November 20 “Be careful that nobody spoils your faith through intellectualism or high-sounding nonsense. Such stuff is at best founded on men’s ideas of the nature of the world and disregards Christ!” (Col. 2:8, Phillips) The word which Phillips translates “intellectualism” here is the one from which we get the word “philosophy.” Basically it means…
November 19 “I know thy…tribulation, and poverty.” (Rev. 2:9) Seven times in His letters to the churches of Asia, the Lord Jesus says “I know” and usually those words are used in a favorable sense. “I know thy works…thy labour…thy patience…thy tribulation…thy poverty…and charity…and faith.” In those words “I know” there is tremendous comfort and…
November 18 “Be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.” (Matt. 10:16) One important element of practical wisdom is tactfulness. The Christian should learn how to be tactful. This means that he should develop a delicate sensitivity as to what to do or say so as to avoid offense and cement good relations.…
November 17 “And if ye offer the blind for sacrifice, is it not evil? and if ye offer the lame and sick, is it not evil? offer it now unto thy governor; will he be pleased with thee, or accept thy person? saith the Lord of hosts.” (Mal. 1:8) There was no question as to…
November 16 “…they that are unlearned and unstable wrest…the Scriptures, unto their own destruction.” (2 Peter 3:16b) Dr. P. J. Van Gorder used to tell about a sign over a woodworker’s shop which said, “All kinds of twisting and turning done here.” It is not only woodworkers that are good at that; many professing Christians…
November 15 “…this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind.” (Phil 3:13b) Ordinarily when we read these words, we tend to think that Paul was speaking about his past sins. He knew that these sins had been forgiven, that God had put them behind His back, and that He would never remember…
November 14 “Whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; and whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant.” (Matthew 20:26, 27) There are two kinds of greatness in the New Testament and it is helpful to distinguish them. There is a greatness associated with one’s position and another…
November 13 “Ye have not, because ye ask not.” (James 4:2) A verse like this raises an interesting question. If we have not because we ask not, what great things are we missing in life simply because we do not pray for them? A similar question arises from James 5:16, ““The effectual fervent prayer of…
November 12 “He that is first in his own cause seemeth just; but his neighbor cometh and searcheth him.” (Prov. 18:17) The first part of this verse points out a failing that is common to most of us—we invariably present evidence in such a way as to put ourselves in the best possible light. It…
November 11 “He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and shame unto him.” (Prov. 18:13) Living Bible paraphrases this verse, “What a shame—yes, how stupid!—to decide before knowing the facts!” This pinpoints an important lesson. You cannot make an intelligent decision until you hear all the facts. Unfortunately many Christians…