1 Samuel 11:2 But Nahash the Ammonite replied, “I will make a treaty with you only on the condition that I gouge out the right eye of every one of you and so bring disgrace on all Israel.” Are you a one-eyed Christian? The Ammonites were pressing hard against the little Israelite city Continue Reading…
Matthew 5:29 “If your right eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell.” This past Christmas our children gifted Chip and me with theater tickets Continue Reading…
Acts 8:3 “But Saul was ravaging the church, and entering house after house, he dragged off men and women and committed them to prison.” Evil cannot be pacified. It will keep spreading until stopped dead in its tracks. Stephen was wise, courageous and full of the Holy Spirit. He also holds the Continue Reading…
2 Chronicles 21:20 “…He passed away, to no one’s regret, and was buried in the city of David, but not in the tombs of the kings.” What a eulogy! King Jehoram died “to no one’s regret.” In his eight short years as king of Judah, he managed to murder all Continue Reading…
Luke 9:26 “Whoever is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.” Fat-shaming. You’ve no doubt heard of it. It’s when people are mocked or Continue Reading…
Joshua 24:23 “Now then,” said Joshua, “throw away the foreign gods that are among you and yield your hearts to the Lord, the God of Israel.” Do you detect any Trojan Horses in your life? They are subtle, sneaky and sly. I’ll never forget the graduate Psychology course I took years ago at Continue Reading…
Judges 2:10-11 “After that whole generation had been gathered to their ancestors, another generation grew up who knew neither the Lord nor what he had done for Israel. Then the Israelites did evil in the eyes of the Lord….” One generation. That’s all it took to lose everything. The Lord promised not to break his Continue Reading…
Jude 1:3 “… I felt compelled to write and urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to God’s holy people.” Contend for the faith. I can’t get that phrase out of my mind. Jude urged the early church to fight against every smidgen of apostasy. Continue Reading…
Daniel 1:8 “But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine….” To compromise or not to compromise…. It’s a question faced continually by politicians, parents and just about anyone facing a tough decision. To what length do we go in standing up for our principles? When is Continue Reading…
Hosea 9:10 “…they consecrated themselves to that shameful idol and became as vile as the thing they loved.” Be careful what you love…. I remember a song we used to sing in Sunday School. Oh be careful little ears what you hear….oh be careful little eyes what you see…oh be Continue Reading…