In Matthew 13 and Luke 8 the parable of the soils is found. There is the soil of the wayside. There is the soil in the stony places. There is the soil among the thorns and there is the good kind of soil. Most of would like to be the good kind of soil but are we? Most of us would like to think that our friends are good soil, but that does not make it so. We need to take a good hard look at what kind of soil we are. Within the Future...
Category: Obedience
Traditions versus Divine Law
“Then came to Jesus scribes and Pharisees, which were of Jerusalem, saying, Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? For they wash not their hands when they eat bread. But he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandments of God by your tradition? For God commanded, saying, Honour thy father and mother; and, He that curseth father or mother, let him die the death. But ye say, Whosoever shall say to his father or his mother, It is a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by...Continue reading
That’s Just His Opinion
“These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and search the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.” These that were “more noble” were the Jews in the city of Berea. The reason they were “more noble” was because they “received the word with all readiness of mind.” Here was a group of people that listened to what was being preached with eagerness. Notice that the passage says, … and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.” How often do you take...Continue reading
The Voice of God
Three times God the Father audibly spoke during the life of His Son. One was after His baptism (Matthew 3:17 “And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”) Another time is at the Mount of Transfiguration. Jesus has with Him Peter, James, and John. Peter acting like he did most of the time, spoke. He mentioned building three tabernacles: one for Him, one for Moses and one for Elias. This was a good thought as far as Peter was concerned. He was thinking of honoring...Continue reading
How Are We Doing?
“For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise” (2 Corinthians 10:13). There must have been a problem, in Corinth, of people comparing Paul with other people. The context of 2 Corinthians bears this out; “Do we begin again to commend ourselves? Or need we, as some others, epistles of commendation to you, or letters of commendation from you?” (2 Corinthians 3:1). Also, “For we commend not ourselves again unto you, but give...
Influence
How much influence do you have? How much influence do others have on you? How much influence does the television have on you? Three question that are asked now to show the power of influence. Answer each question before going to the next question. Write down your answers. Question #1: Write down the five sermons that have influenced you over your life time. Question #2: Write down the five events that have made the most impact in your life. Question #3: Write down five people that have influenced you the most in your life. Now...
If Jesus Came
If Jesus Came Would you have to change your clothes before you let Him in? Or hide some magazines, and put the Bible where they’d been? Would you hide your worldly music and put some hymn books out? Could you let Jesus walk right in, or would you rush about? And I wonder… if the Savior spent a day or two with you Would you go right on doing, the things you always do? Would you to right on saying, the things you always say? Or would lift for you continue as it does from...Continue reading
“Are You for Us, or for Our Adversaries?”
This quote comes from Joshua 5:13 and is a good question for all of time. It is a question that one could even ask in this day and time. Joshua was asking this question of the “captain of the host of the Lord” (Joshua 5:14). He is also told to take his shoes off of his feet for the place whereon he stood was holy (Joshua 5:15). The answer then was implied for the answer Joshua got was that he was speaking to the “captain of the host of the Lord.” If we asked this...
Are You a Friend?
John 15:14-19 reads, “Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you. Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doth; but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you. Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it your. These...Continue reading
Gambling with Sacrifice
The chicken and the pig were discussing what sacrifice means when considering the breakfast meal for humans. The chicken did not think that sacrifice was such a big deal, but the pig did. To the pig it meant total commitment but to the chicken it was just giving. Parents make sacrifices for their children. Some of those sacrifices may never be known to the children. Some sacrifices may become known later in life when the parents talk lovingly of the child’s upbringing. If those sacrifices were despised, it would subordinate them in the minds of...Continue reading