How clear could God make it? Over and over and over again He impresses upon readers of His Word that they are to draw a sharp (not blurred) line of distinction between themselves and the fleshly appetites and indulgences of the world. “Flee also youthful lusts” (2 Tim. 2:22). “Cast off the works of darkness…make no provision for the  flesh, to fulfill…

Who was the last person you talked to about your children, your grandchildren, or your cute puppy? Who was the last person you talked to in order to schedule an appliance repair, a dental appointment, or a technician to come out and fix your cable or internet? Who was the last person you talked to in order to pay for your meal,…

There are people all around you (folks you know and folks you don’t know) who are hurting for a variety of reasons. Maybe they’re suffering from physical or medical ailments. Maybe they’re dealing with emotional struggles. Maybe they’re aching over family issues, relationship troubles, loneliness or uncertainties. Most (a very high percentage) of the hurts that people are experiencing are completely unknown…

It is interesting to note various parallels between Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount (Matt. 5-7) and his half-brother’s epistle near the end of our New Testaments (the book of James). One such parallel is on the word “ask.” Five times in Matthew 7, Jesus emphasized the need for God’s people to “ask” (7:7-11). A similar emphasis is found in chapters one and…

Two words that should never go together are “nobody ever.” Both words are superlatives, stating absolute extremes. Has just one person ever done this? “No! Nobody!” Maybe it happened just once? “No! Not ever!” Starting a sentence with “Nobody ever” may intend to draw a strong conclusion, but it actually creates doubt and draws the conclusion into question. Some have been known…

Have you listened to or read any news reports lately and had the thought, “They’ve left their senses!”? Have you heard someone on the TV or radio talk about the Bible and had the thought, “They’ve left their senses!”? The Bible says that is exactly what has happened! Paul warned his friend, Timothy, about those who “spread” a false message, “strayed concerning…

Has someone ever borrowed your car? Suppose that you had a brand-new car, which you just drove home from the dealer, and it only had 10 miles on it. Now imagine that a friend came over and you let him borrow it. What would you think (and how would you like it?) if your friend returned the car and it had paint…

Out of envy and hate, Joseph’s brother “conspired against him to kill him…and cast him into a pit” (Gen. 37:20). Then they planned to say, “Some wild beast has devoured him” (37:20). Although they did not kill him or say those actual words, after selling him to the Ishmaelites, they took his tunic, dipped it in the blood of a goat, brought…