1 Thessalonians 5:1–18 states: "[1] But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. [2] For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. [3] For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. [4] But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. [5] Ye are all the childre

Obedience is a difficult concept for many people in today’s society. We live in a culture that emphasizes individualism, personal autonomy, and independence. Many people believe that individuals should determine their own values and boundaries rather than submit to the authority of others. In a recent blog published by Communicating Psychological Science, the following observation was made: “It turns out that, yes, according to some experts, obedience is now wrong. In the Psy

2 Samuel 22:1–2 “And David spake unto the LORD the words of this song in the day that the LORD had delivered him out of the hand of all his enemies, and out of the hand of Saul: And he said, The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer.” David shares his testimony through the words of a song. This song is directed to God in gratitude for His faithfulness and for establishing David in the position God had ordained for him. God had given David victory over all his ene

Introduction Have you ever stopped to notice on your drive to work, to school, to the gym, to the doctor’s office or wherever you go in the morning people around you are also going somewhere. Over 340 million people in the United States that from day break to sunset are busy scurrying around going somewhere, doing something and living life. People are living their lives but how many of them have given any thought about God or the fact God’s Word has warned that the Son of M

In the Gospel of John 15, Jesus presents a narrative in which He identifies Himself as the vine and His followers as the branches that grow from it. This beautiful illustration teaches us that Jesus is the source of everything; therefore, having a relationship with Him, maintaining a connection to Him, and remaining inseparable from Him are imperative. John 15:1-5 (ESV) states: “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit

In 2 Timothy 3, Paul informed Timothy of the coming apostasy (the falling away of the church). In verses 2–4, Paul listed several vices that would serve as evidence of this apostasy. This list begins and ends with misplaced love, which stands in opposition to the love of God. These vices, which mankind would manifest during this period, are listed below: Lovers of their own selves – Those who glorify themselves above God. Covetous – Those who love money and material possessio

Isaiah 46:8-10 states, “[8] Remember this, and show yourselves men; bring it again to mind, O ye transgressors. [9] Remember the former things of old; for I am God, and there is none other; I am God, and there is none like Me, [10] declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will do all My pleasure.’” God’s sovereignty over mankind is clearly seen through the lens of the prophet Isaiah’s

Jeremiah 29:10-14 NLT This is what the LORD says: "[10] You will be in Babylon for seventy years. But then I will come and do for you all the good things I have promised, and I will bring you home again. [11] For I know the plans I have for you," says the LORD. "They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. [12] In those days when you pray, I will listen. [13] If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me. [14] I will be found by you," s

Scripture Reading: Deuteronomy 21:23; Galatians 3:10–13 The cross, as a symbol, has carried many meanings throughout history. In order to understand the symbolism of the cross, we must first consider the definition of a symbol. A symbol is something that represents or stands for something else, especially a material object representing something abstract. It may also refer to a mark or character used as a conventional representation of an object, function, or process. The cro

Think about this for a moment: all mankind is sinful by nature. None of us, apart from God’s intervention, merits or deserves the grace God has extended to us through His Son, Jesus Christ. Paul confirms mankind’s sinful condition in Romans 3:23: “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” “All” means every human being has been touched by sin. Why? How? When? Paul explains this in Romans 5:12-14: “Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and deat

2 Corinthians 4:16–18 (KJV) “For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.” In 2 Corinthians 4, Paul communicates to the Chr

Today is Memorial Day, a day on which we pause with deep gratitude and remembrance for those who sacrificed so much for our nation soldiers, sailors, and aviators who gave their lives defending the freedoms and democratic principles of our Republic. The origins of the Memorial Day we now celebrate are significant. Its earliest observance occurred on May 1, 1865, when formerly enslaved people in Charleston, South Carolina, gathered to honor fallen Union soldiers who had died d

Ultimately, our relationship with God is based upon our trust in Him. Proverbs 3:5–6 KJV states, “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. [6] In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” In summary, trusting in the Lord implies a relationship with God that invokes complete confidence in Him. Charles Wesley Naylor made the following statement regarding trust in God: “Trust looks at things as they are. It sees the d

Joseph was separated from his family and sold into slavery by his jealous brothers. They sold Joseph to Midianite traders, who eventually sold him to Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh. Joseph spent thirteen years as both a slave and a prisoner. While imprisoned in Pharaoh’s dungeon, he came into contact with Pharaoh’s butler and baker. During this difficult season of his life, Joseph utilized the God-given gift of interpreting dreams to serve others. As they were imprisoned tog

Joseph, the favorite son of Jacob, the son whom Jacob gifted with the coat of many colors, was seventeen years old. His life as the favored son caused him much trauma at the hands of his elder brothers. Unfortunately, because of Joseph’s immaturity, slight arrogance, and his father’s favoritism, his jealous brothers sold Joseph to Midianite traders, who eventually sold him to Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh. Genesis 39:1 states, “And Joseph was brought down to Egypt; and Poti

Sometimes in life we have done all we know how to do, yet we find ourselves further behind than when we first began, or caught between a rock and a hard place. Certain circumstances are not for us to figure out. Your peace begins when you give your problem to God. Some situations are bigger than our own will and power and therefore require God’s ability to do what seems impossible for man. For the battle is not yours but it is the LORD’S. In the Book of Exodus, we see simil

In Hebrew 6:17–19 of the text, Paul makes abundantly clear that to the heirs of Abraham, God’s commitment to fulfill the promises once given to Abraham and his progeny is established upon an oath sealed by God’s own Word. Furthermore, Paul compels the reader to understand that God’s Word is unchangeable because He cannot lie. He has given His Word, and it has been established by an oath to Abraham and his heirs. The heirs of promise are all those who, by faith, are children o

Genesis 17:19–21 KJV “[19] And God said, Sarah thy wife shall bear thee a son indeed; and thou shalt call his name Isaac: and I will establish my covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, and with his seed after him. [20] And as for Ishmael, I have heard thee: Behold, I have blessed him, and will make him fruitful, and will multiply him exceedingly; twelve princes shall he beget, and I will make him a great nation. [21] But my covenant will I establish with Isaac, which

God swore an oath to Abraham. Genesis 22:17–18 states, “[17] That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies; [18] And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice.” In this text, God makes a commitment to Abraham to do two phenomenal things. First, He promises Abraham that h

I Kings records that Solomon, king of Israel, whom God had blessed with great wisdom, was presented with a dilemma early in his reign. He was called upon to judge a dispute between two harlots, both claiming to be the mother of the same living baby. Using the wisdom granted to him by God, Solomon devised a way to determine who the true mother was. A real mother loves her child and will sacrifice anything so that her child might live. In the text beginning in verses 24 and 25,