‘These people draw near to Me with their mouth, And honor Me with their lips, But their heart is far from Me. Matthew 15:8 Think about the sham of the religious leaders in Jesus’ day (Matt. 15:1-9). They pretended to love God and piously made up a long list of rules that they and others were to obey. But this was only to make themselves look good. They even considered their rules just as important as the Law that came directly from the Lord (vv.5-6). Jesus called them “hypocrites” (v.7). He said their words sounded as if they honored God, […]

By faith Noah, being divinely warned of things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his household, by which he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith.   Hebrews 11:7 Commenting on this verse, Spurgeon said: “Live a holy life . . . . I have heard it said that if there is a crooked stick, and you want to show how crooked it is, you need not waste words in description. Place a straight one by the side of it, and the thing is done directly. […]

Solomon did evil in the sight of the LORD, and did not fully follow the LORD, as did his father David. 1 Kings 11:6 Why do smart people do not-so-smart things? Time after time I hear sad stories about people with high IQs who fall short in the area of moral discernment, leading to tragic results. Obviously, a good brain isn’t enough to keep a person from making bad choices. This contradicts the belief of some that better education can solve society’s ills. The reasoning goes like this: “If we educate people about the dangers of _________, they won’t do […]

Know that the LORD, He is God; It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.  Psalm 100:3 Thomas Jefferson, who would become the third president of the new nation, was distressed by the sin he saw. He wrote, “I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just.” If he trembled then, he would have a violent seizure now! The founding fathers of the US loved the concept of individual freedom, but they did not have in mind a permissive lifestyle that allows us to […]

How long, O Lord? Will You forget me forever? How long will You hide Your face from me? Psalm 13:1 At times, we are vulnerable to wrong assumptions and conclusions about life, about God, and about prayer. In Psalm 13, David wrestled with the problem of unanswered prayer. He questioned why the world was so dangerous and pleaded for answers from God. It’s a hard psalm that David sang, and it seems to be one of frustration. Yet, in the end, his doubts and fears turned to trust. Why? Because the circumstances of our struggles cannot diminish the character of God […]

For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted. Hebrews 2:18 When we feel that no one understands or can help us, we are reminded that Jesus gave us Himself, and He knows exactly who we are and what we are facing today. Hebrews 2:9–18 presents the remarkable truth that Jesus fully shared our humanity during His life on earth (v. 14). He “taste[d] death for everyone” (v. 9), broke the power of Satan (v. 14), and freed “those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death” […]

Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13 It is well-known that our emotions can have a profound effect on our bodies. And the condition of our bodies can affect our emotions. For example, a 1997 article in the journal published by the American Heart Association points to the negative physical consequences of hopelessness. It essentially said that those who had experienced extreme feelings of despair had a 20-percent greater increase in arteriosclerosis (hardening of the arteries) over […]

Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Inasmuch as God has shown you all this, there is no one as discerning and wise as you. Genesis 41:39 A story in the Bible about Joseph tells how he used his skills to play an important role in helping people survive a 7-year famine (Gen. 41:53-54). In his case, he could prepare beforehand because he knew a difficult time was coming. After Joseph warned Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, that the lean years were coming, Pharaoh put him in charge of the 7-year preparation time. Joseph used wisdom and discernment from God to get […]

That you may with one mind and one mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.  Romans 15:6 In Romans 15, Paul called for unity among the followers of Christ—“that you may with one mind and one mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ” (v.6). From several Old Testament passages, he spoke of Gentiles and Jews together singing praise to God (vv.9-12). A unity that had been considered impossible became reality as people who had been deeply divided began thanking God together for His mercy shown in Christ. Like them, we are filled with […]

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. John 3:16 Someone sent me an excellent outline of John 3:16, a verse that is often referred to as “God’s miniature Bible.” Here it is: God—the greatest lover; so loved —the greatest degree; the world —the greatest company;  that He gave —the greatest act His only begotten Son —the greatest gift; that whoever believes —the greatest simplicity; in Him —the greatest person; should not perish —the greatest promise but—the greatest difference; have—the greatest certainty everlasting life —the greatest possession I heard about a young […]