The religious leaders took advantage of the opportunity to humiliate the disciples, pressing in close with questions. They were motivated by a desire to “prove” that Jesus and His disciples were deceivers.
Read MoreAny flaw is forgivable and correctable if we would only acknowledge the necessity of being in agreement with God. A heart that is willing to change in order to align with the will of God is immediately set on a righted course: that of restoration of His image in us. Isn’t that the goal of sanctification?
Read MoreFallen humanity has a propensity for veering off of the path that God desires for us. Going “left” means cropping or deleting specific details that we have been given. Going “right” is the tendency to add to what He has said, creating a burdensome task. Both flaws have a way of making complicated the simple truths that Jesus has for us.
Read MoreWhen Napoleon had the pope removed from his throne in 1798, the 1260-year reign of the first beast—the papacy—came to an end. Or did it? In reality it came to a temporary pause, but has slowly been swelling in power ever since.
Read MoreThe new, young nation arising out of the earth has high, lofty ideals imbedded into its founding principles. At its inception, in a world where most citizens were taxed to support a state-endorsed religion and religious dissidents were cruelly oppressed, our fledgling nation stood apart as the standard-bearer of freedom. A pillar of the Christian faith is that worship of the one true God is done without coercion of any kind.
Read MoreThese lamb-like horns denoted an innocent, young, peace-loving, nonoppressive, and spiritual nation. God’s providence is evident in the lofty ideals that were the banner of the young, new country. Indeed, many of our nation’s founders were themselves followers of Christ.
Read MoreReligious persecution all over Europe was a nightmare for those who desired to live their lives in faithfulness to Jesus. The corrupted church had risen to its officially recognized position of power by AD538, following the papacy’s uprooting—using military power—of the three (of ten) kingdoms who had opposed it (see Daniel 7:8).
Read MoreWhen pressed by them over one such law, Jesus wisely captured the opportunity to make a distinction between God’s law and man-made customs and rules. The real emphasis here is on the condition of the heart.
Read MoreDivine instructions are not only for harmonious life in our fallen world but eternal principles for truly righteous living. People who would be happy in heaven are ready and willing to align themselves now with God’s precepts. It is a growth process. The meek soul who is willing to obey the precepts of God holds the key to receiving more light.
Read MoreThe continuous flame mixed with the holy incense in the earthly tabernacle are meant to communicate to us that as we live and breathe, there is never a moment that we cannot breathe a prayer to the Infinite One!
Read MoreJesus, the living bread, employed sanctuary language. The essential nature of His Word is behind our very existence. And it is for our sanctification. We must eat of this bread every day for nourishment and sustenance, and not as a mere form of godliness. If we are willing to receive its life-giving power, we will continually be in a growth pattern; a pattern of transformation.
Read MoreIf I look to Him throughout the course of the day, then I will be alerted to the reality of the needs of others. In those things we are doing, the mundane becomes majestic, and the lowly becomes lofty. Our interactions with others become divine appointments.
Read MoreJesus enacted a cleansing of the temple at Jerusalem at the start of His earthly ministry. It must have taken them by surprise as they scrambled about! Business as usual had definitely been upended. His manner of authority had them scattered and running…
Read MoreWe are taught that each of us is to become a sanctuary for the indwelling of God’s Holy Spirit. The apostolic church learned that a Spirit-led life of “breaking bread” (the study of Scripture), daily prayer, and witnessing were essential for the health and growth of the church.
Read MoreThese last days are marked very distinctly with Satan’s intensifying attack against the precepts of God. God is allowing it, even as He is telling us about it in His word. Being confronted with specific tests has a way of bringing our decision-making into sharp focus.
Read MoreSatan accuses us before God, just as he accused Jacob; he intended to claim his right to Jacob because of his sin. As Jacob wrestled all night with God, the accuser forced upon him a sense of guilt that might cause him to give up and lose his hold on God. God also reminded him of his guilt for the purpose of testing his faith.
Read MoreThe knowledge of God is most clearly revealed to fallen humanity in the Bible. Only he who is meek and humble can accept the basic instructions, warnings, corrections, and rebukes contained in the love letter. This is because the meek and humble one recognizes the mercy that is being extended to him.
Read MoreIt is true that He provides counsel for every area of life. There is no part of my life that He does not care about. His word, if heeded, has a powerful way of protecting from all sorts of harm—physical, mental, social, emotional, and spiritual—with the ultimate goal of character-building that will last for eternity.
Read MoreJesus is ever at work to preserve life. Every person is a unique creation loved by God with an enormous love that is beyond our comprehension.
Read MoreDuring the Dark Ages, the notion of inherent immortality made its way into the Roman church. Acceptance of this idea ushers in a veritable host of other erroneous doctrines. Today we shall briefly examine one of them: infant baptism.
Read More