“The helpless commits himself to You; You are the helper of the fatherless” (Psalms 10:14b NKJV).

July 13, 2020

THE FATHER TO THE FATHERLESS The psalmist began by questioning where God is when the wicked persecute the poor. For the wicked appear to prosper and take advantage of the poor. Like a lion they attack the helpless who have no apparent protection.   But God does observe their trouble and grief. The helpless are

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes” (Romans 1:16 NKJV).

July 12, 2020

I AM NOT ASHAMED OF THE GOSPEL In the apostle Paul’s letter to the Romans, he announced his readiness to visit them and preach the gospel. He got his desire towards the end of his life, though not as he probably planned. For he was brought to Rome in chains, having appealed to Caesar. Yet

“Then Paul dwelt two whole years in his own rented house, and received all who came to him, preaching the kingdom of God and teaching the things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ with all confidence, no one forbidding him” (Acts 28:30-31 NKJV).

July 11, 2020

PAUL’S MINISTRY UNDER ROMAN STAY-AT-HOME ORDERS What Satan meant for evil, God used for good. The Jewish leaders that brought charges against Paul in Jerusalem actually ended up elevating his status, so that he preached before soldiers, centurions, governors, kings and even Caesar. His appeal to Caesar resulted in an all-expense-paid trip to Rome (albeit

“A man who has friends must himself be friendly, But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.” (Proverbs 18:24 NKJV).

July 10, 2020

WHAT A FRIEND WE HAVE IN JESUS The first part of this proverb applies the law of reciprocity to friendship. The law of reciprocity says that you reap what you sow. Therefore, if you want friends, be friendly. Sow friendship, reap friends.   However, the final line of the proverb, if taken in contrast, might

“He who finds a wife finds a good thing, and obtains favor from the Lord” (Proverbs 18:22 NKJV).

July 9, 2020

THE DIVINE FAVOR FOUND IN A GODLY MARRIAGE Marriage was God’s idea. It is not a mere social construct, but a Divine creation. It is God’s provision for man’s need for companionship and oneness. This oneness is three-dimensional, involving the physical, the soul and the spirit. It is also God’s plan for having children and

“I now send you, to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me” (Acts 26:17-18 NKJV).

July 8, 2020

PAUL’S EYE-OPENING ASSIGNMENT Paul gave his faith testimony before the Roman governor Festus and the last of the House of Herod, King Agrippa II and his sister Bernice. In his testimony, he quoted the calling that Christ had given him.   First, he was one “sent” (“I now send you”). The Greek word for this

‘And Jabez called on the God of Israel saying, “Oh, that You would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory, that Your hand would be with me, and that You would keep me from evil, that I may not cause pain!”’ (1 Chronicles 4:10 NKJV).

July 7, 2020

WHO ASKS FOR A DOUBLE BLESSING? In the listing of names in the lineage of Judah, the author of 1 Chronicles paused to describe a man named Jabez.   What can we know about Jabez from this description? 1) He was “more honorable” than his brothers. 2) His mother named him, “Jabez,” meaning “to cause

“For we have found this man a plague, a creator of dissension among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes” (Acts 24:5 NKJV).

July 6, 2020

DO YOU WEAR THE NAME OF THE NAZARENE? Some of the same group of Jewish leaders who had accused Jesus before Pontius Pilate, now traveled to Caesarea to bring accusation against the apostle Paul before the Roman governor, Felix. This time, they hired a Roman orator and attorney named Tertullus to represent their case. He

“I lay down and slept; I awoke, for the Lord sustained me” (Psalm 3:5 NKJV).

July 5, 2020

THE LORD SUSTAINS US EVEN WHILE WE SLEEP David wrote this psalm after he had to flee from his son, Absalom, who sought to overthrow him and take the crown. Surely he was overcome by grief from this betrayal. Sleep had no doubt eluded him during this time. Yet, he finally lay down and slept.

“Why do the nations rage, and the people plot a vain thing? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord and against His Anointed” (Psalms 2:1-2 NKJV).

July 4, 2020

AMERICA, BLESS GOD! On this date, when we celebrate our nation’s Independence Day, we are appropriately thankful for God’s blessing on America. Yet, we are troubled by the constant news of pandemic and rioting. There is so much rage in our land.   The first century Christians quoted this same Scripture when they were being