August 21 “…I would rather speak five words that can be understood, in order to teach others, than speak thousands of words in strange tongues.” (1 Cor. 14:19 TEV) The subject here, of course, is the use of tongues without interpretation in the meetings of the church. Paul is opposed to the practice. He insists…
August 20 “If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?” (Heb. 12:7) The words chastening, chasteneth, chastisement and chastened occur seven times in the first 11 verses of Hebrews 12. As a result it is easy for the casual reader to get…
August 19 “Thou shalt not revile the gods, nor curse the ruler of thy people.” (Ex.22:28) When God gave the Law to Moses, He included a specific prohibition against speaking reproachfully or disrespectfully of those who hold positions of authority. The reason for this is clear. These rulers and leaders are representatives of God. “There…
August 18 “Let not him who girds on his armor boast like him who takes it off.” (1 Ki. 20:11 NASB) Although these words were spoken by a wicked king, Ahab, they are words of truth. Even ungodly men sometimes lapse into truth. The king of Syria had made insulting, degrading demands of Ahab, threatening…
August 17 “…them that honor me I will honor…” (1 Sam. 2:30) One of the many ways in which we can honor the Lord is by standing true to divine principles and by steadfastly refusing to compromise. During his early years Adam Clarke worked for a silk merchant. One day his boss showed him how…
August 16 “And having food and raiment, let us be therewith content.” (1 Tim. 6:8) Few Christians take these words seriously, yet they are as truly the Word of God as John 3:16. They tell us to be satisfied with food and covering. That word “covering” includes a roof over our heads as well as…
August 15 “Take heed, and beware of covetousness.” (Lu. 12:15) Covetousness is the excessive desire for wealth or possessions. It is a mania that grips people, causing them to grasp for more and more. It is a fever that drives them to crave things they don’t actually need. We see covetousness in the business man…
August 14 “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.” (Psa. 51:17) There is nothing more beautiful in God’s spiritual creation than a believer who demonstrates a true spirit of brokenness. Even God Himself finds such a person irresistible; He can resist the…
August 13 “Where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst.” (Matt. 18:20) When Jesus spoke these words, He was referring to a meeting of the church convened to deal with a sinning member who refuses to repent. Other efforts to handle the offender have failed and now…
August 12 “A man that is a heretic, after the first and-second admonition, reject; knowing that he that is such is subverted, and sinneth, being condemned of himself.” (Titus 3:10, 11.) When we think of a heretic, we usually think of someone who holds and propagates views that are contrary to the great fundamental truths…