The Gnostics believed that the angels and the heavenly bodies influenced people’s lives. Paul’s warnings to the Colossians about “new moon” and other religious practices determined by the calendar may be related to this Gnostic teaching, although the Jewish people also watched the calendar. One thing is certain: such teachings...
The word covetousness literally means “love of money,” but it can be applied to a love for more of anything. Covetousness is the desire for more, whether we need it or not. Contentment cannot come from material things, for they can never satisfy the heart. Only God can do that....
In times of trouble and testing, it is important that we take the long view of things. Paul lived in the future tense as well as in the present. His actions were governed by what God would do in the future. He knew that Jesus Christ would return and reward...
In one of my radio messages I made the statement, “God does not expect us to be comfortable—but He does expect us to be conformable." No sooner had the program ended than my office phone rang and an anonymous listener wanted to argue with me about that statement. Conformable to...
When we live in an atmosphere of humility and honesty, we take some risks and expect some dangers. Unless humility and honesty result in forgiveness, relationships cannot be mended and strengthened. Peter recognized the risks involved and asked Jesus how many times he should forgive a brother’s sin against him...
Young Christians need the kind of fellowship that will protect them and encourage them to grow. But we cannot treat them as "babies” all their lives! More mature Christians must exercise love and patience and be careful not to cause them to stumble. Younger Christians must mature in the faith...
If anyone else asked, “Whom do men say that I am?” we would think him either mad or arrogant. But in the case of Jesus, a right confession of His Person is basic to salvation. His Person and His work go together and must never be separated. It is amazing...
It is not our responsibility to decide the requirements for Christian fellowship in a church; only the Lord can do this. To set up man-made restrictions on the basis of personal prejudices (or even convictions) is to go beyond the Word of God. Because God has received us, we must...
In my pastoral work I often found that suffering people can become very self-centered; they think they are the only ones going through the furnace. Everyone goes through normal human suffering such as sickness, pain, and bereavement. But what about the suffering we endure because we are Christians? Perhaps your...
I went out and sinned,” a student told his campus chaplain, “be-cause 1 knew I could come back and ask God to forgive me.” “On what basis can God forgive you?” the chaplain asked,pointing to 1 John 1:9. “God is faithful and just,” the boy replied. “Those two words should...