Acts 14 records some of Paul’s travels on his first preaching journey. The account of his experience in the town of Lystra is quite an adventure: in the space of a few sentences, the crowds go from trying to worship him as a god (verses 11-13) to having him stoned and left for dead (verse 19).
I wonder: Did the superstitious mindset that led the crowds to think Paul was a god in human form also make them easily swayed when his Jewish opponents arrived to denounce him? Did Paul’s refusal to…
The Quiet Danger of Spiritual Drift
It is often the body’s instinct to expel what is harmful. We recoil from what we know should not be taken in. Our Lord used similarly vivid language when He addressed the church at Laodicea and their lack of wholehearted commitment (Revelation 3:16).
The question for us today is both gentle and searching: Do we still possess that same spiritual sensitivity? Or have we grown so accustomed to comfort and routine that our responses have become muted? Over time we learn, we absorb, and sometimes - quietly, almost imperceptibly - we drift.
Humanity has always searched for…
In Acts 27, Paul, while on a ship headed for Rome, encounters a storm that leaves the ship badly damaged and all of their provisions lost. The last verse of that chapter says that the only thing that safely made it to land were the men on the boat and the planks of wood that they used as flotation devices.
“The native people showed us unusual kindness, for they kindled a fire and welcomed us all, because it had begun to rain and was cold. When Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks and put them on the fire,…
Some news stories from the past couple of years:
“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek” (Rom. 1:16). The word “ashamed” here is from a Greek term aischune, which means to have a feeling of fear or shame which prevents a person from doing a thing. Here it is apischonomai, a strengthened form of the word.
We are sometimes impressed with the wrong kinds of people and things methinks. We are impressed with athletes who have no notion about nor inclination…
The Love of Jesus
Throughout human history there has been nothing comparable to the love of Jesus. It has been discussed, dissected and disputed over the many centuries. We as Christians celebrate the love of Jesus! The love he so freely gave to us is unconditional and sacrificial. No other love can compare. It’s not fleeting or emotional it has a name it’s called agape love.
This love asks us to look deeper past sentiment and romantic connections. This love is a deliberate choice. The choice Jesus made in regard to us.
As the Apostle Paul wrote in the book of Romans: “But…
The first three verses of Ephesians chapter two put the whole human race out of fellowship with God! Paul writes: “And you were dead in your trespasses and sins.” In this brief treatise, let us examine together the dreadful killing power of sin and see how it can get such a hold on us that we may not be able to let go. Now read vs. 4-7. Were it not for the gospel where we find God’s drawing power in His rich mercy and great love and wonderful grace, surely, we all would be doomed to everlasting damnation!
A warning for…
Asaph, the chief musician of David, confessed to the sin of envy and his feet came close to stumbling, and his steps had almost slipped, maybe even off a cliff. He was envious of the boastful and the prosperity of the wicked – Psa. 73:1-3. He felt the wicked had no pains in their death; their eyes stood out in fatness and they were not in trouble as other men are. They mocked and spoke against heaven and asked how does God know anything, and is there any knowledge with the Most High? Behold these are the wicked and always…
Micah was a contemporary of Isaiah and Hosea. He prophesied during the time before Israel was led away into Assyrian captivity. And his message was one of warning: God is displeased with you. He is coming in judgment if you do not turn from your wicked ways and return to Him.
In Micah 6:6-8, he brought the people to a decision point: “What shall we do? What does God want? 1000 sacrifices? 10,000 rivers of oil? How about my first-born?” But God did not require any of those things.
“He has told you, O man, what is good” or “shown you” (NKJV).…
The Holy Spirit commended the brethren of Thessalonica through Paul’s written word in saying, “For the word of the Lord has sounded forth from you, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith toward God has gone forth…” (I Thess. 1:8). This speaks volumes to the labor and dedication of these brethren. Their actions spoke “louder than words” and their love and devotion to Christ was noticeable in word AND deed. What is pertinent and applicable for us is to ask, “What was at the core of them being so noticeably faithful?”
There are indeed three…
