Category: Reflections Articles

Preparation is important for most things. It is important to prepare remarks before public speaking. It is important to train and practice before athletic events or dramatic performances. Preparation helps proficiency in almost every circumstance. There is nothing more humiliating than to enter any endeavor and show yourself to be ineffective simply because you did not put in the effort to succeed.

The importance of preparation is a central theme of Jesus regarding the coming judgment. The parable of the virgins in Matthew 25 is an example of His teaching. Five virgins went to a wedding feast without sufficient preparation. They had lamps, but did not take oil with them to replenish the vessel. The other five, took the time and effort to take oil in vessels in addition to their lamps. When the feast was delayed as the bridegroom had not arrived, their lamps all went out. The foolish virgins had to go buy more oil, and while they were absent, the bridegroom arrived, and the doors were shut to the feast. Jesus’ lesson from this simple illustration, “Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming” (Matthew 15:13). Continue reading “Prepare!” →

The scripture reveals that Moses led the people of Israel to the promised land, but was unable to to enter the land of promise itself as punishment for his sin against God at Kadesh, Numbers 20. Moses in anger struck a rock to bring forth water, disregarding God’s words to speak to the rock. It is interesting to note that previously the striking of the rock was indeed God’s instruction. However, on this occasion He required something different from Moses. In response to this disobedience, in Numbers 20:12 God spoke to both Moses and Aaron, “Because you did not believe Me, to hallow Me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land which I have given them.”

Moving forward in time to Joshua 12, a list of accomplishments is given both of Moses (who had died), and Joshua, the next leader of Israel. The text begins by noting kings who had been defeated on the east side of the Jordan. This is where Moses led the people. We are told, “These Moses the servant of the Lord and the children of Israel had conquered; and Moses the servant of the Lord had given it as a possession to the Reubenites, the Gadites, and half the tribe of Manasseh‘’ (12:6). Then the narrative continues with Joshua’s leadership in Joshua 12:7. “And these are the kings of the country which Joshua and the children of Israel conquered on this side of the Jordan, on the west, from Baal Gad in the Valley of Lebanon as far as Mount Halak and the ascent to Seir, which Joshua gave to the tribes of Israel as a possession according to their divisions.”

Such an interesting phrase, “on this side of the Jordan.” It is a contrast to the phrase used in 12:1 when Moses was in charge, “on the other side of the Jordan toward the rising of the sun” referencing the land just east of the river. It is not a surprising thing that the Jews having entered and conquered, would now refer to their promised land as “this side” of the Jordan and the land they had left as “the other side.” Canaan now belonged to them. Their perspective had been altered at the fulfillment of God’s land promise to Abraham back in Genesis 12, 15 and also in 17:8, where we read “Also I give to you and your descendants after you the land in which you are a stranger, all the land of Canaan, as an everlasting possession; and I will be their God.”

A worthy lesson for us. For the child of God, this side (the side God has promised and where we belong) is heaven. The other side is this physical world. It took a while for the children of Israel to get to Canaan, and it may take us a while to get to the place God has promised for us! We need to remember we are on a pilgrimage until we reach our place of rest. May we steadfastly go that way until we reach the gates!

We have recorded in the gospels various prayers of Jesus, offered up to His Father in heaven. For example, in Matthew 6 and Luke 11 we have what is called by many today, “The Lord’s Prayer.” It was in response to the request of one of His disciples who said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples” (Luke 11:1). The designation of “The Lord’s Prayer” is inappropriately given to this prayer. It was a model prayer designed to teach the disciples. There are other prayers much more personal to our Lord.

One example of this is the prayer that Jesus offered up in John 17. He first prayed for Himself (17:1-5), then His intimate apostles (17:6-19), then the rest who believe in Him which would include you and me (17:20-26). According to John, this prayer was offered on the same night of His most intimate prayer, recorded in Matthew 26, Mark 15 and Luke 22. It is this prayer in the garden of Gethsemane that we want to examine now. Continue reading “The Garden Prayer” →

“God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds; who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become so much better than the angels, as He has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they” (Hebrews 1:1-4).

Our verse does a good job disclosing what is not evident from Jesus being born over 2,000 years ago. What had come before, all the prophecies and inspired writings compiled leading to that point, were a preamble to Jesus. As Paul so eloquently put it, “But before faith came, we were kept under guard by the law, kept for the faith which would afterward be revealed. Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor” (Galatians 3:23-25). Continue reading “He Speaks Through His Son” →

There are many misconceptions about the nature of Jesus Christ. These can be held by those who are antagonistic to the idea of God and His Son. They also are often held by those who would identify themselves as followers of Jesus.
We can know Jesus only by what is revealed in the Bible. We have Old Testament prophecies, the gospels, and what is revealed to us in the remainder of the New Testament. It gives us a complete picture of Him, one that often conflicts with the claims made by those ignorant of these words. Let’s examine some of the contrasting views of Jesus. What is legitimate, and what is not! As John wrote, “He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him” (John 1:10).

It is wrong to think Jesus will let everyone into heaven!

Jesus truly loves all mankind. It His desire that all men be saved, and He died to accomplish our redemption. But that gift Jesus has given has conditions! “Not everyone who says to Me, Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven” (Matthew 7:21). Continue reading “The World Does Not Know Jesus!” →

An interesting point in Israel’s history came as the people began to clamor for a king. Samuel was the judge over Israel at that time, and understandably was disappointed at the Israelites who seemed to be rejecting his rule over them.

“Then all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah, and said to him, ‘Look, you are old, and your sons do not walk in your ways. Now make us a king to judge us like all the nations.’ But the thing displeased Samuel when they said, ‘Give us a king to judge us…’”(1 Samuel 8:4-6). In response to their request, Samuel prayed to the Lord, who told him, “Heed the voice of the people in all that they say to you; for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me, that I should not reign over them” (1 Samuel 8:7). Continue reading “Samuel’s Character” →

When we speak generally of the cross, as Christians we are referring to the death of Jesus 2,000 years ago. The Romans who meted out the sentence of death to Jesus practiced crucifixion. Crucifixion consisted of the hanging of the person on a wooden crossbeam affixed to a wooden pole. Suspended from the ground, the unfortunate soul would die from a combination of severe blood loss, shock and progressive suffocation. This death would commonly take several days.

It was an ignominious death from torture. It was a public spectacle, designed to deter conquered people, slaves, rebels and criminals. It seems a bit of a paradox for such an action and symbol to have such a precious meaning to any people. However, in the case of Jesus, the Roman crucifixion was God’s sin sacrifice, offered on the behalf of sinful man. It is the most important event in the history of mankind, as God’s plan for redeeming man was fulfilled in the shedding of the Christ’s blood on that cross. Continue reading “The Two Sides of the Cross” →

In 1 Timothy 2 we have a series of directions given by the great apostle to Timothy regarding prayer. It brings to mind Jesus’ words, commonly called the Lord’s prayer (Luke 11) as the disciples requested of Him, “Lord, teach us to pray” (11:1).

Paul was teaching Timothy how to pray, or to be more specific, a part of what his prayers to God should consist. How should we pray for others?

First, note who the others are… they are specified. First, “all men” (2:1). We do not pray merely for those with whom we are familiar, but with all the family of man. Continue reading “Paul’s Instructions Regarding Prayer” →

The book of Deuteronomy is extremely interesting to read. It consists of a series of farewell addresses delivered by Moses to the second generation of Israelites as they camped on the plains of Moab, poised to cross the Jordan River and conquer the Promised Land.

There were three speeches which make up the primary content of the book. In the first speech of Moses was a historical review highlighting God’s faithfulness to Israel (1:1-4:43). The second (longest speech) was Moses’ restatement of the terms of God’s covenant with Israel (4:44-26:19). The third speech was a call by Moses for Israel to renew that covenant with God (27:1-30:20).

Moses’ second speech was an expansive, hours-long address that restated the Ten Commandments, detailed the covenant laws for life in the promised land, and concluded with a solemn series of blessings for obedience and curses for rebellion. It is estimated that a normal speaking cadence would require between 2 and 2.5 hours to complete the speech. This makes a single article fairly ineffective as an attempt to summarize the material. There is simply to much to discuss. Continue reading “A Deuteronomic Warning” →

In Exodus 13 we read of the institution of the Feast of Unleavened Bread. Moses gave the instructions regarding the time and regulations of the feast, and also the reason, “It shall be as a sign to you on your hand as a memorial between your eyes, that the Lord’s law may be in your mouth; for with a strong hand the Lord has brought you out of Egypt” (9). God did not establish the feast to be merely a day off from work! It was a memorial! Unfortunately throughout Jewish history, during times of rebellion against God, the purpose of much of God’s instructions were lost to the minds of the people. Continue reading ““And you shall tell your son”” →

We are familiar with Peter’s use of God’s words in the book of Leviticus (11:44-45; 19:2; 20:7), “Be holy, for I am holy” (1 Peter 1:16). Here we see that our own holiness has a compelling reason. We are imitating God! This was Peter’s thesis in his text, “but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct” (1:15).

While we may have some concept of holiness, let’s consider God’s definition as found in the Greek language. The Greek word hagios denotes something that is sacred. It has reference to an object that has been separated from what is common, and is therefore worthy of veneration. In reference to a man, it is used to indicate moral goodness. Someone who is pure, sinless, upright. The Old Testament Hebrew word qados is used essentially in the same way. Continue reading “Be Holy” →

We just celebrated our 250th birthday as a nation on July 4th. If you are like many, it was probably a enjoyable day of family, patriotism and fireworks. It is also an opportunity for reflection for the child of God. Consider what crossed my mind on that day.

I am amazed at the size of the celebrations. They went all out in Washington D.C. with a speech from the President, the honoring of centenarian veterans of World War II, and what was billed as the biggest fireworks display ever in the history of the world! (President Trump likes big things).

Debbie and I went with six of our grandkids (and their parents) to a bridge near downtown Fort Worth to watch our city’s fireworks display. There were hundreds of people on that bridge watching with us. I wondered what it would be like if I had the opportunity to talk to so many non-Christians at one time about our Lord. Continue reading “Observations About the Fourth” →

In Jesus’ sermon on the mount we read His teaching on the subject of swearing (5:33-37). By this we do not mean profanity, which is condemned elsewhere in scripture (Colossians 3:8).

What is under consideration is the taking of an oath to establish the verity of your words. This was actually a practice that had authority under the Old Covenant. “If a man makes a vow to the LORD, or swears an oath to bind himself by some agreement, he shall not break his word; he shall do according to all that proceeds out of his mouth” (Numbers 30:2).

In Jesus’ time swearing was a common practice among both Jews and Gentiles. Vows were not made solely in God’s name, but by physical things, as alluded to by Jesus in (5:34-36): heaven, earth, Jerusalem, even by your own head. Continue reading “Swear Not At All” →

We know that truth (no matter the discipline) is objective. Truth is defined by Webster: “the body of real things, events, and facts; the real facts about something; the state of being the case.”

It can be simple or complex mathematics, scientific discovery, or spiritual truth. In all cases it is real and certain. Let’s give an example. Some people claim the earth is a flat, stationary disk with the North Pole at its center and Antarctica functioning as an ice wall around the edges. The recent scientific achievement of Artemis II (the trip to the moon) was accomplished by knowing the true nature of the earth. Further, photographs clearly show the spherical nature of the earth. It is a fact. (Actually a fact that has been known for hundreds of years, despite the claims of the Flat Earth Society).

When we get into the realm of religion, people deny that objective truth still remains. People began to claim that “your truth is different from my truth.” This type of Postmodern thinking is unacceptable to most, except when it comes to God. But it must be noted that thinking the earth is flat does not make it so. Thinking 2+2=5 does not make it so. And thinking that there is no objective truth about God and His will for man does not make it so! Continue reading “The Objective Truth of God” →

In Mark 10 (as well as Matthew 19 and Luke 18) we read of a rich ruler who asked Jesus what he needed to do to inherit eternal life. It is evident that Jesus knew what was in the man’s heart. He knew that the man’s riches were a problem for him. After a short conversation he answered the man’s question with these words: “One thing you lack: God your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow Me” (21). This brought sorrow to the man despite his devotion and sincerity, as he was unwilling to put the Lord (and eternal life) ahead of his great possessions. Continue reading “The Problem with Money” →