Category: Reflections Articles

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” →

Luke 7 records in Jesus’ ministry a visit to the city of Nain. Nain was located southwest of the sea of Galilee about 8 miles south of Nazareth. There is no indication it was a large city, but verse 11 of the text indicates that when Jesus entered the city, he brought both His disciples, “and a large crowd” with Him.

The city is only known from this account, where Jesus raised a young man from the dead. His mother is famously known as “the widow of Nain.” Perhaps the most significant aspect of this notable miracle Jesus performed is the motivation behind it. We are told the young man was the only son of his widowed mother, and “When the Lord saw her, He had compassion on her” (13). Continue reading “The Widow of Nain” →

On the night of His betrayal, Jesus instituted a supper to be observed in His kingdom to commemorate His sacrificial death for mankind. This is one of the responsibilities that we have as Christians as we come together to worship God. Consider Jesus’ words on that occasion:

“And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said, ‘Take, eat; this is My body.’ Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. But I say to you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father’s kingdom.” (Matthew 26:26-29).

As we consider this act of worship it is needful to establish the pattern required by the Lord to please Him, and also to consider the importance and solemnity of this feast. Continue reading “Corporate Worship: The Lord’s Supper” →

Another important aspect of our collective worship is the offering up of prayers. It is evident in examining the practice of prayer that God expects it. Like with singing, no prohibitions are given regarding time or place. We are told to “pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:16). We have examples of Jesus praying in solitude (cf. Luke 5:16), and are instructed in the practice of solitary prayer ourselves (cf. Matthew 6:5-6).

We are also given examples of Christians praying together. In Acts 12, we find Peter to have been imprisoned. With the help of God he escaped, and went to his brethren. “So, when he had considered this, he came to the house of Mary, the mother of John whose surname was Mark, where many were gathered together praying” (12). Continue reading “Corporate Worship: Praying” →

As we continue to consider the idea of corporate (collective) worship in an assembly, I would like to direct our minds to the topic of singing. Several truths are to be considered in this simple article.

The practice of musical worship to God is authorized, but in some ways limited. In other words, God allows (actually demands) we worship Him with song, but He specifies clearly the way in which we are to do it. There are many choices with regard to songs in worship, and sometimes God does not specify His limiting desire in any particular aspect. When this happens we are given choice. However, when God chooses we are to abide by His choice rather than substituting our own. This is a simple principle. Jesus said that in His kingdom, “true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such to worship Him” (John 4:23). Continue reading “Corporate Worship: Singing” →

We recognize the opportunity for us to worship God as individual Christians. For example, we are told in 1 Thessalonians 5:17, “Pray without ceasing.” And in James 5:16, “The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.” These verses are examples of personal worship to God, as we praise His name in our devotions toward Him.

There is also an idea of collective worship in the New Testament. From the very beginning of the church we are told the new converts, “continued steadfastly in the apostle’s doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers” (Acts 2:42). An explicit example of this worship is given in Acts 20:7, when the disciples in Troas “came together to break bread.”

A term used for such worship is “corporate” worship. The word corporate in this context means “group.” Simply put, worship that God calls us to do together. As we look severally at the different acts of worship authorized by God, we begin here with some introductory thoughts. Continue reading “Corporate Worship: An Introduction” →

After giving specific admonitions first to wives then husbands in 1 Peter 3, Peter continues with more general admonitions which apply to us all: “Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous; not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing” (1 Peter 3:8-9).

These admonitions are summed up on the call of all Christians to love one another. In this both Peter and John are in agreement, “He who loves his brother abides in the light, and there is no cause for stumbling in him. But he who hates his brother is in darkness and walks in darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes” (1 John 2:10-11). Continue reading “Inheriting a Blessing” →

I recently came across a sermon outline by Joe Price which stated four danger signs to recognize regarding a failure of faith. There are two basic components to fighting our adversary the devil. Our diligence as we seek to grow and mature as God’s children, and the protection and strength He supplies to us. Paul wrote of God’s protection in Ephesians 6, “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand” (10-13). He has given us the armor we need to be fully protected against the devil and his wiles if we but implement it in our lives. Continue reading “Signs of Danger” →

In Daniel 8 the prophet received a vision. It is interesting in its specificity, and in the secular corroboration of the vision. We will not go into details regarding the vision itself, but want to spend a few moments analyzing the interpretation of it.

After Daniel saw the vision we are told that Daniel sought the meaning, then heard a man’s voice saying, “Gabriel, make this man understand the vision.” This is when the angel Gabriel approached Daniel who was prostrate but at Gabriel’s touch stood upright.

Daniel’s vision was about the future, and Gabriel named by name both the Medo-Persian empire (which Daniel lived to experience in part) and the Grecian empire (which came after Daniel’s death). Continue reading “The Vision of the Ram and the Goat” →

Through examples and commands, the Lord supplies a pattern for the family. The roles, dynamics and structure of the family are given. Consider the following:

God established the institution of marriage from the beginning. In introducing Eve as a companion to Adam, the text records, “Then the rib which the Lord God had taken from man He made into a woman, and He brought her to the man” (Genesis 3:22). Note God’s intent, “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh” (Genesis 2:24). We then consider our Lord’s divine commentary on the text in Genesis when He said in Matthew 19:4-6, “Have you not read that He who made them at the beginning made them male and female,’ and said, For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’? So then, they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate.” Continue reading “The Family: God’s Plan” →

On one of the occasions of Israel’s rebellions against God during the time of the judges, God chastised them. We are told that because of God’s anger for their idolatries, “He sold them into the hands of the Philistines and into the hands of the people of Ammon” (Judges 10:7). After eighteen years of harassment and oppression, “the children of Israel cried out to the Lord, saying, ‘We have sinned against You, because we have both forsaken our God and served the Baals!’” Continue reading ““The gods which you have chosen”” →