They say vegetables are good for you. I thought there must be a way around that, so I reasoned that if I cooked everything in vegetable oil, my health would be vastly improved. You can’t catch me doing a google search on that, because that is what I want to believe. I don’t think I’ll even bring it up to my doctor.

Do you know that many a professing Christian reasons the same way about spiritual things? He or she doesn’t want to study the Bible because it might interfere with his or her belief system. The Berean Christians were not like that. Listen to what Paul says.

Acts 17:11

These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the Word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so.

Are you more like the Thessalonian Christians or the Berean Christians? Give it some thought.

Gary

Genesis 46:2-3

And God spoke to Israel in a vision at night and said, “Jacob! Jacob!”

“Here I am,” he replied.

“I am God, the God of your father,” he said. “Do not be afraid to go down to Egypt, for I will make you into a great nation there.” 

When it just doesn’t make sense, when what you know from history doesn’t fit the narrative, from out of nowhere God can change the course you’re on and tell you it’s okay.  Confused, Jacob treasured God’s presence and promises.

Don’t ever forget that these accounts from God’s Word are written for our admonition. Always be open for change that the all-powerful Deity brings into your life.

1 Corinthians 10:11

Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come.

Abram was comfortable in Ur of the Chaldees, but God called him on a journey of faith.

Moses was comfortable herding sheep in the wilderness, but God’s people needed a deliverer.

Jonah was comfortable preaching in Israel, but Nineveh needed to hear from God.

Nehemiah was comfortable as the king’s cupbearer, but the walls of Jerusalem needed to be rebuilt.

Give it some thought.

Gary

For want of a nail the shoe was lost; for want of a shoe the horse was lost; and for want of a horse the rider was lost, being overtaken and slain by the enemy; and all for want of care about a horseshoe nail.                                                 – B. Franklin

Old Ben had it right; we should never overlook the minute aspects of our existence here on the planet. Not checking on small details can lead to tragedy. A modern example was an O-ring on the Space Shuttle Challenger that caused the death of seven people. It could have been avoided.

Does the Bible address this? Glad you asked.

Isaiah 28:9-10 

“To whom will He teach knowledge, and to whom will He explain the message? Those who are weaned from the milk, those taken from the breast? For it is precept upon precept, precept upon precept, line upon line, line upon line, here a little, there a little.”

There is nothing too small to be considered in life’s chemistry. Be careful with every little thing.

Give it some consideration.

Gary

Some time ago, zoo officials in Kirby, Misperton, England, had to pay visitors for articles stolen by monkeys. But what puzzled them was the favorite item the animals snatched: Eyeglasses. An investigation revealed the reason. The monkeys grabbed the glasses when visitors leaned over to read a small sign on the wall of the cage. The sign said: “Beware! These monkeys steal spectacles.”

Poor eyesight can lead to real problems. Most can’t read the signs of the times and will miss the rapture. How’s your vision?

Proverbs 29:18

Where there is no prophetic vision, the people cast off restraint, but blessed is he who keeps the law. 

Matthew 16:3

“And in the morning, ‘It will be stormy today, for the sky is red and threatening.’ You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times.”

Can you see what is happening before a thief steals what God gave to you?

Give it some thought.

Gary

That phrase, “Take the sword and slay that monster,” is a direct echo of Isaiah 27:1 in the Bible, where God declares He will use His mighty sword to punish and slay the mythical sea monster, Leviathan, symbolizing Israel’s enemies and chaotic forces. It’s a powerful image of divine judgment and ultimate victory over overwhelming opposition, often interpreted to mean God will deliver His people from oppressors.

Oppressors are still in business in our age, but thankfully, God’s power hasn’t diminished. Do you have any enemies that need slaying? As the hymn states, there is victory in Jesus.

I heard an old, old story, how a Savior came from glory
How He gave His life on Calvary to save a wretch like me
I heard about His groaning, of His precious blood’s atoning
Then I repented of my sins, and won the victory

Deuteronomy 20:4 

For the Lord your God is He who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies, to give you the victory.’ 

1 Corinthians 15:57 

But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Give it some thought.

Gary

To cease smoking is the easiest thing I ever did; I ought to know because I have done it a thousand times.

–       Mark Twain

Mark sure had that one nailed. For those of us who started that destructive habit in our youth, we can relate. Can the Bible bring that concept into the Christian experience? Glad you asked.

Hebrews 12:1

Therefore, we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,

He wants to be our enabler in the battle against all kinds of sin. I’m so glad the Lord removed those chemicals from my life fifty-two years ago. At seventy-three, I can breathe because of His help. How about you? Is it time to quit harmful sin that so easily handles you and make a future for yourself?

Give it some thought.

Gary

The “God is dead” phrase originates from Friedrich Nietzsche’s Thus Spoke Zarathustra, in which a madman in a marketplace declares, “God is dead. God remains dead. And we have killed him,” revealing humanity’s loss of traditional faith, and the collapse of foundational values, forcing people to create new meaning.

If God died, the universe would explode.

Hebrews 1:3

who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,

Colossians 1:17

And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist.

No, God isn’t dead, but Friedrich sure is. Give it some thought.

Gary