Word For the Day

  Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:6-7). When we are anxious, we are usually fearful about the harm some actual or possible calamity might cause. Anxiety builds the more we look at the problem.  Therefore, don’t keep looking at the problem. Look to Christ in prayer to calm your fears. This is the first step toward peace of mind. Unfortunately, panic sometimes takes over and we run to humanistic solutions seeking peace. When we do that, we sabotage the balm God has provided for us. Consider the verse above. The very first thing to notice is the scope of this promise. We are to be anxious for nothing. Have you ever cried out to God, “Why is this happening?” Really you don’t need to know why, unless you think God is trying to teach you a lesson. If you think that,...

  We often cry out to the Lord for mercy in times of trouble. This is a good thing we do. David writes, In my distress I called upon the LORD, And cried to my God for help; He heard my voice out of His temple, And my cry for help before Him came into His ears (Psalms 18:6). What a great resource and blessing it is to have a God who hears our cries. No matter the foe, God is stronger! He delivered me from my strong enemy, And from those who hated me, for they were too mighty for me (Psalms 18:17). David knew his way of escape went through the door of prayer. “So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. "For everyone who asks, receives; and he who seeks, finds; and to him who knocks, it will be opened. "Now suppose one of you fathers is asked by his son for a fish; he will not give him a snake instead of a fish, will he? "Or if he is asked for an egg, he will not give him a scorpion, will he? "If y...

Therefore concerning the eating of things sacrificed to idols, we know that there is no such thing as an idol in the world, and that there is no God but one. For even if there are so-called gods whether in heaven or on earth, as indeed there are many gods and many lords, yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom are all things and we exist for Him; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we exist through Him. However not all men have this knowledge; but some, being accustomed to the idol until now, eat food as if it were sacrificed to an idol; and their conscience being weak is defiled. But food will not commend us to God; we are neither the worse if we do not eat, nor the better if we do eat. But take care that this liberty of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak (1 Corinthians 8:4-9). The purpose of offering meat to an idol was to remove evil spirits from the food. It was thought that evil spirits would attach themselves to the mea...

If you had to walk between two mountain peaks on a narrow swinging bridge, you would be advised not to look down. However, everyone looks at least once, right? When you take that quick peek over the edge, the view can be dizzying and disturbing. So, you steady yourself, focus on the other side and venture out--not looking down. If you watch the news these days, it is like looking over the edge of that cliff. It can be disturbing. Evil is called good and good is called evil. So, two things are really important. You should keep looking for the new heavens and new earth, and keep yourself unspotted from the world. Peter wrote, But according to His promise we are looking for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells (2 Peter 3:13). Oh, what a thought. Someday righteousness will dwell and sin will be abolished. Try not to get caught up in today’s politics and worry about what could happen. Trust our great and loving God Who will set all things right in due time. However, u...

  The foundation for a clear conscience is repentance from dead works. The writer of Hebrews tells us that faith in Christ’s atonement is the solution for a guilty conscience. Dead works will never satisfy because they don’t address the underlying cause of guilt, which is unrighteousness. The tabernacle reminded the old testament saints of their sinfulness and need for a Savior. The writer of Hebrews makes this very clear. For the Law, since it has only a shadow of the good things to come and not the very form of things, can never, by the same sacrifices which they offer continually year by year, make perfect those who draw near. Otherwise, would they not have ceased to be offered, because the worshipers, having once been cleansed, would no longer have had consciousness of sins? But in those sacrifices there is a reminder of sins year by year. For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins (Hebrews 10:1-4). Since the Law could not do what was needed, i.e. c...