Category: Reflections Articles

Just a few years before the exile of Judah into Babylonian captivity, the prophet Jeremiah warned the Jews of their judgment and the years of desolation that would follow. He wrote, “And this whole land shall be a desolation and an astonishment, and these nations shall serve the king of Babylon seventy years. ‘Then it will come to pass, when seventy years are completed, that I will punish the king of Babylon and that nation, the land of the Chaldeans, for their iniquity,’ says the LORD; and I will make it a perpetual desolation” (Jeremiah 25:11-12).

It is this prophecy of Jeremiah to which Daniel referred in Daniel chapter 9. As a young man, he was taken by Nebuchadnezzar in the first wave of captives (cf. Daniel 1:7). Chronologically, this chapter takes place in the first year of Darius the Mede, who was made king over the realm of the Chaldeans. In effect, the prophecy of Jeremiah was coming true. Continue reading “Understanding by the Books” →

There is a wonderful passage of scripture in 2 Samuel 22 where David thanks and praises God for his deliverance. David had been through so many trials in his time after being anointed by Samuel to be king. He had to hide from the murderous intent of Saul. He had suffered the great indignity of his son Absalom committing treason, very nearly taking his kingdom away from him. He had battled enemies of Israel throughout his reign. In verse one we are told, “Then David spoke to the Lord the words of this song, on the day when the Lord had delivered him from the hand of all his enemies, and from the hand of Saul.” Continue reading “I Will Call Upon the Lord” →

The wise man who wrote the book of Proverbs said, “Do not enter the path of the wicked, and do not walk in the way of evil. Avoid it, do not travel on it; turn away from it and pass on” (Proverbs 4:14).

Thousands of years after the creation of man, many think themselves very capable of identifying what is truly evil. Yet with this supposed knowledge of right and wrong, it is obvious that evil persists and even flourishes in our day.

I submit that people are less knowledgeable than they think. For every condemnation of murder there is a rationalization of the act in any particular circumstance. Too often men designate what they do not like as evil, and pronounce what they desire as good. In effect, the concept of right and wrong varies depending on who you talk to. Few will accept the contention that right and wrong can be objectively attained, or know how it can be done! Continue reading “Knowing Right Before God” →

There are several New Testament texts that detail the responsibilities to be found in a family as God would have it. One of these is Colossians 3:18-21, “Wives, submit to your own husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives and do not be bitter toward them. Children, obey your parents in all things, for this is well pleasing to the Lord. Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged.”

In this short text, Paul concisely describes the primary responsibility of each party. He does the same in Ephesians 6:1-ff. Put simply, The husband is to love. The wife is to submit. The children are to obey. The father is to discipline and instruct in a righteous and loving way. If we add to this Paul’s instruction that the older women teach the young women to “love their children” and be “homemakers,” we get a pretty clear role of everyone in a typical family (Titus 2:4). Continue reading “A God Fearing Home” →

Between the fall of Adam and Eve and the time of Noah, mankind had become very corrupt. The text reveals, “Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And the LORD was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart” (Genesis 6:5-6). Because of the evil conduct of mankind, God determined to destroy the world by flood. This included man and beast, creeping things and the birds of the air. Verse 7 of the text says, “for I am sorry that I have made them.” The conclusion in verse 8, “But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord.” Continue reading “The Rainbow in the Cloud” →

(This article is an adaptation of what Moses told the people of Israel as he established the covenant between the nation and God before they were to enter the promised land. While I have adapted Moses’ words to us in our time, I have quoted verbatim God’s words at the end).

Surely we are aware of what God has done for us in our lives. During trials we are amazed at the comfort and help offered us by God. Why then do we not recognize and appreciate His help more than we do? God had given us limitations and requirements to show us we are called out of the world and are His special people. Therefore it is important for us to keep the commandments and teachings of our Lord, and in so doing we will prosper spiritually.

All of us stand today before the Lord God Almighty. This from the leaders of any congregation to the babes in Christ in the pew. Man and woman, young and old, from all races and cultures, we have been called out of the world. We should dedicate ourselves fully today to the covenant that God has made with us. In doing this He truly will be our God and we will be His people. He has promised this, and God delivers on His promises.
Continue reading “The Inclination of Our Behavior” →

As a preacher, I have interacted with many individuals about their desire (or lack thereof) to receive help in time of need. Whether it be financial, regarding health, or mundane things like a ride to the airport. I have seen many different attitudes over the years. The extremes range from an unwillingness to accept any help to a willingness to impose upon others for things one could do for themselves. I must say that while there is obviously a spectrum which we all are on, the extremes bother me. I think they are both sinful.

First, note the entitled. We actually have fostered this attitude in our modern society. Half of the annual Federal budget is made up of what are termed “Entitlement Programs.” While such a safety net is a sign of a government that cares for its citizens, there is no doubt that many in the past and present have abused these programs. What was intended as a help to the needy has become a way for some to get by without any personal effort. The Bible certainly does not approve of such an attitude. Paul wrote, “For you yourselves know how you ought to follow us, for we were not disorderly among you; nor did we eat anyone’s bread free of charge, but worked with labor and toil night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, not because we do not have authority, but to make ourselves an example of how you should follow us. For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat” (2 Thessalonians 3:7-10). Continue reading “I Don’t Want to be a Bother” →

Paul uses an interesting phrase in his first letter to the Thessalonians (3:1-3). “Therefore, when we could no longer endure it, we thought it good to be left in Athens alone, and sent Timothy, our brother and minister of God, and our fellow laborer in the gospel of Christ, to establish you and encourage you concerning your faith, that no one should be shaken by these afflictions; for you yourselves know that we are appointed to this.”

Timothy was a common companion of Paul in his travels. He was Paul’s “son in the faith” and was both a comfort and help to him in his work. One of the practices of Paul was to send Timothy to places when Paul himself was unable to come. This is what he did for the brethren in Thessalonica. Continue reading ““We Could No Longer Endure It”” →

Acts 20 records a conversation that the apostle Paul had with the elders of the Ephesian church. He had sailed past Ephesus in a hurry to get to Jerusalem, and instead landed at Miletus. There he called for the elders to come to him.

Paul had a wonderful relationship with the elders. He had spent a significant amount of time in Ephesus, and no doubt had developed close relationships with these men. This was basically a farewell visit with them. At the end of their meeting after they had prayed together, we are told, “Then they all wept freely, and fell on Paul’s neck and kissed him, sorrowing most of all for the words which he spoke, that they would see his face no more. And they accompanied him to the ship” (37-38).

So, they departed from one another on good terms. These men no doubt were grateful for the work he had done among them, and appreciated his words on this occasion. They were important words. As elders, they were called to diligence in overseeing the church in Ephesus. This diligence would be greatly needed. Paul told them, “For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves” (29-30). Continue reading “Perverse Things” →

The apostle Paul warned Timothy, “But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come” (2 Timothy 3:1). The phrase “last days” properly references our own time, which began on Pentecost in Acts 2, and will continue until Jesus comes again. In history there was a Patriarchal age, A Mosaical age, and then with the ascension of Christ to His throne, our own Christian age. The Bible clearly establishes the Christian age will continue until all is destroyed (cf. 2 Peter 3:1-13).

What we know from history is that perilous times have been present since Pentecost. At some points in history it has been less chaotic, and sometimes much more, but peril is always present, especially for the child of God. Thus the reason for Paul’s warning. The apostle goes further to explain the why of such dangers. He writes, “For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power…” (2-5a). Continue reading “Perilous Times” →

The need for preparation for the judgment day is well described in Jesus’ parable of the Wise and Foolish Virgins, related in Matthew 25.

While the bridegroom tarried, the five virgins who had not sufficiently prepared ran out of oil to fuel their lamps. They had to leave to get more oil, and when they were away, the bridegroom came, and they were locked out of the wedding feast (1-12). Jesus’ application is given in the 13th verse, “Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.”

The idea of watching is seen in preparation. It is important for us to prepare ourselves for eternity because it is of the greatest importance. “For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works” (Matthew 16:26-27). Continue reading “Preparing for Judgment” →

Paul gave an encouraging message to the Thessalonians in his first letter to them, in chapter 5. He refers to the “times and the seasons” (1), referencing the second coming of Jesus.

Teaching concerning Christ’s coming in judgment had been given by the Lord Himself. He said, “But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into. Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect” (Matthew 24:43-44). Paul uses the same language here in referencing Christ’s final return, noting this was a truth with which they were familiar. “For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night” (2). Continue reading “The Times and the Seasons” →

The Preaching of the gospel has a very important place in God’s scheme of redemption. As Paul wrote, “How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?” (Romans 10:14).

Preaching is the means by which the gospel is spread throughout the world. The apostles as Christ’s ambassadors initially proclaimed that message on Pentecost. As the church grew persecution scattered the early believers, and we are told that they “went everywhere preaching the word” (Acts 8:4). Men like Stephen, Philip, Barnabas, Silas, Timothy, Titus, etc., all serve as examples both of the need and efficacy of preaching the gospel of Christ.

The Bible shows two general purposes for preaching. As we have already shown, the preaching of the gospel to the lost brings faith to the hearts of men. As John noted, “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). Continue reading “Corporate Worship: Preaching” →

“Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world” (1 John 2:15-16).

The description given by John in this text seems to categorize all sin into at lease one of three groups. A practical consideration of this seems so. Every sin I can think of can be categorized as a consequence of illicit desire (brought from what we see, what we feel, or pride). Continue reading “Lust of the Eyes & Flesh, the Pride of Life” →

In the Old Testament God gave the command for the Israelites to tithe to support the nation, especially the Levites and Priests in their duties. “And all the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land or of the fruit of the tree, is the LORD’s. It is holy to the LORD. If a man wants at all to redeem any of his tithes, he shall add one-fifth to it. And concerning the tithe of the herd or the flock, of whatever passes under the rod, the tenth one shall be holy to the LORD” ( Leviticus 27:30-32).

The most significant point for us as we consider giving in the New Testament is the statement that the tithe “is the Lord’s.” God’s people have a responsibility to return a portion of what the Lord has blessed us with back to Him. It is the Lord’s! As Paul wrote, “Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!” Continue reading “Corporate Worship: Giving” →