MILK OR MEAT? The author of Hebrews explained that the basic teachings about Christ had to be covered again with them, because they were not growing in their understanding of God’s Word. They had been believers so long that they ought to be teaching others, but they were still like spiritual babes who needed to
HAVE YOU RECEIVED GOD’S WORD INTO YOUR HEART? When God gave a word to Ezekiel, he was instructed to receive it into his own heart, before sharing it with other people. This is still the best instruction for those that would answer the call to be preachers and teachers of God’s Word. They should always
THE SIZE OF GOD’S MERCY David attempted to describe the size of God’s mercy by comparing it to the heavens and earth. He imagined the height of God’s mercy as rising as high as the heavens, and the breadth of His mercy being as wide as the “east is from the west.” Yet, in
HAVE YOU EVER PRAYED FROM A PIT? The prophet Jeremiah had been cast into a pit because of his preaching. His own people hated the word he preached so much, that they cast him into a cistern; “it had no water in it, only mud, and Jeremiah sank down into the mud” (Jer. 38:6). If
WHO CRIES OUT IN LAMENT TO GOD TODAY? Lamentations was written to “lament” (to grieve and mourn) the destruction of Jerusalem by the prophet Jeremiah. It calls the remnant of Judah to “cry out” to the Lord in their distress. Like the book of Job, it puzzles over the results of evil and suffering in
NOT ACCORDING TO US BUT ACCORDING TO JESUS Be careful not to judge those who are lost as if you are better than they. Remember that God saved us not according to us, but according to Jesus. We have not earned salvation, nor are we able to work at keeping it. It is the mercy
DO YOU HAVE THE HOPE OF ETERNAL LIFE? In Paul’s letter to Titus, he described himself as an apostle of Jesus Christ who lived and preached in “hope of eternal life.” This eternal life is not only of the soul, but of the body. For the resurrection body of the Lord Jesus is the prototype
THE CENTRALITY OF PREACHING THE WORD Paul’s final charge to Timothy was “Preach the word!” For he knew the many duties that beg a pastor’s attention. Pastors wear many hats, but preaching is job number one. And not just preaching anything, but preaching the Word of God. Not politics or philosophy, nor self-help tips, but
AVOID OR ADVANCE? Paul told Timothy that there is a time to retreat and a time to advance. As it regards “youthful lusts,” the command is to “flee.” Unlike the instruction to “stand firm” against the devil (Eph. 6:11), lust is not defeated by direct assault. It is to be avoided. When an image in
WHOSE APPROVAL DO YOU SEEK? There are so many voices vying for our attention. To whom do we listen? Whose approval should we seek? The apostle Paul advised the young pastor Timothy to focus on God’s approval. He told him to “be diligent” in this, studying to hear God’s voice and please Him above all