The English word “precious” is found 15 times in the New Testament, over half used by Peter. Peter used the word to describe the value of Jesus in our lives – “chosen by God and precious” (1 Pet. 2:4, 6); “to you who believe, He is precious” (1 Pet. 2:7). Peter used the word to describe the value of the blood of…
That’s an interesting question that Jesus asked His disciples. In Mark 6, there were 5,000 men (plus women and children) who needed to eat. Jesus asked His disciples, “How many loaves do you have? Go and see” (6:38). In Mark 8, there were 4,000 men (plus women and children) who were hungry. Jesus asked His disciples, “How many loaves do you have?”…
God demonstrated His love for the whole world by sending His Son (John 3:16; Rom. 5:8; 1 John 4:9). There is no doubt that He longs for all men to be saved (1 Tim. 2:4; 2 Pet. 3:9; John 3:17; Titus 2:11). However, I determine His attitude toward me now by my own attitude. The faithful in Hebrews 11 lived, as “strangers…
With all the rain we’ve had in the last two days, there are “miniature lakes” in the swales along the interstate. While driving this morning, I saw a guy (a true South Floridian!) with his fishing line dropped in one of these temporary ponds. My first thought was, “What a dummy! What does he possibly think he’s going to catch in there?” …
A four-year-old was talking to some friends (true story!), when she learned that her friend’s dad was a “preacher.” “A preacher? What’s a preacher?” she asked. “A preacher is someone who teaches people about Jesus,” her friend responded. It was obvious that this four-year-old had heard two words that day that she had never heard before—one was “preacher.” The other was revealed…
Paul expressed his deep concern for the faith of his brethren in Thessalonica, knowing that they were going to suffer tribulation and being troubled that “by some means the tempter had tempted” them (1 Thess. 3:4-5). Twice in those first five verses of chapter three, Paul wrote, “when we could no longer endure it…when I could no longer endure it,” he sent…
When the 450 prophets of Baal were unable to “convince” their god to answer their continued pleas, the Bible says that “Elijah mocked them” (1 Kings 18:27). One of the “possibilities” that Elijah proposed regarding Baal was, “perhaps he is sleeping and must be awakened.” Can you imagine serving a god who needed to be awakened, like some old man taking a…
It’s a subject and even an individual that we often avoid, but it is one that God speaks of specifically and frequently (at least 50 times in the book of Proverbs alone). “All the brothers of the poor hate him…hated even by his own neighbor…how much more do his friends go far from him” (Prov. 19:7; 14:20). “He who oppresses [or mocks]…