I conformed to the strictest sect of our religion, living as a Pharisee. —Acts 26:5 There are those who go through the motions of being a follower of Jesus Christ, but it is only a show. They go to church on Sunday and sometimes there are those who go many times during the week thinking that by doing so gives them favor before God. These are people when you ask them if they know Jesus they will say, “I am not as bad as some people.” These are people who conform to a set of “what to do and what not to do” listed by themselves, someone else or an…

Several days later Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish. He sent for Paul and listened to him as he spoke about faith in Christ Jesus. As Paul talked about righteousness, self-control and the judgment to come, Felix was afraid and said, “That’s enough for now! You may leave. When I find it convenient, I will send for you.” —Acts 24:24-25 What do people fear? Death or the way they may die? Cancer or some other illness? Tragic loss of a loved one? Loss of a job? The dark? What is fear? It can be something that is terrifying, something a person may dread, something that causes horror,…

I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus. —Acts 21:13 Many people have died in the cause of freedom. Wars and demonstrations have taken place to promote freedom and peace and many end up dying seeking to obtain it. To be a free people, a free nation as the United States is, is wonderful, but so many have forgotten the cost of the freedom they enjoy. Even when people have the freedom to rail against this country, they forget that it is because of the sacrifice of many that they can be free to do that. In…

And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their deeds. —II Corinthians 11:14-15 The account is told of King Ahab going into battle in disguise. He did not want the enemy to know he was the king and attract attention to himself. But an opposing soldier “drew his bow at random and hit the king of Israel between the breastplate and the scale armor. The king told the chariot driver, “Wheel around and get me out of the fighting. I’ve been wounded.” All day long…

For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.—II Corinthians 8:9 What is a life full of words compared to an eternity of communication? How does the world’s wealth compare to an eternal reward? In what way do a few days of health contrast with an eternity of perfection? Why focus only on the brevity of this life and not the endless age to come? Do the things in time that will last for eternity! Jesus left the rich glory of heaven to come to this poverty stricken,…

Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. —II Corinthians 3:17 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. —II Corinthians 5:21 Prisons are terrible places. If you have not been in one, whether visiting or doing time, then you do not understand what it means to be behind concrete, bars and wire or confined to small spaces. Movement is limited and then you can only move when you are allowed to. Even visitors undergo these constraints. You cannot move through locked doors, but wait until…

HATE EVIL, LOVE GOOD Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. —Romans 12:9 “I don’t believe in good and evil. It is relative. You might believe something is evil, but I might believe it is good. You believe your way and I believe mine.” This type of logic is illogical. Is it good or evil to steal? If you say that it is OK to steal then I am going to take your wallet and all your stuff. Is that OK? Is it alright to kill? If you say it is OK to kill babies in the womb, then why can’t anyone be killed? After all, it was…

Therefore God gave them over… —Romans 1:24, 26, 28 He was not happy at all about it and did not take any pleasure in it, but he gave the would be thief over to the police. The young man had attempted to break into the house in the middle of the night, but the owner over powered him and called the police. Now he would pay the penalty as a law breaker. God does not take any pleasure in giving over people to their own natural and base desires. But if they do not want to live for Him there is a line they cross and then He does let…

Paul spoke to the people and, because he intended to leave the next day, kept on talking until midnight… Paul talked on and on… talking until daylight. —Acts 20:7, 9, 11 I was talking with a friend who had been attending a church where the pastor only spoke a 10 minute message. That was it— 10 minutes. What a contrast to the spiritual hungry people in the underground church in China. I was reading that when Westerners were going to speak in some of their groups that if they could not speak for at least 2 hours minimum then they should not come. What makes the difference between the two…

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers. —Galatians 6:9-10 I appreciate the encouragement when someone does something good for me. Yesterday the local church where I serve gave me a card and gifts. Brothers and sisters wrote notes of encouragement. The notes are what are most important to me and I am grateful for their gifts as well which represents part of their lives. When was the last time you or…