by David Long
"If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them" (John 13:17). Someone said, "To obey the truth and not know it, is impossible. To know the truth and not obey it, is unprofitable."
There are people in denominational churches who think they have obeyed the truth but how could they, they don't know the truth? For example: they may have been immersed in water but it wasn't for the remission of sins (Acts 2:38; 22:16) then they didn't obey the truth, they are yet in their sins.
by David Long
Do you have a relationship with Jesus? A relationship with Jesus involves being a member of His church (Matt. 16:18; Eph 5:22-32). The church of Christ is referred to as His body (Eph. 1:22-23). There is no relationship with Jesus apart from His body. The church of Christ is referred to as the bride Christ (Rev. 21:9). A personal relationship with Jesus involves the bride of Christ. Are you a member of the bride of Christ? If not, then you have no relationship with Jesus.
by David Long
"For Herod himself had sent and laid hold of John, and bound him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife; for he had married her. Because John had said to Herod ,"It is not lawful for you to have your brother's wife." Therefore Herodias held it against him and wanted to kill him, but she could not; for Herod feared John, knowing that he was a just and holy man, and he protected him. And when he heard him, he did many things, and heard him gladly. Then an opportune day came when Herod on his birthday gave a feast for his nobles, the high officers, and the chief men of Galilee. And when Herodias' daughter herself came in and danced, and pleased Herod and those who sat with him, the king said to the girl, "Ask me whatever you want, and I will give it to you." He also swore to her, "Whatever you ask me, I will give you, up to half my kingdom." So she went out and said to her mother, "What shall I ask?" And she said, "The head of John the Baptist!" Immediately she came in with haste to the king and asked, saying, "I want you to give me at once the head of John the Baptist on a platter." And the king was exceedingly sorry; yet, because of the oaths and because of those who sat with him, he did not want to refuse her. Immediately the king sent an executioner and commanded his head to be brought. And he went and beheaded him in prison, brought his head on a platter, and gave it to the girl; and the girl gave it to her mother. When his disciples heard of it, they came and took away his corpse and laid it in a tomb" (Mk. 6:17-29).
The sin of adultery was the price of Herod's soul. What's your?
by David Long
"But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king's meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself. Now God had brought Daniel into favor and tender love with the prince of the eunuchs. And the prince of the eunuchs said unto Daniel, I fear my lord the king, who hath appointed your meat and your drink: for why should he see your faces worse liking than the children which are of your sort? then shall ye make me endanger my head to the king. Then said Daniel to Melzar, whom the prince of the eunuchs had set over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, Prove thy servants, I beseech thee, ten days; and let them give us pulse to eat, and water to drink. Then let our countenances be looked upon before thee, and the countenance of the children that eat of the portion of the king's meat: and as thou seest, deal with thy servants. So he consented to them in this matter, and proved them ten days. And at the end of ten days their countenances appeared fairer and fatter in flesh than all the children which did eat the portion of the king's meat" (Dan. 1:8-15)
by David Long
"Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And the LORD was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart" (Gen. 6:5-6).
Sin grieves God in His heart. Does it grieve your heart?
by David Long
"For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek" (Rom. 1:16).
The gospel message is God's power to save but the gospel must be obeyed (Rom. 10:16). Doom awaits those who will not obey the gospel (2 Thess. 1:7-9).
by David Long
"And Esau said unto his father, Hast thou but one blessing, my father? bless me, even me also, O my father. And Esau lifted up his voice, and wept" (Gen. 27:38).
Esau wept because he had lost the blessing, not because he had sold his birthright (Gen. 25:29-34). The Bible calls Esau a profane person (Heb. 12:16). Men mourn for the evil that sin brings but not for the sin which brings the evil.
