When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. (Acts 2:1-4, NKJV) It was an eventful day in the city of Jerusalem. The Jews were observing the Feast of Weeks…
“I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.” (Psalm 119:11, ESV) Some time ago, I enrolled in a weekend Bible class. I enjoy digging in God’s Word, so I took the opportunity to learn a little more about prophecy and the end time. The class was small, and the students interacted easily. At one point, one of those attending asked the instructor, “What is the best translation of the Bible to use?” His answer was brief and to the point: “The one you will read.” Sadly, Bible reading is at an all-time low these days. About fifty percent of those being surveyed said they read the Bible “at least occasionally” (U.S. statistics). For some, the only Bible they might read is projected on a screen in a Sunday morning service. Only eleven percent stated that they read God’s Word daily. For someone who loves the Bible and considers it vital to my walk with the Lord, I find the statistics disheartening and even alarming. How can we stand in these perilous times without the power of His Word in our lives? Psalm 119, which is the longest psalm and also the longest…
“Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends.” (I Corinthians 13:4-8, ESV) If I were to describe the meaning of the Bible in one word, I would choose the word love. From Genesis through Revelation, love—God’s love—is evident. After all, God is love (I John 4:8). We are assured that His love toward us is eternal. It will never end. “The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end” (Lamentations 3:22, ESV). First Corinthians 13, with its beautiful description of love, is probably one of the best-known passages in the Bible. I will tell you this. I cannot imagine living in a world where love does not exist. It’s the glue that holds us together. Some have said that the opposite of love is not hate as we would think. It’s indifference. Not caring at all may be more hurtful than hatred. What does…
“Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” (Philippians 4:8) What if you challenged yourself to only think and say good things for one entire day. Could you do it? For one 24-hour period could you focus exclusively on things that are true, honest, righteous, pure, acceptable, commendable, excellent, and praiseworthy? As I wrote those words, I immediately thought, “There goes most news reports, political talk, and social media.” We might also need to tune out some conversations with coworkers, friends, or family members if they tend toward…
The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake. (Psalm 23:1-3, NKJV) Several years ago, a friend and I took a driving tour through Scotland. Friends from that lovely country drove us, so we were able to just be tourists instead of worrying about maps and directions. By the end of the week, I’m certain the couple thought me strange if not downright crazy. Whenever we passed a field with grazing sheep, I wanted to stop and take photos. It was a common sight for them, but not for this city girl. Perhaps I was also remembering all those Bible passages I’d read about shepherds and sheep. How old were you when you first memorized Psalm 23? Most of us can recite this well-known passage word-for-word. King David, who had been a shepherd long before he became a king, starts this psalm by saying the Lord is his shepherd, showing a personal, loving relationship. David wasn’t the first or only one to compare the Lord to a shepherd. From Genesis…
“Who can find a wife of noble character? She is far more precious than jewels . . . Charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting, but the woman who fears the LORD will be praised.” (Proverbs 31:10 and 30, CSB) Much has been said about the characteristics of the woman described in Proverbs 31. She was virtuous, kind, faithful, hardworking, dressed modestly, and cared well for her household. She was strong, capable, charitable, trustworthy, and just all-around nice. That’s quite a list! We might envy her numerous abilities, but we would probably also enjoy having this amazing woman as a best friend. I have a feeling you could drop in unannounced in the middle of the morning and there would be no stray socks, random toys, or unfolded laundry cluttering things. The breakfast dishes would be washed, beds made, and the dinner menu set. In other words, she’s someone we would like to be but fear we will never measure up. At least I wouldn’t. Drop in on me unexpectedly and you might find a few dishes in the sink, a bit of dust on the furniture, and a basket of unfolded laundry. Let me insert here that Proverbs 31…