When Nehemiah returned to Jerusalem, the walls of the city remained in ruins. After surveying the work to be done, Nehemiah challenged the leaders and the people to “rise up and build…The God of heaven Himself will prosper us; therefore we His servants will arise and build” (Neh. 2:18, 20). The Bible records, “Then they set their hands to this good work”…
Let's Go Back to the Bible
Let's Go Back to the Bible
Posts by David Sproule (Page 254)
The word “complain” (or a form thereof) is found more than fifty times in the Bible, most of which are in the Old Testament. Where do you think we read the word for the first time in Scripture? The first forty years of Israel’s history after deliverance from Egypt could be summarized in one word—“complaining.” The first time the word is found…
It is interesting to read accounts in Scripture when men were doing things “for God” (or so they thought or claimed), but God made it known that it was not actually “for Him.” “Cain brought an offering…to the Lord…but He did not respect Cain and his offering” (Gen. 4:3-5). King Saul “felt compelled and offered a burnt offering,” but he was told,…
It’s amazing how in a ball game that, from many spectators’ and players’ perspective, the score and the outcome are always the referee’s fault. Every call the referees make is always the wrong one and is always against your team. If your team loses the game, it is never because of your team’s play, but always someone else’s fault. Recently I listened…
Oh, what we can learn when we take it one word at a time. Look at James 5:19-20. “Brethren” – This is being addressed to Christians (very important to the context). “if” – There is something that is a possibility…it cannot be called impossible. “anyone” – This is not limited to certain Christians; it includes “any” Christian. “among you” – This is…
In practically every relationship, there is someone who drives things in the relationship and someone who is more passive and follows the lead. This is not necessarily a bad thing for either party and is usually a good (and necessary) thing. This dynamic is found within marriages, the workplace and in the church. And, it most definitely exists between parents and children. …
Have you seen the commercial where a lady (while talking on her cell phone) tries getting into a stranger’s high-class vehicle by pressing the keyless-entry remote for her “not-nearly-as-nice” car? At first, she appears confused why “her key” will not get her into that luxury car, but to the informed observer, it’s pretty obvious. I wonder if, on the day of judgment,…
It is critically important that Christians have a proper view of themselves in the fulfillment of the Great Commission. Our responsibility is to “preach the gospel to every creature” (Mark 16:15), and Paul’s words in 2 Corinthians 4 can help us to keep it all in perspective. We are to preach “Christ Jesus as Lord” (4:5), for that is “the light of…