How beautiful is God’s design for His church! Everything that we know and need to know about it is found in His beautiful Scriptures! The church was planned by Jesus (Eph. 3:9-11), built by Jesus (Matt. 16:18), purchased by Jesus (Acts 20:28), started by Jesus (Acts 2:22-47), is loved by Jesus (Eph. 5:25), is governed by Jesus (Col. 3:17), is shepherded by Jesus (Heb.…

You know the closing verses on Numbers 6, although you may not realize it. Let me start it and you finish it: “The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make His…” Are you singing the rest of the song in your head? Part of verse 25 says, “The Lord make His face to shine upon you.” What does that mean? Have you seen someone’s face…

Paul wrote about those who face the sorrow of death and “have no hope” (1 Thess. 4:13). Their loved one was outside of Christ—a place where there is “no hope” (Eph. 2:12). But, he wanted those inside of Christ to know that they may sorrow at the loss of a faithful child of God, but their sorrow is tempered by hope. How? Those who have…

Where do you get your advice for choices you need to make? Who do you go to when you need some guidance? Too many Christians go to the wrong place and the wrong people! Years ago, it may have been Ann Landers or Dear Abby. Or maybe just ask folks at work or friends from school. Today, it’s Google or ChatGPT. All of these can head you in…

Perhaps we sometimes lose sight of the seriousness of sin. It seems ok, sometimes, and doesn’t feel like that big of a deal. Notice the common theme that runs through the Bible. Joseph: “How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin AGAINST GOD?” (Gen. 39:9). David: “AGAINST YOU, You only, have I sinned” (Psa. 51:4). Solomon: “When Your people are defeated…because they have sinned…

As Jesus was nearing the end of His life, He told His apostles that when He left, “another Comforter” would be sent by the Father—i.e., the Holy Spirit (John 14:16, 26; 15:26; 16:7). What an interesting word to use—“Comforter” (KJV). The Greek word literally means one who “calls alongside.” What would the apostles need? Comfort! Where would they get it? From “the God of all comfort” (2 Cor.…

I heard of a family who played the “Name-As-Many-Players-As-You-Can Game” while driving on long trips. They would pick a number (like “23”), and then say, “Name as many college or professional athletes as you can think of who ever wore the number 23.” After exhausting that number, they’d go to another one. This was obviously a family who loved to watch sports. What about another…

The red light on your dashboard comes on, telling you that you are almost empty and you need to fill up. How much longer will you go? At some point, you are going to have to stop and take the necessary steps to fill it up. There was a Christian lady in Joppa, who became sick and died (Acts 9:36-37). That was not an unusual…