by David Long
We measure riches by material things. But how bout being rich in mercy, love, grace, kindness and such like? Those are the riches that really matter. Those are the riches of God.
"In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace" (Eph. 1:7).
"But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us" (Eph. 2:4).
"That in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus" (Eph. 2:7).
Thursday, May 28, 2020
Wednesday, May 27, 2020
Time is filled with swift transition
by David Long
"Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that" (James 4:13-15). What a difference a year can make, or a day, or an hour or a minute.
"Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that" (James 4:13-15). What a difference a year can make, or a day, or an hour or a minute.
Tuesday, May 26, 2020
Creation
by David Long
The Bible teaches creation not evolution. "For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is..." (Exodus 20:11). Read Genesis 1-2. The key to creation is "And God said." God said and what happened? "And it was so." How important is the creation record? "The Pharisees also came unto him, tempting him, and saying unto him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause? And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female, And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh? Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder" (Matt. 19:3-6). Notice Jesus referred to the creation record a true. I believe Jesus, how bout you?
The Bible teaches creation not evolution. "For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is..." (Exodus 20:11). Read Genesis 1-2. The key to creation is "And God said." God said and what happened? "And it was so." How important is the creation record? "The Pharisees also came unto him, tempting him, and saying unto him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause? And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female, And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh? Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder" (Matt. 19:3-6). Notice Jesus referred to the creation record a true. I believe Jesus, how bout you?
Thursday, May 21, 2020
Back to Bible Basics (3)
by David Long
Can we understand the Bible? Some say no. God desires all to come to the knowledge of the truth (1 Tim. 2:4). The Bible is truth (John 17:17). The apostle Paul wrote by inspiration, "Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ" (Eph. 3:4). So yes, we can understand the word of God by applying some basic principles. (1) Who is speaking? Everything in the Bible was written by men who were inspired of God (2 Tim. 3:16-17). However, those inspired men sometimes recorded the words of evil men and even the words of Satan (Gen. 3:1-4). Those words were accurately recorded but are not words we should follow. (2) To whom is it spoken? God told Noah to build an Ark (Gen. 6:14-16). Are we commanded to build an Ark? No. That command was given to Noah. (3) What time frame is it being spoken? There are three Biblical time frames: Patriarchal age; Mosaic age and the Christian age. We live in the Christian age and the New Testament is our law (Heb. 1:1-2; 9:15-17; 10:9-10). (4) What type of language is being used? Is it literal or figurative or symbolic? Jesus called Herod a fox (Lk. 13:31-32). Did He mean Herod was a literal four legged animal that catches chickens? No. He used figurative language. (5) What are the conditions, circumstances or context? Because of what Paul said in 1 Cor. 7:7-8, 38 some would say that Paul was against marriage. Was he? No. Then why say such things? Because of the context of 1 Cor. 7:26. The Bible can be understood by applying some common sense rules.
Can we understand the Bible? Some say no. God desires all to come to the knowledge of the truth (1 Tim. 2:4). The Bible is truth (John 17:17). The apostle Paul wrote by inspiration, "Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ" (Eph. 3:4). So yes, we can understand the word of God by applying some basic principles. (1) Who is speaking? Everything in the Bible was written by men who were inspired of God (2 Tim. 3:16-17). However, those inspired men sometimes recorded the words of evil men and even the words of Satan (Gen. 3:1-4). Those words were accurately recorded but are not words we should follow. (2) To whom is it spoken? God told Noah to build an Ark (Gen. 6:14-16). Are we commanded to build an Ark? No. That command was given to Noah. (3) What time frame is it being spoken? There are three Biblical time frames: Patriarchal age; Mosaic age and the Christian age. We live in the Christian age and the New Testament is our law (Heb. 1:1-2; 9:15-17; 10:9-10). (4) What type of language is being used? Is it literal or figurative or symbolic? Jesus called Herod a fox (Lk. 13:31-32). Did He mean Herod was a literal four legged animal that catches chickens? No. He used figurative language. (5) What are the conditions, circumstances or context? Because of what Paul said in 1 Cor. 7:7-8, 38 some would say that Paul was against marriage. Was he? No. Then why say such things? Because of the context of 1 Cor. 7:26. The Bible can be understood by applying some common sense rules.
Wednesday, May 20, 2020
Back to Bible Basics (2)
by David Long
The Bible is divided into three time dispensations: the Patriarchal age; the Mosical age and the Christian age. The Patriarchal age runs from Adam to Moses. During this time God spoke to heads of households like Adam, Noah, Abraham and Job. God had no written law at this time. The Mosical age runs from Moses to Christ. During this time God spoke through Moses and the prophets (Heb. 1:1). During this time God's law was the Old Testament. The Christian age runs from Christ to the end of time. It's called the last days (Acts 2:16-17; Heb. 1:2). During this time God's law is the New Testament. When we understand the different time frames and God's law under each then we can understand what's binding on us.
The Bible is divided into three time dispensations: the Patriarchal age; the Mosical age and the Christian age. The Patriarchal age runs from Adam to Moses. During this time God spoke to heads of households like Adam, Noah, Abraham and Job. God had no written law at this time. The Mosical age runs from Moses to Christ. During this time God spoke through Moses and the prophets (Heb. 1:1). During this time God's law was the Old Testament. The Christian age runs from Christ to the end of time. It's called the last days (Acts 2:16-17; Heb. 1:2). During this time God's law is the New Testament. When we understand the different time frames and God's law under each then we can understand what's binding on us.
Tuesday, May 19, 2020
Back to Bible Basics
by David Long
The Bible is made up of 2 testaments or covenants: Old Testament and New Testament. On this side of the cross we live under the New Testament. When Jesus died on the cross He took the Old Testament out of the way. "Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross" (Col. 2:14). He shed His blood to establish the New Testament (Matt. 26:28). The New Testament is the law of Christ (Gal. 6:2). It is the law of liberty (James 1::25; 2:12). We will be judged by it on Judgement Day (John 12:48).
The Bible is made up of 2 testaments or covenants: Old Testament and New Testament. On this side of the cross we live under the New Testament. When Jesus died on the cross He took the Old Testament out of the way. "Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross" (Col. 2:14). He shed His blood to establish the New Testament (Matt. 26:28). The New Testament is the law of Christ (Gal. 6:2). It is the law of liberty (James 1::25; 2:12). We will be judged by it on Judgement Day (John 12:48).
Monday, May 18, 2020
Anxiety
by David Long
Has this pandemic got you all worried? Is the stay at home order got you going crazy? I'm glad that the stay at home order has come to an end here in Missouri. But you know, stay at home or not, I'm not gonna be anxious about it. "casting all your anxiety upon him, because he careth for you" (1 Pet. 5:7). I hear people say, "We got this." That's not the way I think or live. I lean upon God. I say, "God's got this." Dear reader, turn your life over to God and His word. That's the only way to get through anything. Obey the gospel (Rom. 6:4).
Has this pandemic got you all worried? Is the stay at home order got you going crazy? I'm glad that the stay at home order has come to an end here in Missouri. But you know, stay at home or not, I'm not gonna be anxious about it. "casting all your anxiety upon him, because he careth for you" (1 Pet. 5:7). I hear people say, "We got this." That's not the way I think or live. I lean upon God. I say, "God's got this." Dear reader, turn your life over to God and His word. That's the only way to get through anything. Obey the gospel (Rom. 6:4).
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