The apostle Peter recounts how Jesus continually suffered and was reviled at the hands of His enemies, and then He reveals what Jesus did in response–He kept on committing Himself (the force of the verb tense) to God (1 Pet. 2:23). Two chapters later, Peter was continuing to address the present reality of the followers of Christ also continually suffering and being…

Do you suppose that the Jews respected Nebuchadnezzar, when he besieged their home nation of Judah, when he took them captive and when he carried them back to Babylon as his prisoners of war? Yet, it is under his rule as tyrant king that the Lord revealed to him and to His people “that the Most High rules in the kingdom of…

Nehemiah 8 is an interesting illustration of seeing the people’s heart through their outer posture. Ezra stood on a wooden platform for the purpose of reading the Book of the Law to the people. “And when he opened it, all the people stood up” (Neh. 8:5). Out of respect for the Word of God, the people could not remain seated. Then “Ezra…

The lyrics are simple. The song is short. The message is soul-searching. “Lord, make me a servant, Lord, make me like You; For You are a servant, make me one, too. Lord, make me a servant, do what You must do To make me a servant; make me like You.” Could you sing this song and truly mean it? The song makes…

If you were in prison, how would you like to be free? How much would you think about it? If someone came along, removed you from the prison and freed you, how would you respond? If you were a slave, how would you like to be free? How much would you think about it? If someone came along, removed you from the…

The caller phoned the church office and said, “I’m confused. I’ve been watching videos from your church online and reading my Bible. What you’re saying makes sense and fits right in line with what the Bible says. But then I ask my pastor about it and he takes a totally different position. He starts using this terminology and that terminology, and I…

Friends, we are destroying ourselves. We are allowing outside influences to shape our thinking. We are giving others too much control over our minds. We are listening to politicians and media tell us that everything has some kind of “racial overtone.” But, it doesn’t! And it doesn’t have to!  Every issue does not have a racial slant. Every post doesn’t need a…

You’ve met a lot of people in your life, right? That means you have met all sorts of different kinds of people. So, who was the last perfect person you met? Do you remember his or her name? The last person you knew who didn’t make any mistakes? Say the name out loud right now. Go ahead. What’s with the silence?  You…