It is always helpful to have an example or pattern to follow when making something. Thankfully, God did not leave us up to our own devices and wisdom when creating the church. The New Testament is full of examples and commands for us to follow. We “serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things” (Heb. 8:5). We have a pattern in…

Some of the saddest passages in the Bible can be found in the messages of the Old Testament prophets. God said to His people before their captivity, “Can a virgin forget her ornaments, or a bride her attire? Yet My people have forgotten Me Days without number” (Jer. 2:32). Four times in the book of Jeremiah God tells His people that they…

An absolute truth is an anchor, something that never changes despite the circumstances. God has made our world with millions of constants on which we depend, principles that science later established as laws. The Psalms talk about the Sun always passes in its orbit, and the stars, that man has depended on for thousands of years for travel, have never changed (Psa.…

Paul writes about the sacrifice of Christ, “that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory” (Eph. 5:26-27). That task is something we must continue to do—maintaining the church in all her glory. The divine contribution and foundation of the church has been laid. It was the Lord that pitched the divine sanctuary (Heb. 8:2). Christ is the Head…

The psalms teach us a lot about prayer. Many of them are in the form of a prayer to God about themes that weigh on the human soul. There are prayers of protection, “O LORD, how my adversaries have increased!” (Psa. 3:1). Prayers of praise, “I will extol You, my God, O King, And I will bless Your name forever and ever”…

No other New Testament writer speaks on the theme of Christian living more than Paul. In his letters he highlights life and death principles to a life lived in Christ. Contemplating these things will help us keep our focus on a Christ centered life. “Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him…

In the book of Malachi, God chastises the priests. They had not been acting in accordance with the covenant. God spoke concerning Levi through Aaron, “My covenant with him was one of life and peace, and I gave them to him as an object of reverence; so he revered Me and stood in awe of My name” (2:5). We see awe and…

When learning something, new it is always great to have examples. I remember trying to learn algebra. My teacher would go over a few equations on the board to help us get the concepts. About the time I thought I was getting it, she would stop and assign class work. I’d open the book and naturally the examples were nothing like what…