by David Long
This covid-19 pandemic has taught me something. People are afraid. People are afraid they will run out of toilet paper, bread, bananas, hand sanitizer, wet wipes and a host of other things. People are afraid they will get sick and die from the virus so they wear protective gear when they go out in public. I know we need to be cautious but come on. physically speaking people are really afraid. I wonder if people are afraid on a spiritual level? What do I mean? Are they afraid of hell? They need to be (Matt. 10:28).
Wednesday, April 8, 2020
Tuesday, April 7, 2020
Scammers
by David Long
A scammer is someone who deceives or defrauds. There's a lot of scammers in our society. This virus pandemic as brought out the scammers. There are people selling false drugs, saying they can cure covid-19. There are people scamming people concerning the stimulus money. What gets me is how easily we fall for such scams. But let's think for a minute about religious scammers. Jesus warned about them (Matt. 7:15). The Bible warns, "But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you..." (2 Pet. 2:1-3). What gets me is how easily people fall for religious scammers (false teachers). Like all scams we must put them to the test (1 John 4:1).
A scammer is someone who deceives or defrauds. There's a lot of scammers in our society. This virus pandemic as brought out the scammers. There are people selling false drugs, saying they can cure covid-19. There are people scamming people concerning the stimulus money. What gets me is how easily we fall for such scams. But let's think for a minute about religious scammers. Jesus warned about them (Matt. 7:15). The Bible warns, "But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you..." (2 Pet. 2:1-3). What gets me is how easily people fall for religious scammers (false teachers). Like all scams we must put them to the test (1 John 4:1).
Monday, April 6, 2020
A positive from covid-19
by David Long
There is a positive to covid-19. Parents that weren't home for their children before the virus, are now. Children who were home alone before the virus, aren't now. Perhaps now families can sit down at the dinner table together. Perhaps now families can spend more time together. Perhaps the "stay at home" idea will be used by families to reconnect. Maybe now we will see the importance of God's design for the family. You think?
There is a positive to covid-19. Parents that weren't home for their children before the virus, are now. Children who were home alone before the virus, aren't now. Perhaps now families can sit down at the dinner table together. Perhaps now families can spend more time together. Perhaps the "stay at home" idea will be used by families to reconnect. Maybe now we will see the importance of God's design for the family. You think?
Wednesday, April 1, 2020
Afraid of getting sick
by David Long
The church across the street that believes in miraculous healing isn't healing anyone with covid-19. In fact, they stop meeting a few weeks back because they were afraid of getting sick. Where are all the "faith healers" now? I'm not trying to attack anyone personally but what they teach and believe concerning miraculous healing is false. In Bible times there was miraculous healing but it was to confirm the word preached (Heb. 2:3-4; Mk. 16:20). The age of miracles has ceased (1 Cor. 13:8-13).
The church across the street that believes in miraculous healing isn't healing anyone with covid-19. In fact, they stop meeting a few weeks back because they were afraid of getting sick. Where are all the "faith healers" now? I'm not trying to attack anyone personally but what they teach and believe concerning miraculous healing is false. In Bible times there was miraculous healing but it was to confirm the word preached (Heb. 2:3-4; Mk. 16:20). The age of miracles has ceased (1 Cor. 13:8-13).
Tuesday, March 31, 2020
False sense of security
by David Long
There is now talk of the public wearing face masks to combat covid-19. But some say this would give the public a false sense of security because face mask do not fully protect one from the virus. One may think they are protected when they are not. Well, I don't want a false sense of security, do you? Just like I don't want a false sense of hope. Spiritually speaking most people are living with a false sense of hope. They think they are saved and going to heaven, when they are not. "Not everyone who says to Me,'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?' And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!" (Matt. 7:21-23).
There is now talk of the public wearing face masks to combat covid-19. But some say this would give the public a false sense of security because face mask do not fully protect one from the virus. One may think they are protected when they are not. Well, I don't want a false sense of security, do you? Just like I don't want a false sense of hope. Spiritually speaking most people are living with a false sense of hope. They think they are saved and going to heaven, when they are not. "Not everyone who says to Me,'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?' And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!" (Matt. 7:21-23).
Monday, March 30, 2020
Sanitizer
by David Long
Do you need sanitizer? It's my understanding that because of this pandemic sanitizer is the number one seller right now. People are really concerned about being clean. We are told we need to wash our hands. I say we needed to be concerned about that before the virus. But let's think for a minute about a spiritual sanitizer. The Bible says, "Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded" (James 4:8). Sin needs sanitized. "Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God" (2 Cor. 7:1). What is the spiritual sanitizer? "Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently" (1 Pet. 1:22). The word "purified" means "To make clean." The sanitizer is the word of God (John 15:3). But like any sanitizer it must be applied. Are you obeying the word?
Do you need sanitizer? It's my understanding that because of this pandemic sanitizer is the number one seller right now. People are really concerned about being clean. We are told we need to wash our hands. I say we needed to be concerned about that before the virus. But let's think for a minute about a spiritual sanitizer. The Bible says, "Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded" (James 4:8). Sin needs sanitized. "Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God" (2 Cor. 7:1). What is the spiritual sanitizer? "Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently" (1 Pet. 1:22). The word "purified" means "To make clean." The sanitizer is the word of God (John 15:3). But like any sanitizer it must be applied. Are you obeying the word?
Wednesday, March 25, 2020
Bored?
by David Long
This pandemic has many in lockdown. We are "locked" in our houses. What can we do? (1) Now is a good time to spend more time studying the Bible (2 Tim. 2:15). Any other time we were too busy to study God's word but how bout now? Now what's your excuse for not spending more time in studying the Scriptures? (2) Being in "lockdown" can drive one crazy. Now's the time to text, call, use Facetime or other social media to encourage someone who is having a hard time in "lockdown." (3) Watch some good programs like oabs.org or the Gospel Broadcasting Network. These programs can help you grow in your study of the Bible.
This pandemic has many in lockdown. We are "locked" in our houses. What can we do? (1) Now is a good time to spend more time studying the Bible (2 Tim. 2:15). Any other time we were too busy to study God's word but how bout now? Now what's your excuse for not spending more time in studying the Scriptures? (2) Being in "lockdown" can drive one crazy. Now's the time to text, call, use Facetime or other social media to encourage someone who is having a hard time in "lockdown." (3) Watch some good programs like oabs.org or the Gospel Broadcasting Network. These programs can help you grow in your study of the Bible.
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