The Christian life is depicted as a walk (Eph. 5:2-16), a run (Heb. 12:1-2), a war (2 Tim. 2:3-4), along with a number of other metaphors to help us get a “mental picture.” There is an interesting one found in Ephesians 6:12–Christians are wrestlers. The English word “wrestle” (and its Greek original)  is found only this one time in the New Testament.…

In a book that exalts Jesus Christ and everything about Him as being superior in every way, the New Testament epistle of Hebrews makes a stunning, refreshing, comforting declaration in its first chapter and its last chapter. In a quotation from Psalm 102:25-27, which depicts the perishable and changing nature of all things, it is said to Jesus, “You are the same”…

One of my favorite people, David Lipe, has been known to say, “Opinions are like noses–everybody’s got one and they’re all different!” Isn’t that the truth! Everywhere you go, somebody’s got an opinion about something–the world, politics, media, sports, fashion, children, education, entertainment AND religion! That’s right! Everybody’s got their own opinion about religion! However, human opinions are worthless where there is…

“Above all, taking the shield of faith…” (Eph. 6:16). As Christians are to “put on the whole armor of God” (Eph. 6:11), each piece of armor is vital, including the shield of faith. It is intriguing that the Lord chose “the shield” to represent the Christian’s faith. In the Roman world, they used a “scutum,” which was a rectangular shield (about 4…

Every time you plug something into a power outlet at home, you fully expect it to work, without giving much thought to the inner-workings of it all. Plug in a small clock and it just starts working. Plug in a blender and it’s ready to go. The phone charger may not need as much power as the portable heater, but it all…

When you pray, how much confidence do you have that (1) you are heard and (2) you will be answered? As Christians, we might wonder (or even doubt) sometimes if God is listening and if  God is going to respond. However, we have been given every confidence that He does both! Memorize these words: “Now this is the confidence that we have…

The devil is constantly busy! Don’t take that lightly! Consider it again: The devil is constantly busy! The use of the Greek present tense verbs in 1 Peter 5:8 emphasizes this truth. The Greek present tense indicates continuous, ongoing action in the present. Therefore, we learn that the devil “is walking about” — constant activity (NASB has “prowls”). He is a “roaring…

What does “every word” mean to you? When you pick up your Bible, do you truly recognize (and accept) that “every word” in your Bible is from God (2 Tim. 3:16)? When you read what the Bible says about the church, do you accept “every word” of  it as being from God (and not man) (Gal. 1:12)? When you read what the…