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A Scripture commonly taken out of context today is “judge not lest you be judged” (Matthew 7:1). The correct interpretation of that passage (Matthew 7:1-6) is cautioning wrong judgment, not no judgment at all. For instance, verses 3-4 instruct someone to consider the plank in their own eye before rendering judgment on the speck in…
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Do you have any regrets in this life? I sure do. There are some clothing and hair styles I regret. There are some words I’ve said and left unsaid I regret. Some of my action and inaction is regrettable. Regret is rooted in condemnation, guilt, and shame. Regret tells you you’ll always be enslaved to…
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It seems today races of people are more divided than ever. But is that a façade? Do some instances of racism mean racism exists in every heart? I believe racism is bigger than a problem between people – its a spiritual issue at the core. The Bible says, “We do not wrestle against flesh and…
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Worship and obedience go together. If we worship without obedience, we celebrate God only when He does what we want and how we want it. If we obey without worship, we respond to God’s Word and Spirit begrudgingly. One without the other soon cancels the other out. If we only attempt to worship or obey…
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Does bowing your head and closing your eyes make your prayer time more effective? Can you connect with God better that way? Does the Bible command us to bow our heads and close our eyes? I remember as a kid that bowing our heads and closing our eyes was common place when it came to…
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Elders are not a new concept in the local church. They have their roots in the Old Testament as early as the time Moses delivered the children of Israel from Egypt (Exodus 3:16). As the Apostle Paul established new churches, we know, “Paul and Barnabas appointed elders for them in each church, praying and fasting…
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God can reconcile those who are divided whether it be a marriage, family, friends, or church. He knows how to make two “become one flesh” (Genesis 2:24; Matthew 19:5) and “make two groups one” (Ephesians 2:14). This was Asaph’s prayer in Psalm 80 for the Northern Kingdom of Israel and the Southern Kingdom of Judah…
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The sins of one generation can affect those of the next generation. How detrimental are sins like drunkenness, anger, and abuse of parents on their children? They can have long lasting negative effects and sometimes cause children to follow in their parents wicked footsteps. As Lamentations 5:7 says, “Our ancestors sinned and are no more,…
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A new condominium was on the way up at the beach. A souvenir store stood in its place last year. As I watched some construction take place while vacationing at the beach, I thought, “I wonder how high it will be? I wonder how deep is the foundation?” You see, how high the structure will…
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Seagulls are everywhere at the beach…everywhere there’s someone with a bag of chips or a ham sandwich that is. Throw one Cheeto and you’ll attract a dozen birds. They lie in wait (or fly in wait) hoping for anything. They are somewhat birds of opportunity, maybe even birds of prey. Not like hawks or eagles,…
stephen R Harrison 