Do you love God? I hope that you do! What greater affirmation could be made? But, do you love God as God Himself defines what that love is? God has promised that He “preserves all who love Him” (Psa. 145:20), “that all things work together for good to those who love God” (Rom. 8:28), and “the Lord has promised” “the crown of…

Are you poor, or are you rich? Do you feel poor, or do you feel rich? When we think of the terms “poor” and “rich,” we have a hard time thinking of them in any context other than financial, but it is interesting how the Bible often will use those words in a personal and spiritual sense. As Paul detailed the dichotomy…

When it comes to religion today, we live a confusing world that is characterized by schISMS. Think about how many isms surround us–Denominationalism, Catholicism, Protestantism, Pentecostalism, Adventism, Mormonism, Calvinism, Arminianism, Premillennialism, Materialism, etc., etc. The pervasive division leaves many people feeling puzzled, some even hopeless, and many are just “done” with religion, all because of the rampant isms that abound to ad…

After he addressed the amount that one gives to the Lord, Paul turned to the attitude that prompts the giving (2 Cor. 9:6-7, cf. v. 5). The amount is absolutely bankrupt without the proper attitude! From the time of deciding how much to give and all the way through the actual act of giving, God warns of two attitudes that must not…

Brothers and sisters in Christ enjoy a special relationship on this earth that is like no other! We are not only part of one family (Gal. 3:26-27), but we are part of one body (1 Cor. 12:12-27). The same body! And within that body we are to “have the same care for one another” (12:25). I don’t know about you, but sometimes…

The apostles Peter and Thomas are sometimes remembered for only one thing–Peter’s denials and Thomas’ doubting. Hence, we sometimes give each of them a hard time for breakdowns in their faith. However, if that is all we know about these men, we do not actually know these men! When Jesus predicted Peter’s three-fold denial, we sometimes focus on Peter’s hasty reply, “I…

Near Auschwitz during World War II, railroad trains carrying Jews to their execution would pass through the towns, and the screams from the packed cattle cars pierced through the hearts of the residents in every place. When these trains came through town while churches were assembled, it is reported that the parishioners would sing louder and louder to drown out the bloodcurdling…

When the Israelites marched around the walls of the city of Jericho, they were given explicit instructions regarding the precious metals and valuables of the city. Joshua commanded them, “But all the silver and gold, and vessels of bronze and iron, are consecrated to the Lord; they shall come into the treasury of the Lord” (Josh. 6:19). “They shall come into the…