Value

“The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in the field, which a man found and hid again; and from joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.”  “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking fine pearls, and upon finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had and bought it” (Matthew 13:44-46). What do you think? How do these comparisons apply to us personally, as we live out our lives with an eternal hope in this day and age? Does this represent your values, your hope? Do they prompt a desire for change in pursuits or priorities? If so, how? If not, why not? Read More Articles By This...

Waiting For?

“LORD, make me to know my end and what is the extent of my days; Let me know how transient I am. Behold, You have made my days as handbreadths, and my lifetime as nothing in Your sight; Surely every man at his best is a mere breath. Surely every man walks about as a phantom; Surely they make an uproar for nothing; He amasses riches and does not know who will gather them. And now, Lord, for what do I wait? My hope is in You.” (Psalm 39:4-7) Three Questions: Considering your own view of the world in this present time, how do you answer the question “for what do I wait?” Do your thinking and actions affirm your confession? What are your thoughts? Read More Articles By This...

The Race Ahead

“Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart” (Hebrews 12:1-3). The verses above follow the examples of the “witnesses” of faith given us by those who acted on their faith in preceding chapter 11 of the book of Hebrews. Now we each run our own “race that is set before us.”  What do you think? The exhortation here is to follow the examples identified and placing our eyes, i.e. our hope and future on Jesus while setting aside the enticement and distraction of sin. Ought we as Christ followers today, be praying for “endurance” and casting aside “encumbrances” as we pursue our own faith during our own short stay here on earth? If so, why? if not, why not? Read More Articles By This...

Who is the Watchman?

“For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed animals and crawling creatures” (Romans 1:21-23). “A third of mankind was killed by these three plagues, by the fire and the smoke and the brimstone which proceeded out of their mouths. For the power of the horses is in their mouths and in their tails; for their tails are like serpents and have heads, and with them they do harm. The rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands, so as not to worship demons, and the idols of gold and of silver and of brass and of stone and of wood, which can neither see nor hear nor walk and they did not repent of their murders nor of their sorceries nor of their immorality nor of their thefts” (Revelation 9:18-21). Even after seeing all these things and the results of their hands, they did not repent!  Nor did they did not honor God in their foolishness.  We do not know why.  Could it be that they did not understand the warning and hope that is offered by Jesus Christ in the gospel? “He heard the sound of the trumpet but did not take warning; his blood will be on himself. But had he taken warning, he would have...

A Broken Heart

“Now the Pharisees, who were lovers of money, were listening to all these things and were scoffing at Him.  And He said to them, “You are those who justify yourselves in the sight of men, but God knows your hearts; for that which is highly esteemed among men is detestable in the sight of God” (Luke 16:14-15). As a cross-reference: The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and a contrite heart, O God, You will not despise” (Psalm 51:17). And another cross-reference: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:3). What do you think?     How do men think and behave in such a condition?   Who among men do you know with “a broken spirit and a broken and contrite heart?”   Are you one of them?   Read More Articles By This...