6:1-2 says, “Children, obey your […]
“Who Hath Despised the Day of Small Things?”
God had decreed that Cyrus, king of the Medes and Persians, would release the exiled Jews and allow them to return back to Judea, to rebuild Jerusalem and to lay the foundation for the temple which Nebuchadnezzar had destroyed (Isa. 44:28). Cyrus appointed Zerubbabel (Sheshbazzar) as governor of Judea to accomplish that work (Ezra 5:15). […]