Think about the practice of “writing a check” in relationship to Christ’s death. The Bible depicts the death of Christ as a payment that was made on our behalf. Consider this for a moment.  When writing a check, you must put a date on it. When Christ wrote the date, He said, “The hour has come” (John 17:1). For “Pay to the Order of,” He was…

The apostle John wrote the two shortest letters in the New Testament—what we call Second John and Third John. They may be short, but they are mighty and loaded with many golden nuggets, such as the way he closes both books. He said to both the elect lady and Gaius, “I have many things to write to you. I did not wish to do so…

It is so hard to watch people we love get wrapped up in sin! It breaks our hearts (sometimes it feels like it’s literally breaking). Sometimes our conscience gets so bothered by it that we may even try to relieve our conscience by finding an acceptable explanation. We might say things like, “He’s still a good person, just a little mixed up right now.” “At least…

You’ve heard the maxims before, like, “If you give him an inch, he’ll take a mile.” This is true of toddlers, salesmen and some business associates. But, even more so, it’s true of the devil! That is why God warned us to not “give place to the devil” (Eph. 4:27). While it is also translated, “opportunity,” the word means to not give the devil any…

One of the most intriguing statements in Scripture regarding Jesus is one that surrounds the time of the crucifixion. Sometimes we may think of the agony He experienced in the Garden of Gethsemane and think that He was unwilling or a coward or walking away. But read what the Hebrews writer revealed: “who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross”…

Would you say that the apostle Paul had a close relationship with God? It’s hard to draw any other conclusion. But, how close to God was he? He certainly believed in God (Act 27:25; 2 Tim. 1:12), prayed to God (2 Cor. 13:7; 2 Thess. 1:11) and trusted in God (2 Cor. 1:9; 1 Tim. 4:10). And he said those very words. But, I want you to…

The easiest seat in the church? What do you think it is? It’s the “Monday Morning Church Member Seat.” It’s the seat that many members recline in on a Monday (or even Sunday afternoon), as they question, judge, deride and even laugh at decisions the elders make and actions they take. This chair is so easy, and sometimes it’s a big chair that can fit lots…

It is a wonder that some folks have not pulled a muscle (spiritually speaking) in all of the contortions that they have gone to in an effort to explain away what a Bible verse teaches. Philippians 2:12 is one of those verses. The verse begins with the word “Therefore.” Therefore what? “Therefore, my beloved,” based upon the exemplary humility of Jesus, which was expressed in His…