The word rotten means something that is decaying or infected. Yet ladies, our Proverbs passage tells us we can be like rottenness to our husbands! But we have a choice. Each of us can, also, choose to be an excellent wife who is like a crown to her husband. We need to ask ourselves, which one describes us?
And men, what do you value in a wife? Is it what God values, what He says makes an excellent wife? Finally, parents, are you preparing your daughter to be an excellent wife and your son to value what God values?
Also, read about the hope found in the middle of Mark 16.6 in three little words, “He is risen.” What does it mean to us now and for eternity?
Easter and Holy Week are just around the corner. And our world has never needed to understand what Jesus accomplished through His death, burial, and resurrection more than it does now. But sadly, bunnies and Easter baskets often overshadow the immensity of what happened at the Cross two thousand plus years ago.
Helping the next generation understand the basics of the Christian faith, and gain an understanding of sin, redemption, the gospel, and salvation is so important. While I don’t want to make light of the importance of good children and youth ministries, in some cases, children’s church or Sunday school has been reduced to Bible stories, a craft, and a snack. Children make professions of faith without a genuine understanding of their own sinfulness and the power of the gospel to save them.
Then they, too often, graduate into a youth ministry that is more concerned with pizza and entertainment than with growing young people into the image of Christ and preparing them for schools, universities, and the world in general that are all designed to undermine any religious convictions they might have.
But studies have shown that the influence of parents can make a huge difference. So, we must find time to teach our children and help them develop their own faith and devotional habits. Why not take some time with your family to read about the events leading up to that first Easter Sunday? Perhaps today’s post can serve as a starting point.
David, the Apostle Paul, and others in the Bible understood their need to trust in and rely on God and not their own abilities or anything else. What about you? In what are you trusting with the things going on in your life and the world around us? Whether it’s the images on the nightly news, the threat of continuing inflation, political issues, or worries about your family, health or personal finances, where is your trust? Is it in the government, in medical intervention, or in your own abilities? Or are you ultimately trusting God and God alone?
When our kids were growing up, we would correct them when they called one another stupid. You probably do the same thing. So, I was surprised to find out that God calls us stupid when we act a certain way. That’s a pretty harsh criticism when you realize the word translated stupid comes from a word meaning “to graze.” One who acts this way is like an ignorant animal, as the old saying goes, “dumb as an ox.” So, what is it we do that would cause God to call us “stupid”? And what does it have to do with what the cross says about us? Check out today’s post to find out.
A few years ago as I was reading about the Day of Atonement, the Feast of Booths, and all the animal sacrifices required, I thought about a funny thing that happened years before and how a sarcastic teenager reminded me about the cost of our redemption.
Also, what does a law about keeping our word have to say about God’s view of authority and how do we demonstrate our obedience in this area to our children and others?
In today’s Old Testament reading, we see God’s swift punishment for idolatry. Though God is patient and merciful with us, it doesn’t mean He’s changed His mind about sin. Sin and idolatry still have painful consequences. But the problem is that idolatry has a blinding effect. And we can become blind to our blindness.
We end up blinded about how we grieve the Holy Spirit when we sin against God, blinded about the extent of our sin and how it hurts others, blinded to the source of our sinful choices, and finally, blinded to how easy it is to justify our sin.
So, how can we tell if something in our lives, even something good, has become an idol?
What is God’s will for your life? For mine? I wonder how many times we have asked or, at least, thought about that question? Today we’ll look at some things we can be sure are God’s will for us. We will, also, discover some questions and principles that can guide us in decisions where God’s will is not as clearly spelled out. These principles can be applied even in those gray areas with which believers struggle.
Trusting God in an uncertain world … Is it even possible?
Jesus warned believers there would be a time when wars, earthquakes, famines, and other disasters would be more and more common. He compared them to birth pains, getting stronger and more frequent as the delivery approaches. He went on to warn of persecution and betrayal, even from members of our own families.
We live in a world of uncertainty today. Biblical morality is coming under increasing criticism. It’s attacked and condemned as mean-spirited, self-righteous, homophobic and worse. Religious liberties are being threatened and it will probably get worse.
We can add to that list of uncertainties the continued concerns over COVID-19 and future pandemics and the repercussions of long term shut downs.
So, how can we stay faithful and continue trusting God in a changing, uncertain world?
God has a lot to say about generosity. In today’s post, we’ll talk about a woman whose faith and generosity were commended by Jesus and talked about for over two thousand years. We’ll, also, look at others who had the wrong heart attitude about giving.
In our Old Testament reading, we’ll look at one of the most interesting stories in the book of Numbers where God used a talking donkey to get his point across to a greedy, ungodly man.
What do our clothing and behavior say about us? Does our freedom in Christ mean we have a right to dress any way we choose? If men have a problem with it, is that their problem? What about off-color language? Is it simply part of life in today’s world? And what, if anything, do modesty and discretion have to do with pig’s noses?
Today, we’ll also look at what it mean to worship God, how our whining affects our children, why God did not allow Moses to go into the Promised Land, and why we should pay our taxes.
