2 I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;
2 For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.
3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;
Continue reading SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY (1 TIMOTHY 2:1-7 “PRAY FOR ALL MEN”)
The idea that particular angel is assigned to each person or believer was popular during the medieval era but suffered under the theological housecleaning of the Reformation. Only one distant reference to the possibility occurs in Matthew 18:10.
Continue reading DOES EVERYONE HAVE A GUARDIAN ANGEL?
The church in Corinth split probably for the same reasons modern-day churches do. Some people identified with the ministry style of Peter. Others were drawn to Paul’s personality. Still others felt a connection with Apollos. We rightly learn from the insights of spiritual leaders, but crowing about one’s own leader and criticizing all others is wrong, petty, and immature.
Continue reading WHAT HAPPENS WHEN FACTIONS SPLIT A CHURCH?
37 Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven:
38 Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.
Continue reading SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY (LUKE 6:37-42 “DO NOT JUDGE”)
A shepherd from Midian and his brother stood before Pharaoh and demanded the release of the Hebrew slaves. Pharaoh was the strongman leader of the strongest country in the world. He ignored God’s command to release 600,000 male slaves and their women and children. Despite the demonstration of God’s power-the Nile turned to blood-Pharaoh returned to his palace and put “the whole thing out of his mind” (Exodus 7:23 NLT). Continue reading MEN OF THE BIBLE (PHARAOH: A HEART IN DENIAL)
BRICKS
Baked clay bricks were the Israelites’ second favorite building material. The Bible first mentions brick in the construction of the Tower of Babel. There the builders said to one another, “Go to, let us make brick, and burn them thoroughly” (Gen. 11:3). So we think the builders baked their bricks in kilns, as the ancient Babylonians did. Archaeologists have found Babylonian bricks that were quite large, sometimes 30cm. (about one foot) square, and flat. This shape could support the weight of large builders better than today’s
Continue reading MANNERS AND CUSTOMS OF THE BIBLE “THE MINERALS AND GEMS OF PALESTINE”