It’s a subject and even an individual that we often avoid, but it is one that God speaks of specifically and frequently (at least 50 times in the book of Proverbs alone). “All the brothers of the poor hate him…hated even by his own neighbor…how much more do his friends go far from him” (Prov. 19:7; 14:20).  “He who oppresses [or mocks]…

Nearly every Christian, at some point, has probably “become weary and discouraged.”  Due to the relentless efforts of Satan (1 Pet. 5:8), the cares of this world (Luke 8:14) and the enslaving nature of sin (Jn. 8:34), a follower of Christ can sometimes grow fainthearted.  What can we do? God tells you, “lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls,” to…

Joseph’s brothers took his “tunic, killed a kid of the goats, and dipped the tunic in the blood.  Then…they brought it to their father and said, ‘We have found this.  Do you know whether it is your son’s tunic or not?’”  Well, they didn’t TELL him a lie!  Did they? Jacob “recognized it and said, ‘It is my son’s tunic.  A wild…

God warned His people in the Old Testament, “Beware that you do not forget the Lord your God” (Deut. 8:11).  Honestly, how could they possibly forget God?  The Lord gave the following signs: “when you have eaten and are full, and have built beautiful houses and dwell in them; and when your herds and your flocks multiply, and your silver and your…

So, how many doors do you enter or exit every day?  There are bedroom doors, bathroom doors, home entry doors, garage doors, screen doors, car doors, glass doors, sliding doors, office doors, etc., etc.  The average person probably enters or exits doors more than 100 times a day.  Depending on what side of the door you find yourself is usually an indication…

An old movie and television scene:  someone walks up to a door and knocks in five rhythm beats (bum, bum, ba-dum, bum), a tiny eye-level slot slides open, a gruff voice from behind the door growls, “What’s the password?”  There is going to be no entry and no bribery without the password.  You either know the password or you don’t.  If you…

We put locks on everything – on our homes, cars, bicycle chains, briefcases, luggage, diaries, freezers, paper towel dispensers, mailboxes, etc., etc.  Security systems are utilized to protect many of our precious possessions from harm or theft.  Even with some of the most advanced technology, somehow villains and thieves still seem to find a way to bypass our protective measures and do…

Traditionally it is believed that Solomon penned the book of Ecclesiastes in his later years, after learning life’s lessons (which gave him a special insight into the inspired words that God gave to him).  The wise man began the last chapter with these words, “Remember now your Creator in the days of your youth, before the difficult days come…” (12:1). Young people…