Paul was fond of athletic images and used them often in his letters. The Corinthians would have been familiar with the Greek Olympic Games as well as their own local Isthmian Games. Knowing this, Paul used a metaphor very close to their experience. An athlete must be disciplined if he...
In Bible times, a scribe’s work was to examine the Law and discover its teachings. Remember that the scribes began as a very noble group. They devoted themselves to the protection and preservation of the Law. But sad to say, the scribes degenerated into an unspiritual clique and were more...
Along with jogging, walking has become a popular exercise and outdoor sport. As I drive in the city, I often see individuals and entire families enjoying a walk in the park or in the forest preserves. When driving on the highway, I sometimes wave to “walking parties” heading for some...
Did God enjoy watching a tyrant like Pharaoh? No, He endured it. The fact that God was long-suffering indicates that He gave Pharaoh opportunities to be saved. God prepares men for glory, but sinners prepare themselves for judgment. In Moses and Israel God revealed the riches of His mercy; in...
All of us have lost our joy because of people: what they are, what they say, and what they do. But we have to live and work with people; we cannot isolate ourselves and still live to glorify Christ. We are the light of the world and the salt of...
Sir Walter Scott wrote: “Oh, what a tangled web we weave When first we practice to deceive!” The life that is real cannot be built on things that are deceptive. Before we can walk in the light, we must know and accept ourselves and yield ourselves to God. It is...
We must keep in mind that our enemies (the flesh and blood variety) are tools of the real enemy, Satan. “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in...
The Lord has chosen to develop patience and character in our lives through trials. Endurance cannot be attained by reading a book (even this one), listening to a sermon, or even praying a prayer. We must go through the difficulties of life, trust God, and obey Him. The result will...
In ministering to the Thessalonians, the Apostle Paul prayed for three specific requests that serve to show us how we ought to pray for others (1 Thessalonians 3:10-13). First, he prayed that their faith might mature (v.10). The faith of Christians never reaches perfection; there is always need for adjustment...
In one of the churches I pastored, a teenager seemed to be the center of every problem in the youth group. He was a gifted musician and a member of the church, but nevertheless a problem. One summer when he went to our church youth camp, the youth leaders and...