Matthew 5:14-16 says, “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.  Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”

My grandmother was a good example of letting her Christian life shine. The lives she had an influence on are still evident today even though she passed on over 20 years ago. Growing up was always Sunday morning, evening, and Wednesday nights. We would leave home and always swing by and pick up my grandmother. She was most of the time standing outside waiting for us to pick her up. She never had gotten her driver’s license and my grandfather never attended church, so she rode with us.

She was apparently the spiritual leader of her house when my dad and his brother and sister were growing up. My dad, as long as I can remember, was a deacon or elder and remains an elder today. That is not likely to have happened without Christian upbringing.

You could tell my grandmother was a Christian by her actions and hearing her talk. She was always singing hymns around the house and reading her Bible. She was on the phone with people who missed services. I spent a lot of my childhood around my grandparents and I don’t recall her saying anything bad about anyone. She had her health issues but was always happy and loved her family very much.

Later on, after Amy and I were married one Sunday morning I noticed my grandmother didn’t come in the building with mom and dad. Not long after, she came in with a smile on her face and my grandmother came in behind her. He was probably 80 years old at the time. I don’t remember him missing church on Sundays after that day. My grandfather obeyed the gospel a year or so later. I will never forget that day.

I never knew the conversations they had about his salvation, but my grandmother had always let her light shine and lived a good Christian life. She planted a lot of seeds in her life. Some took longer than others to germinate, but she had a Christian influence on a lot of folks. I guess my point in this is that we can all have influence on people by the way we live our lives. The old saying is that there is always someone watching.

I am so glad my grandfather finally became a Christian. It is my opinion today that my grandmother’s Christian example is still reaping benefits. Her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren are all Christians. I know that life is more fast-paced than it was back when my grandparents were raising a family but we still have plenty of opportunities to let our Christian light shine in all we do.

Todd Dickerson

In the Old Testament, when God promised a thing, he would put the promise in the past tense. If he said it, it was a done deal. If he promised, you could count on it being done.

On the banks of the Jordan River, Moses recounted to Israel the work of God among them. When King Og of Bashan came out with his whole army against the nation, the Lord said to Moses:

“Don’t be afraid of him because I have already given him, his whole army, and his land to you” Deuteronomy 3.2a.

Happy connections are seen during Bible readings. This morning, I read that chapter, shortly after reading Mark 11 and Jesus’ word to his followers about prayer — it impressed me so much I used it for the “Verse of the Day” over on The Fellowship Room.

He said, “For this reason I tell you, whatever you pray and ask for, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours” Mark 11.24.

This is not, of course, a blanket promise. We must ask according to the will of God. The Lord is sovereign and knows how best to answer our prayers. Even in this context, Jesus mentions the condition of forgiving others, Mark 11.25. But such qualifications should never keep us from appreciating the surety of God’s answers to our prayers.

So much so that the Lord Jesus puts it in the past (aorist) tense. “Believe that you have received it.”

A few versions insert the word “already” to reinforce the idea: “… have faith that you have already received whatever you pray for” (GW).

Yes, it’s a rhetorical device, a hyperbole, that Jesus uses. And he does it for emphasis. Truly believe when you ask! The Gospel of Mark emphasizes the necessity of faith. And when faith is present, one may be sure of God’s answer.

As when God gave King Og into Israel’s hand, God answers the prayer of his faithful saints. It’s a done deal when we pray that

• the gospel may find open hearts;
• the church may grow;
• we may resist temptation;
• God may forgive us of our sins;
• peace and unity may reign among us;
• the truth may overcome error;
• God may be glorified in us.

Dear brother and sister, pray with faith. Ask God in full assurance of receiving. Do not doubt in any way that the Lord will hear and answer prayer. To the heavenly Father, before you ask.

J. Randal Matheny

How do you feel when you stand before a crowd with all eyes on you?  Do your palms get cold and clammy?  Do you become nervous and anxious?  Do you blush, tremble, shake, or get nauseous?  Multiple sources indicate that 90 percent of all people deal with some level of stage fright (Vijai P. Sharma).  So chances are pretty good that you deal with some degree of stage fright.  However, this article is not about overcoming stage fright.  Even though 90% of people deal with this issue, there is at least one stage where the vast majority of people feel no fright at all – Social Media.

Not long ago, Facebook has reached 2.6 billion active users, YouTube reached 2 billion, and Instagram with 1 billion (Sprouts Social). This means there is potentially a massive number of people able to watch you and see exactly what you say and do. Are you feeling a little bit of that stage fright coming back?

Most people are very careful in front of a crowd but may not so much on social media. Something we would never say before a crowd, we boldly proclaim at the keyboard.

God has always called His people to be different from everyone else (1 Corinthians 6:9-11; 2 Timothy 2:21; etc).  The question is, are we still different on social media?  Here are several categories to consider:

What Do We Say and Post? Are we ugly and argumentative? Do people see more of our political identity than our Christian identity? Are there any words on our accounts that reflect a less than Christian behavior? Could someone look at our profiles and see bad language, gossip, slander, or other forms of crude and crass speech (2 Corinthians 12:20; James 3)?

What People and Activities Do We “Like” (Support)?  Do we “Like” celebrities, athletes, artists or other people with trashy reputations?  Do we support movies, music, TV shows, video games, or other things that are not Christ-like (Romans 12:2)? Do we “like” things that are clearly sinful?

What Pictures Are On Our Profiles?  Do any pictures show us engaging in sin or other less than godly behaviors (Romans 13:13-14)?  Do any pictures show us hanging with people or in places a Christians should not be (1 Corinthians 15:33)?  Do any pictures of us or anyone else on our profiles display immodesty or promote lust (1 Timothy 2:9-10; Romans 13:13; Matthew 5:28)?

In Matthew 5:14-16, God has called us to be a light in the darkness. There is nothing further and more contrasting to darkness than light. Do we dabble in darkness on social media? What kind of conclusions will people make about us? Will they even know we are Christians?

We must always be careful to be Christ-like in all parts of our lives. Whether it is out in public or online, may we always live by Colossians 3:17, “Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus…”

Brett Petrillo

Although we realize that God is different from us and so much more than we are, often we place our human limitations and thoughts in how we think of him. Two verses that should bring us back to our senses are found in 2 Peter 3.

“Now, dear friends, do not let this one thing escape your notice, that a single day is like a thousand years with the Lord and a thousand years are like a single day. The Lord is not slow concerning his promise, as some regard slowness, but is being patient toward you, because he does not wish for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:8-9 NET)

There are two thoughts here that radically distinguish God from humans.

The first is that God does not view time as we do. For most of us when we were young time seemed to go by slowly, but as we get older it seems to accelerate and go by faster and faster. But God is eternal. From his perspective, time becomes a bit more relative: “a single day is like a thousand years with the Lord and a thousand years are like a single day”. (By the way, this is not a formula for calculating prophecies – and if a day is like a thousand years, don’t forget the corollary: a thousand years are also like a day.)

What does this say about God? If nothing else it tells us that he looks at time differently than we do. Which leads to the second thought: because God doesn’t view time as we do, his speed in doing things may be regarded by many as being slow.

Rather than slowness, we are reminded that it is God being patient. Do we really want him to act quickly when someone does something wrong? We might think the answer to that is ‘yes’, but do we want him acting quickly every time we do something wrong? We realize the need to correct what we do – we want time to change. This is what God extends to all people.

God does not delight in people dying in their sin. He wants all to “come to repentance” – he wants them to turn from their sin and choose to follow him. So it might seem from our perspective that he is taking too long to right some wrongs. But from God’s perspective, he is showing his love in giving people time to change their lives. Sadly, too many have no interest in changing. But God is still patient.

Rather than fretting over why God, in our opinion, takes so long, we need to be looking to ourselves. We need to “strive to be found at peace, without spot or blemish, when you come into his presence. And regard the patience of our Lord as salvation” (2 Peter 3:14-15).

Rather than worrying about what others are doing and what God is or isn’t doing, our concern should be to make sure that we are ready to be with the Lord. “Without spot or blemish” refers to Israel’s sacrifices under the Law. These sacrifices had to be the best, without any defects. This is what we should be concerned about: living for God so that we can present our lives to him as a perfect sacrifice.

We realize that this takes time. It takes time for others to change. It takes time for each of us to get our lives straightened out. We should regard the Lord’s patience as salvation – as providing time for us all to get ready to be with him.

No wonder Peter ended his letter this way: “But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the honor both now and on that eternal day” (2 Peter 3:18).

by Jon Galloway

“And he said to all, ‘If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.’” Luke 9:23

Have you ever asked yourself, “What does it look like for me to deny myself?” To help us consider self-denial, Dewey Howard, compiled the following list.

• Denying self-life means turning my back on human standards for success or the “good life,” and instead taking up the cross of God’s standards for real life.
• Denying self-life means turning my back on human ideas of what pleases and glorifies God, and instead taking up the cross that truly brings a smile to God’s face and represents him well to others.
• Denying self-life means everything in life – whether perceived good or bad, success or failure, pleasurable or uncomfortable – is viewed as an opportunity to bring glory and praise to God.
• Denying self-life views possessions as a way to bring glory and praise to God rather than as (a) a substitute for the Giver, and (b) a means to preserve and glorify self.
• Denying self-life revisions trials, difficulties, and challenges as a way to bring glory and praise to God rather than as circumstances to be avoided at all costs.
• Denying self-life means that ultimately my reputation is unimportant. All that is important is God’s reputation through me.
• In taking up my cross, I turn my back on things that this world insists will bring happiness, joy, comfort, security, etc., and instead turn into the mission for which God has placed me on this planet.
• In taking up my cross, physical Death is no longer the enemy and therefore is not to be feared. Spiritual Death is to be avoided at all costs by living all of life on the path that Jesus travelled.
• In taking up my cross, I can expect challenges to be the rule of life, not the exception, because I follow Jesus and share in his life, death, and reward.
• When other disciples experience difficulties because of Christ, I encourage them with evidence of their following Christ rather than minimize the challenges, or explain them away, or hope that life will somehow treat them better.
• When discipling others, I hold these words of Jesus out to them rather than conceal them with a promise of pain-free, self-serving religious experience.

As humans we tend to be selfish, so self-denial certainly isn’t easy. However, Christ tells his followers to practice it every day. Let us pray, asking God’s guidance and strength to obey this command.

Larry Hays

A Chinese legend tells of some cultured gentlemen who often met to exchange wisdom and drink tea.  Each host tried to impress the guests with the finest and most costly teas.  When it came time for the most esteemed and respected one of the group to entertain, he served what appeared to be a truly exquisite tea.  He showcased a small golden box.  Glistening in the light, the host opened the lid and carefully measured out the tea leaves.  After drinking the tea, the guests praised the host for this most exceptional tea.  The host smiled and said, “The tea you have found so delightful is the same tea our peasants drink.  I hope it will be a reminder to all that the good things in life are not necessarily the rarest or the most costly.”

What a great reminder!  Truly all of the greatest parts of this life are free because the greatest parts are the ones that come from God.  Take Romans 6:23 for example, “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”  Consider Ephesians 1:6-8 as well, “to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved.  In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace which He lavished on us…”

The eternal life, grace, redemption, and forgiveness God offers us doesn’t cost us a dime.  These gifts aren’t even rare since they are offered to everyone on earth.  We don’t have to scour to the ends of the earth to find these incredible blessings.  We don’t have to complete some impossible tasks.  God freely gives them.

What does make these gifts rare, however, is the fact that so many in this life reject them (Acts 4:11-12).  It seems the Lord’s precious gifts have the opposite effect as in the story above.  The Lord’s box isn’t flashy and expensive-looking.  Instead, it appears simple and meek (i.e. Christ), yet it contains the greatest parts of this life.  Many do not see the tremendous value found in Christ and His gifts.  What a tragedy this is.

Let’s remember how little we had to pay for God’s incredible gifts to us.  Let’s accept these gifts through obedience to God (Acts 2:38; 1 Peter 3:21).  Above all, let’s praise the Lord for giving us far beyond what we deserve (Romans 6:23).

Brett Petrillo

Frank Buck was a true adventurer. He lived in 1900’s and would travel all over the world bringing back all kinds of exotic animals. What set him apart from others in his profession was that he didn’t shoot the animals and bring back their stuffed skins. In Frank’s mind, anyone  could gun them down, but who would dare bring back a lion or a rhino—alive?

Frank Buck  probably didn’t know it, but he was very scriptural in his approach. Jesus sent us out to seek and to save the lost, not to destroy them. It seems as though some may have forgotten that key element. That infamous Wild West poster we see in movies reading, “WANTED! DEAD OR ALIVE” doesn’t fit the biblical model for evangelism.

Soul-winning is about leading others to Christ. It’s not about winning the argument or flexing our vast amounts of knowledge. It’s not about proving someone how ignorant and wrong they are. It’s not about showing others how impossible we are to defeat in the match of verbal fisticuffs. It’s about saving their souls. Jesus is looking for those gutsy followers. The ones who are willing to take action and get out there! The Greek word “ZOGREO” only appears twice in the New Testament, as far as I know. The word literally means, “to take alive.”

In Luke 5:10 the word is used to express one being taken alive for God. In 2 Timothy 2:26, Paul would used the word when talking about those who have been taken captive by the devil. These two verses remind us that all will be taken somehow. Some from life to death, others from death to life. Matthew 28 is the Great Commission, our permission to baptize people for the remission of their sins. You can be that gutsy follower since Jesus said He’s going to go out with us, “even to the end of the world.” Let’s get out there and bring ‘em back alive.

Dale Pollard

In John’s Gospel, we see some insights into the ministry of Jesus that we do not see in the other three accounts. In particular, when we focus in on the last few chapters before His arrest, we see some principles that should be true of how we all minister to others.

1. We should love individuals (11:3).
2. We should be concerned with glorifying the Lord (11:4, 40-42; 12:28).
3. We should love families (11:5).
4. We should develop friendships (11:11).
5. We should encourage others (11:23).
6. We should sympathize and empathize with others (11:33).
7. We should show our emotions (11:35).
8. We should spend time with people (12:1-2).
9. We should go back and visit again after the fact (12:1-2).
10. We should allow others to minister to us (12:7-8).

• We should be willing to do what the Lord expects of us (12:24-27, 30-33).

12. We should be teaching (12:44-50).
13. We should love other ministers (13:1).
14. We should humble ourselves (13:4-5, 13-14).
15. We should serve (13:5).
16. We should help people try to understand (13:7, 12, 17).
17. We should be real (13:21).
18. We should serve all equally (13:22).
19. We should encourage love (13:34-35).
20. We should encourage (14:1).

Whether you are a preacher, an elder, a minister, a teacher, a deacon, or “just” a follower of Jesus, we all are called to minister to others. May we all do so with the love and purpose shown to us by the Master Teacher!

Corey Sawyers

On July 21st, I will have had my learner’s permit for one year. As a new driver, I often end up taking the wrong turn along the road. Even on roads I’ve driven many times before, sometimes I will still make a mistake. Wrong turns often aren’t fun or planned, but they can always be fixed so you can get back on the right track.

God has given commands for us to follow a “path” to go down. Psalm 16:11 says, “You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.” The Bible is filled with directions, things we need to do as servants of God. As Christians, we choose to walk down this path, but sometimes we can stray from this path and begin to go our own way.

A good example of this is Jonah. Jonah was a man who went against God because of his own reservations and ends up following his own path. Because of Jonah’s arrogance, he is cast into the ocean and swallowed by a large fish. When Jonah chose to take a wrong turn, the consequences were not far behind. One of the most important things about Jonah’s story is when he decides to follow God’s commandment. “So Jonah arose, and went unto Nineveh, according to the word of the Lord. Now Nineveh was an exceeding great city of three days’ journey. And Jonah began to enter into the city a day’s journey, and he cried, and said, Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown. So the people of Nineveh believed God, and proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them even to the least of them” (Jonah 3:3-5).

Jonah had directly disobeyed God, and yet when he changed direction, many were saved because of his actions. Jonah is not the only example of this happening in the Bible. Noah, Moses, David, and many other figures we often consider role models all took a wrong turn along their path with God. Nevertheless, they were all able to get back on the right path and enact a large amount of good for God’s people in the long run. Deuteronomy 4:29 says, “But from there you will seek the Lord your God and you will find Him, if you search after him with all your heart and with all your soul.” These people sought the Lord and were reunited with Him, changing their ways no matter how largely they had messed up.

If you’ve ever taken a wrong turn when driving, where did you end up? Were you stuck on that road forever? Most likely, you found a place to turn around and continued on to your destination. Sometimes in our Christian walk, it seems like there’s a point of no return when we veer too far off the path, but with God’s grace, there is always a way back from wherever you’ve been. If you’ve found yourself today on the wrong path, one headed away from God and his people, find a place to turn around, because there’s always a way to get back to him.

Jackson Davidson

God is long-suffering. For this reason, He wants people to repent (Romans 2:4; Ezekiel 18:23, 32). He wants everyone to be saved (2 Peter 3:9, 15). He demonstrates His long-suffering by forgiving sins (Rom. 3:25).

Examples of the long-suffering of God: We see it in the days of Noah (1 Peter 3:20), to the Israelites (Psa. 78:38; Isa. 48:9), and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem (Matt. 23:37), as well as towards Paul (1 Tim. 1:12-16).

God’s people should also be long-suffering, because God was and is long-suffering towards us (Matt. 18:21-35). As God’s elect, they put on long-suffering (Col. 3:12; Eph. 4:2). They must practice long-suffering (2 Tim. 3:10). Love suffers long (1 Cor. 13:4). It is a fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22).

the late Wayne Holland
from a sermon preached in:
Hiawassee, GA (2/23/1986)
South Boston, VA (2/16/1992)
Roxboro, NC (9/22/2002)

We know that the water can be metaphorically muddied rather quickly when there are countless faulty interpretations of books like Revelation, Daniel, Ezekiel, Isaiah, and other prophetic or apocalyptic literature. Typology is another misunderstood, and often misapplied, method of Bible study. I’m convinced that if we can spend some time studying the different “types” found in scripture, we can see God’s message for mankind more clearly and have a more profound grasp of His Word. This also happens to be a great way to grow our knowledge of scripture more quickly!

So first, let’s try to clarify exactly what Typology is.

Summed up in one sentence it’s referring to Old Testament things which are prefigured or symbolized by events and characters of the New Testament.

This may sound a little confusing, but let’s look at a few examples.

1. John 3:14 says that just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of man must be lifted up (Num. 21:9). The Christ “type” is the bronze serpent. We know because of a specific New Testament reference.
2. 1 Peter 3:20: “…God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built, only a few people, 8 in all were saved through water,” This illustrates how in the same way baptismal water saves those who submit to Christ today.

Typology is not some mystic Bible code where we are free to translate events and characters in scripture as we please because God tells us exactly what He intended to say.

1 Cor. 14:33 says that God is NOT the “author of confusion.” He has a message for us all— and it’s a message of hope.

Are you interested in learning more about typology? The perfect book for you to study would be the book of Hebrews as it makes more Old Testament references than any other New Testament book. By diving into Hebrews you will appreciate and understand both the Old Testament, and the Bible as a whole.

Dale Pollard

Doritos are a favorite of many people. These potato chips come in several strong flavors, and the crunchy snack is often eaten at  cookouts or on road trips. But can you imagine giving up your freedom for a bag of those tasty chips?

That’s what a huge pig in Highland, California recently did. The pig, which was described as being the same size as a mini-horse, got loose and was wandering the streets of that community. It seems that this pig has a way of doing that from time-to-time, so some of the local police are used to calls about this particular animal. Knowing that, one deputy had a bag of Doritos in her lunch bag, and  simply made a small trail of the crunchy snacks, which the pig followed right back to its pen, where it was secured again.

This pig was free but gave it all up for a crunchy snack. We can laugh at that, or we can see a deeper picture about ourselves. How often do  we trade so many great blessings in this life for things that are fun or enjoyable but of far less value to us? How many people trade a lifelong commitment with a spouse for a few moments of intimate pleasure with another? How many trade a reputation and  integrity for a night of drinking and partying?

The Bible makes it clear that sin has pleasure attached to it (see Hebrews 11:25), but that the pleasure is only passing; it is only “for a  season.” After the moments of enjoyment comes the entrapment of sin. The addictions. The damaged reputations. The harmed relationships. The wasted money. The time that is no longer available. Above all, the sting of a marred relationship with our heavenly Father.

When we think about it that way, that pig on the West Coast seems a little more like us. He got a few minutes of pleasure from those potato  chips but ended up right back in the pigpen where he started.

Maybe it is time we start looking past the temporary excitement that seems to accompany sin and start looking at where it will lead us in this life and, ultimately, in eternity. When we do, we will not trade our freedom in Christ for something insignificant.

“Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover – up for evil, but living as servants of God.” (1 Peter 2:16)

– Adam Faughn

    God is, of course, the only Being in the universe who is, inherently, good.

    When the rich young ruler came to Jesus to ask Him about getting to heaven, Jesus commented that there is only One who is good (Matt. 19:17). In Mark’s account (10:18), Jesus says “No one is good except God alone.”

    Because God is light (1 John 1:5), He shows us the way to be good. Paul writes in Ephesians 5:9 that “the fruit of the Light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth.” So, walking in the light of God’s nature, God’s love, God’s truth, is going to produce goodness in our lives: good behavior, good thoughts, good words.

    Do you remember the story of Mary and Martha having Jesus over to their house and Martha was fretting over getting the house cleaned and straightened up but Mary wanted to sit and listen to Jesus talk? The event is told at the end of Luke 10. When Martha asked Jesus to tell Mary to get up and help her clean the house, rather than listening to Jesus teach, Jesus gave Martha a mild rebuke and said, “Mary has chosen the good part…” (10:42). The teachings of Jesus are “good” and that’s what produces goodness in our lives. The more we live with Jesus, the more we walk with Jesus, the more “gooder” we’re going to be. 

    When Paul tells Timothy that the Holy Spirit has given us the Bible by guiding its writers (2  Tim. 3:16-17), he says that this is done so that the “man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.” In Hebrews 13:19-20, the writer tells us that Jesus our Lord will equip us in every good thing to do His will.

BE GOOD INDISCRIMINATELY:

    In Matthew 5:45, Jesus tells us that God, our Father in heaven, causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, He sends rain on the just and the unjust. When Paul was talking to the Jews in Lystra in Acts 14, he told them that “God did not leave Himself without witness, in that He did good and gave them rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, satisfying their hearts with food and gladness” (14:17).

    Look at all the goodness God showers on the evil, the atheists, the unbelieving. God does not discriminate in showing goodness to others and, of course, that is a revelation of God’s grace. So we need to do good to others indiscriminately. We don’t need to wait and see if they deserve for us to be good to them. If our hearts are good, in fact, then that goodness is going to flow and show in all of our actions toward everybody.

    Be indiscriminate in your goodness. Paul told the Christians in Galatia: “While we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith” (Gal. 6:10). 

GOODNESS FLOWS FROM OUR HEARTS:

    Jesus said in Matthew 7:17-18 that “every good tree bears good fruit, and the bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit.” 

    The good heart is going to produce good words. Jesus critiqued the religious leaders of His day, asking them: “How can you, being evil, speak what is good? For the mouth speaks out of that which fills the heart. The good man brings out of his good treasure what is good; and the evil man brings out of his evil treasure what is evil” (Matt. 12:34-35). Ephesians 4:29: “Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear.” 

    So if our heart is good, the words we use are going to be good words. If the words we use are not good words, and we need to be listening to ourselves talk, if the words we use are not good words, that’s a clear indication that something is not right in our hearts. Our hearts are not good as they ought to be.

    Let us live by the Spirit, showing goodness indiscriminately in our lives toward others. Put our agape love into action!

Paul Holland

Today I walked in on someone purloining. I was scared and confused because honestly…I don’t even know what purloining is.  Does this word confuse you? Well you’re in luck.  This article is dedicated to defining the word “purloin.” You may be thinking to yourself, “self, why would I read an article on the word purloin?” And to that I would say, “because there isn’t another article I’ve seen on this topic, and no one knows what it means.”

The Bible is our most valuable possession we have here on earth, so our goal should be to understand what it says. There have been times that I’ve read verses that have used some confusing words, and instead of trying to understand what it means, I just skipped over it and kept reading. But there are some valuable insights that we can gain from looking more in-depth at these words. Let’s define purloining as it is seen in scripture.

Titus 2:10 says, Not purloining, but shewing all good fidelity; that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in all things” (KJV). Purloining here is the Greek word “nosphivo” which is only found 3 times in New Testament,  and only translated as purloining in one verse.  The Greek word is translated as, “to put aside for oneself, to keep back, to steal.” This word originally was used as a descriptor of what the Roman soldiers would do when they were looting. They would be tempted to hold back treasure for themselves as they plundered cities, rather than giving the full amount to the Roman Empire. They would steal and hold back, and that’s exactly how Paul uses this word in Titus 2:10.

Going back to this verse, how is this term used in context? Verse 10 is the launching point for the rest of Paul’s point in chapter one.  When he says “purloining” he’s referring to bondservants and their attitude towards their master.  Rather than pilfering and stealing, they should show faith in God to take care of them. In essence this verse is an appeal to live in accordance to the teachings of God in everything. Servants who were not Christians would steal and cheat from their masters any chance they could get. As Christians we are to have a faith in God to provide for us, not stealing and being dishonest.

In summary, if you were to use this in everyday conversation, you could say something like, “I have never purloined in my life, “Purloining is wrong” or, “I’m going to teach my kids to be honest and not run around purloining.” Or you could just say “steal” or “withhold” instead.  Although a few translations chose to use an interesting word to convey this idea of stealing, the point is still very valid for us today. I challenge each one of us to have faith in God to provide, to trust that His commands are in our best interest, and to rely on God to take care of our needs rather than purloining. I also challenge each one of us to use this word as many times as possible this year.

Carl Pollard

Have you ever heard of Jesus Christ? Some might call that a foolish question. It would be difficult if not impossible to have lived in the world for the last 2,000 years and not know that name.

Here’s another question: how well do you know Jesus Christ? Some people would immediately dismiss the question as absurd. Many insist they do. As to how well they know him is another question.

Do you think his disciples in 30 A.D. knew him? One might think they most certainly would have. Would it surprise you to find they didn’t know him well at all?

Just before Jesus’ trial and crucifixion, Jesus told his disciples, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me,” (John 14:6). To this statement, Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father.” Jesus looked at his disciple and told him that for all of the time he spent with Philip, “you have not known me.”

Yes. Many people think they know Jesus but, like Philip, they don’t know him very well at all. Even those who consider themselves his disciples don’t know him. They think they do but then they obey the false religions created by men. They refuse to obey Jesus’ word and yet they still think they know him.

Jesus told Philip, “Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you, I do not speak on my own initiative, but the Father residing in me performs his miraculous deeds” (John 14:10). Jesus told Philip that if he didn’t believe him, he should believe the miraculous works Jesus had done.

This weakness of faith was something all of the disciples of Jesus shared. When the Lord was arrested by the Jews the disciples ran away (Mark 14:50).

So, do you know Jesus? If not, you should get to know him by studying the Bible. It will help give you the faith you need to obey the gospel and live your life dedicated to him. Why not obey him now?

John Henson

At my age, if someone said, “Who’s your daddy?” I’d probably reply with my father’s name. Now, it is a slang expression in the form of a rhetorical question. Mostly, it is a boast intended to dominate the listener and possibly elicit laughter.

In John chapter eight, the Pharisees initiated a contentious conversation with the Lord Jesus that could have the title, “Who’s your daddy?”

Jesus had just told his listeners, “If you continue in my teaching, you are really my disciples and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” The Pharisees took issue with this statement claiming they were never enslaved to any person (John 8:33). What a short memory they had! They forgot their bondage to several nations during the days of the judges. They had forgotten they were in bondage to the Babylonians and others between the Old and New Testaments. And even at the time of this conversation, the Jews were subject to the Romans.

Still, they continued to claim they were the freed sons of Abraham. Jesus knew they were physically descended from Abraham but then told them that their conduct was inconsistent with Abraham’s behavior.

When examining our behavior, are we proving God is our father, or do the facts say otherwise? If God is our father, our behavior should attest. Is there a more important issue here? Yes, Jesus said.

The Jews didn’t realize the worst taskmaster they had was sin. They were in bondage to sin and Jesus was trying to free them. He said,

“If you are Abraham’s children, you would be doing the deeds of Abraham. But now you are trying to kill me, a man who has told you the truth I heard from God. Abraham did not do this!” (John 8:39-40).

Each person should examine themselves to see whether they are in bondage to sin or servants of God. Which father do we resemble? Who’s your daddy?

by John Henson

I’m thankful to God to have a comfortable home to be confined to.

I’m thankful the Lord gave me a pleasant companion to be confined to home with.

I’m thankful he provides multiple means of communication to communicate with, pretty much anywhere across the world.

I’m thankful to take advantage of modern means of food distribution, and not have to go foraging or hunting to survive.

I’m thankful to have clean water piped into my home, instead of carrying a bucket for miles — or even from the backyard.

I’m thankful to be able to meet with the church, even under the lockdown, and be a present and active member of the Lord’s family.

I’m thankful to have ink-and-paper books to read and other digital reading material, most important of which is the Word of God to hold and meditate on.

I’m thankful for the option to ignore the fear-mongering news and to concentrate on the Good News of Jesus Christ.

I’m thankful to have work I can do in spite of present circumstances.

I’m thankful the Lord gives me a thankful spirit, because the natural man has none of this.

I’m thankful through and through!

by A. A. Neale

Dear High School Me,

It’s only been six years since being at Douglas County High School, but boy do I remember the flood of thoughts that encompass those days. I remember the anxiety of figuring out where to fit in. I can recall the panic of not knowing where I’m headed in the future. I can recollect the feeling of confusion and loneliness at times. Dear, high school me – it’ll be okay.

No one is going to remember the raggedy hand-me-down Broncos shirt and high-water jeans you’re wearing. No one cares that you don’t have your future perfectly lined out; most college students haven’t made it that far. Stop trying to fit in various cliques. I know the jocks are where the people gravitate to, the preppy kids are where the money’s at, and the brainiacs seem like they have life figured out.

Here’s the deal. Only a small percentage of the jocks will go on to play college ball while the rest settle back into the “normal” way of life. The preppy kids will get humbled by a thing called “tuition.” The brainiacs may seem like they have life figured out, but I’m convinced that’s relatively impossible for anyone. So where does that leave those who become successful? Any one of those categories has opportunity for success regardless of their background or persona. It all boils down to two principles – kindness and truth.

Solomon in all of his wisdom told his initial reader to keep these two characters bound around their neck and written on the tablet of their heart (Pr. 3:3 NASB). Why? Keep reading; “so you will find favor and good success in the sight of God and man.” If you practice kindness and seek truth, you’re winning both parties; man and God. I don’t care where your career takes you, I don’t care what state you move to. As long as you are remaining in favor with man and God, you’re excelling more than you can imagine. People will remember you by what you practice daily.

Still, even six years later, you remember those kids who were kind to you. You’ve forgotten the kids who were mean and egotistical and the chances are likely that others have as well. Not only that, but you will come to greatly appreciate those who have given you pure truth – it’s a hard commodity to come by in the world. So here’s the takeaway. Forget about the worries and stresses of the future because you’ve got a God much bigger. Be kind and show love to those around you and you’ll be surprised at how many people will remember it in the future. Seek and speak Truth because it’s likely the most pure ambition we have in this world. Most importantly, just be you. God didn’t create you to be someone else, He had intentionality in crafting you and He could really use you.

I know it’s easier said than done, but don’t let the anxiety and stress of high school cloud you too much. Enjoy the rent-free life with the blessings of friends and family in one central geographic location. Compliment your mother’s cooking because it’s leagues better than the cereal you’re fixing to eat in the near future when you’re out on your own. Do what you can to preserve your close friends but don’t be afraid to detach from toxic friendships. Be consistent and prayerful and everything will be a-okay.

Tyler King

Truth is something that we cannot ignore and successfully escape. It is something we must search out — understand — obey — uphold. It is something that is worth losing all to find and yet, it is something that we have a tendency to let slip by as we busily engage in the time consuming work of ”making a living.”

Jesus told Pilate that he came to the world to bear witness unto the truth (John 18:37). He had earlier identified “truth” as being the word of the Father (John 17:17). There are things that are “truth” in many areas, but the truth of which I speak is that regarding man’s spiritual being, well-being and destiny.  One of the tests of true discipleship to the Lord Jesus Christ is one’s knowledge and continuing in truth (John8:31-32). Yet some men say that truth is unattainable and that there is no such thing as TRUTH. Could be we are trying to justify our refusal to search out truth and stand for it.

What is your attitude toward religious truth? How hard are you seeking to find it? How firmly do you stand in the defense of it? How earnestly do you oppose all that opposes truth? In 2 Thessalonians 2:10-12 Paul speaks of those who do not believe the truth and who do not love it. He points out that God will thus send them a strong delusion and that they will be damned because of this! They didn’t love it — They didn’t believe it!

In Romans 2:8 Paul points out that God will punish those who do not obey truth. This same thing is taught in Galatians 2:14 and 5:7. Thus the importance of knowing truth and obeying the same cannot be over emphasized.  God would have all men to come to a knowledge of the truth (1 Timothy 2:1) and be saved. Souls are purified when men obey truth (1 Peter 1:22). We should clearly see the need to search out, understand, obey, and uphold God’s word (TRUTH) in all things. Are you doing that?  – by J. F. Dancer

“For we were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with persistence” (Romans 8:24-25 NKJV).

The apostle Paul listed as three abiding virtues, “faith, hope, love, these three” (1 Corinthians 13:13). Modern skeptics often dismiss one of these, hope, as nothing more than wishful thinking and at best a delusion. One hears the promise of eternal life derogatorily called “pie in the sky by and by.” The emphasis of the world is upon immediate gratification – obtaining what one needs or wants right now without delay.

What exactly is hope, and how is it different from faith? Both place trust in the unseen and expect future fulfillment of promises.

Faith, as used in the New Testament, refers primarily to trust in God. It is the assurance that God will provide whatever is necessary that man himself cannot do (Hebrews 11:6).

Hope is the confident anticipation of God’s future activity. Webster defines it in part as “desire accompanied by expectation.” That precisely fits Paul’s discussion in Romans 8:24-25, “Why does one hope for what he sees? … We eagerly wait for it with perseverance.”

The final words of the Bible are significant: “He who testifies to these things says, ‘Surely I am coming quickly.’ Even so, come, Lord Jesus. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen” (Revelation 22:20-21).

The entire Bible is the story of Jesus and the salvation which he brought to fallen humanity. First in prophecy, then in the record of his life and death, and finally in the ongoing history of his church, Jesus’ sacrificial story is proclaimed. An emphasis of that proclamation is that his story is not yet ended. He lives, he reigns, and he is coming again (Matthew 28:18-20; John 14:1-6; 1 Corinthians 15:20-26).

It is that return which empowers Christians to overcome sufferings and disappointments in this life (1 Corinthians 15:12-19). Paul’s assertion that a resurrection is certain leads to the emphatic conclusion: “If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most miserable.”

This is not a negative assessment of the life that Christian’s live. It is rather a tribute to the power of hope and the greatness of our eventual transformation to be with God and Christ. The early Christian’s confidence that life in eternity was certain and would be spectacular beyond comprehension gave them the ability to face derision, imprisonment and even death for the sake of their faith.

But how is that reflected in today’s church, almost 2,000 years after the ascension of Jesus into heaven? Do we still possess that “desire accompanied by expectation?” How often do we hear prayers that Jesus would “come quickly?”

Fifty years or more ago sermons on Heaven, Hell, and Judgment were frequently heard from our pulpits. How often is that the case today? I am not aware of any repudiation of the Biblical truths about those subjects among us, but neither do I hear or read much on the subject. How many modern Christians can be described as “eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body?”

For many of us, life here on earth is very good. We are in no hurry to depart; in fact we dread missing something good if we should die “prematurely.” However, almost any time would seem to be too quickly for us. Whenever our lives end there will be things unfinished which we will leave reluctantly.

Yet anticipating the return of Jesus is significantly different from a “death wish.” His return will be a glorious event which those alive at the time will be blessed to experience (1 Thessalonians 4:12-16). And there will be no continuation of life on earth after he comes – nothing for us to miss out on.

Jesus’ return will be the culmination of creation. Paul said, “For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God” (Romans 8:19). All the universe was made for the ultimate return of Christ. Let us join the inspired apostle in praying, “Come quickly!”

by Michael Brooks