Daniel was carried as a young man to the land of his enemies and was selected (along with three of his friends) to serve in the king’s palace. Wow! Talk about someone who needed those “three years of training” (Dan. 1:5) to know how to fit in with his new country and new job and new environment and new associates. He needed…

Do you know anyone who “worships God” but is not saved? Think about that for a moment. Do you know anyone who regularly goes to an assembly of worshipers and “worships God” but that person has not obeyed the gospel and is not destined for heaven? Someone might say, “Wait a minute! How can somebody ‘worship God’ every week and not be…

Numerous are the attributes of God for which man ought to stand in awe, wonder and thanksgiving, including His holiness, love, mercy, omnipotence, etc. One of His most astounding characteristics (and essential for mankind) is His longsuffering! The Greek word for “longsuffering” or “patience” is makrothumia, which is a compound word combining makros (“long”) and thumos (“temper” or “feelings”). Thus, makrothumia describes…

For a long time in the church, we have emphasized the unique nature of “agape love.” One word (among several) that the Greeks used for love was the word “agape,” which represented the ultimate form of love — an unconditional, unselfish, sacrificial love which sets out to meet the needs of the one to whom it is  extended. It is the love…

Carefully consider this chain of verses. “God, who is rich in mercy” (Eph. 2:4), “and abundant in mercy” (Psa. 86:5), “according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope” (1 Pet. 1:3), “according to His mercy He saved us” (Tit. 3:5) and “made us alive together with Christ” (Eph. 2:5). By definition, mercy is not merely a feeling…

In the midst of troublesome subjugation from his adversaries, David affirmed that true God-seekers will always seek to keep their focus on the Lord! He cried out with urgency at the start of Psalm 70, “Make haste, O God, to deliver me! Make haste to help me, O Lord!” Then again at the end, he pleaded, “You are my help and my…

Gospel meetings are a tremendous opportunity for the growth of your soul, and unfortunately at the same time, the growth of your girth. Having two buffet meals every day for lunch and dinner, complete with those tasty desserts, makes it hard to resist going just a little overboard. What if you could have two buffets every day for the rest of your…

When we think about the topic of “denying” in Scripture, we cannot help but think first of Peter’s three-fold denial of Jesus while the Savior was on trial (even denying “with an oath” and “to curse and swear” for emphasis and credibility). When we think about denying the Lord from that standpoint (with such vehemence), we shudder at the prospect of doing…