Courage Like Ananias
Have you ever been intimidated or afraid to do something you know you should? Acts 9:1-19 tells the story of a man’s conversion to Christ. He was a vicious persecutor whose nasty reputation already preceded him. Of course, I’m talking about Saul who we know as the tireless and faithful apostle Paul. But before he […]
Bill Buckner
Bill Buckner was one of the greatest players in the game of baseball. He played 22 seasons; only 25 players in the history of baseball have played more games. He had more hits than 70% of the players currently in the Baseball Hall of Fame, including Mickey Mantle, Reggie Jackson, Johnny Bench, and Ted Williams. […]
Godly Sorrow
Paul wrote, “For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death” (2 Corinthians 7:10). There is a difference between worldly sorrow and godly sorrow, though both are deeply felt. You can feel genuine sorrow over something you have done. Your mind can become consumed […]
What’s a Man to Do?
Job, according to Job 1:1, was “blameless and upright, and one who feared God and shunned evil.” What greater commendation could be given a man? Not only was Job wealthy, but he had six children that he loved dearly. He loved them so much that he wanted them to be pure before God (1:5). What’s a man […]
Alcohol is a Thief
We might not think about alcohol in terms of “a thief,” but I would suggest that it is. Solomon said long ago, “Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise” (Proverbs 20:1). Notice how absolute these words are. “Whosoever” (that includes you and me) “is deceived” (into thinking […]
Everyone is Accountable
In order to ease people’s consciences, it is easy for them to think that the law of God does not apply to them. But it is not that one is accountable only if they obey the gospel. Everyone is accountable. Some have contended that there was a universal moral law that applied to the Gentiles. […]
Those Terrible Blind Spots
I almost got hit a few weeks ago. A friend and I had been stripping woodwork in the dining room and ran out of supplies. So I drove downtown and parallel parked in front of the hardware store. I made my purchase, got in the car, and began to pull out of my parking space. […]
A Spiritual Self-Growth Test
Online publications frequently provide tests you can give yourself to see how you are doing in some area like your health, finances, marriage, etc. It’s meant to be a self-help analysis to point out where improvements are needed. Below is a short test to see how you’re growing spiritually. Answer the questions honestly. Can you […]
Are You Ready for the Judgment Day?
In the middle of a long series of exhortations, Paul wrote a short one that’s memorable and hard-hitting, especially in light of the fact that we will face God in the judgment (Romans 14:12; 2 Corinthians 5:10; Revelation 20:12). There are three steps the Holy Spirit wanted you to remember in Romans 13:11-14. Wake up: […]
Decisions, Decisions, Decisions
H. W. Andrews once said, “While an open mind is priceless, it is priceless only when its owner has the courage to make a final decision which closes the mind for action after the process of viewing all sides of the question has been completed. Failure to make a decision after due consideration of all […]