April 2021, Vol. 40, No. 4 Archives

Coincidentally At Fault

[285 words] Robert Todd Lincoln was at the White House when he heard what had happened to his father at Ford Theater. He immediately rushed to be by his side and stayed there till his death. After the death of his father, he would go on to be a very successful lawyer and an important…

The Fading Beauty of the Flower

[364 words] “Flowers appear on the earth; the season of singing has come, the cooing of doves is heard in our land” (Song of Songs 2:12). I have always liked spring. The flowers of spring are beautiful and amazing in their detail and intricate design. Spring is a time of bright color and fragrance as…

The Good Ol’ Days?

[175 words] Let’s talk about the good ‘ole days. I’m sure you’ve heard about them. Perhaps from a sentence starting with “back in my day…” And that’s followed by all kinds of things. Back in my day kids respected their parents. Back in my day you didn’t have to spend your whole paycheck on gasoline.…

Growing in Faith

[513 words] Have you wondered why we have Bible Classes each Sunday and Wednesday even- ing? Or why preaching of the Word of God is so essential to our Sunday worship? Or why the Lord encourages us to read and study the Bible daily (Psa. 1:2)? It is because Bible study is a faith growing…

Mistakes

[343 words] The dictionary defines the word “mistake” this way: “a misunderstanding of the the meaning or implication of something; a wrong action or statement proceeding from faulty judgment or inadequate knowledge.” Most of us would admit that we know plenty about mistakes, without having to consult a dictionary, because of personal experience. We know…

When This Last Barrier to Vice is Broken Down

[356 words] While recently reading from Moses Lard’s Commentary on Paul’s Letter to Romans, my attention was captured by a sentence from Lard on the following text: “There is no fear of God before their eyes” ( Romans 3:18). Among Lard’s comments on the preceding verse is this statement: “Where God is not feared, nothing…

Mirror, Mirror On the Wall

[361 words] The story is told of a missionary who once visited a very primitive tribe of people. These people had very little contact with the outside world, and they were totally unfamiliar with many things we take for granted. One of the things they had never before seen was a mirror. The only way…

The Schemes of Man

[213 words] Solomon said, “Truly this only have I found: that God made man upright but they have sought out many schemes” (Ecclesiastes 7:29). And “All the schemes of the schemer are evil; he devises wicked plans to destroy the poor with lying words…” (Isaiah 32:7). Jezebel schemed to steal Naboth’s vineyard (1 Kings 21:5-16).…

It’s Just Not Fair

[582 words] A question that has troubled mankind for thousands of years is this: Why is life so unfair? From start to finish the books of the Bible talk about it. Saints and sinners alike feel they have been wronged for no reason but want to know why, and both of them point their finger…

Museum Bibles

[170 words] The Bible is not a museum piece to be admired at a distance and dusted now and again. It is a treasure to be polished. It is a tool to be used. It is a light to be shined. It is a mirror to be viewed. It is a sword to be sharpened.…

Take Care of Yourself!

[362 words] My grandpa once told me that, “If I knew I was going to live this long, I would have taken better care of myself.” What I took as a joke as a young kid, I now value in adulthood. People sometimes replace a goodbye with the phrase, “Take care of yourself.” Even though…

The Arrogant Claim to Know More than God

[183 words] It’s hard for us to conceive of someone standing face-to-face with God and saying, “Lord, you don’t know what you’re talking about. I’m smarter than you.” And yet, in reality, people do that all the time, even many who claim to be Christians. I once was studying the Bible with a man who…

True Peace

[148 words] We live in a troubled world. Many have chosen to forget God in order to have the fleeting pleasures of this life. My brethren, there is no spiritual peace in living as the world! The inspired apostle Paul penned, “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing…

No Higher Calling

[297 words] James is one of my favorite books of the Bible. In the introduction, we learn a great lesson. James tells us that he is a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ. We have already learned something vastly significant. James lived to serve God and Christ. There is no greater vocation…

Nothing Can Stop Jesus

[56 words] • History could not forget Him.• Temptation could not distract Him.• Circumstances could not deter Him.• His enemies could not prevent Him.• Death could not contain Him.• Satan could not defeat Him.• Modern thinking cannot cancel Him.• And when it comes time for Jesus to come again, nothing will be able to stop…

A Year of Learning

[235 words] Twelve months ago, our nation and community literally came to a screeching halt due the Coronavirus worldwide pandemic. I think we would all agree, the past twelve months has been a learning experience! When I analyze a situation, I always ask three questions: First, where have we been? Second, where are we? Third,…

The Most Often Repeated Command

[517 words] Of all the commands in the Bible, which one is repeated the greatest number of times? I think you may be surprised! Love is the greatest command, but it’s not the one most often repeated. Writers often speak of pride as being at the root of human failures, but warnings against pride or…

Commit to Commitment

[176 words] Paul gave young Timothy some great advice concerning commitment to the Lord. It is great advice for us, as well: Commit to Faithfulness. “This charge I commit to you…that …you may wage the good warfare, having faith and a good conscience” (1 Tim. 1:18). Commit to Defending the Truth. “Guard what was committed…

I Don’t Care What the Bible Says

[472 words] I really do try to avoid watching the news on a regular basis. It seems to me more and more that each day is a repeat of the day before, and very little “good” news is reported. I also limit the “news” I see on social media, because it does very little in…

Our Holy God

[139 words] “Exalt the LORD our God and worship at his footstool; he is holy” (Psalms 99:5). What does the word “holy” mean? It means to be set aside away from everything that is bad or wrong. Our God is perfect. He doesn’t commit sin. To say that God is holy means there is no…

An Unchanging God in a Constantly Changing World

[521 words] None of us foresaw the changes that 2020 would bring when we welcomed in the new year. None of us would have ever thought that churches would close their doors for a time, that neighborhood stores and restaurants would go out of business, that professional sports would be cancelled, or that laws would…

Freedom Will Answer

[386 words] The prophet Amos preached to a people hard of heart. As he spoke the words of the Lord, the Lord said through him, that He (the Lord) was the reason for their suffering. Though they suffered the people refused to give any attention to the instructive teaching experiences that came from the Lord.…

Bible Quiz: 2 Peter 1:1-4

[63 words] True or False: Peter wrote this letter to fellow Christians.“__ and __ be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord…”“…as His __ __ has given us all things that pertain to life and godliness…”Through the knowledge of Him who called us, we have exceedingly great and precious…

Bible Quiz: 2 Peter 1:5-11

[88 words] “But also for this very reason, giving all __, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge…”How many things did Peter list that Christians should add to their faith?True or False: We need a growing faith in order to be fruitful as Christians.“For he who lacks these things is __, even to __,…

Bible Quiz: 2 Peter 1:12-15

[80 words] “For this reason I will not be __ to remind you always of these things, though you know and are __ in the present truth.”True or False: Peter says he kept reminding Christians of the same truths over and over.Peter refers to the physical body as a __.True or False: The Lord told…

Bible Quiz: 2 Peter 1:16-21

[89 words] “For we did not follow cunningly devised __ when we made known to you the __ and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of His majesty.”From Whom did Jesus receive honor and glory?True or False: Peter says he did not hear the voice of God.“And so we have the…

Quotes and Sayings (April 2021)

“The essential vice, the utmost evil, is Pride. Unchastity, anger, greed, drunkenness, and all that, are mere fleabites in comparison: it was through Pride that the devil became the devil: Pride leads to every other vice: it is the complete anti-God state of mind.” — C.S. Lewis “I’m not afraid of the devil. The devil…

On the Lighter Side (April 2021)

From Adam’s RibDuring a Sunday school lesson, a child learned about how God created human beings. The child became especially focused when the teacher explained how Eve was created from Adam’s ribs. Later in the week, the boy’s mother saw him lying down on the floor, so she asked him what was wrong. His reply…