Posts from October 2024

Listen to this petition in Psalms 119:36, “Incline my heart unto thy testimonies, and not to covetousness.”  What do you think most about?  Is it making money?  The word covetous means “overly desirous” (Thorndike Barnhart Dictionary).  Today, do you have an excessive desire for gain?   The request of the Psalmist really puts life where we ought to keep it.   Our hearts should be centered around the testimonies of God and not earthly treasures.  We must not let our possessions possess…

Can I Know I am Going to Heaven? The answer is yes.  Paul said in II Corinthians 5:1, “For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.”  Paul said we know we are going to heaven.  What gave him this assurance?  He had obeyed the gospel of Christ (Acts 9), and was following Christ every day (I Corinthians 11:1; II…

(This is advice to the young men of President James A. Garfield’s time, but can apply to all of us.) “Make few promises.  Always speak the truth.  Never speak evil of anyone.  Keep good company or none.  Live up to your engagements.  Never play games of chance.  Good character is above everything else.  Keep your secrets if you have any.  Never borrow if you can possibly help it.  Do not marry until you can support a wife.  Keep yourself honest…

The book of Acts is an extremely important book because it gives us the beginning and history of the Lord’s church from about 33 A.D. to 62 A.D.  Peter, who had been given the keys to open the kingdom or church (Matthew 16:18,19), is the main character of the first twelve chapters and Paul is the main character of chapters thirteen through twenty-eight.  It has rightly been called the book of Conversions because we read of thousands obeying the gospel…

Religious people seem to think so very little about adding to God’s word.  Yet almost as “Sentries” standing near the first of the Bible, in the middle of the Bible and at the close of the Bible God warns – “do not add to the word.” “You shall not add to the word which I command you, nor take from it, that you may keep the commandments of the Lord your God which I command you” (Deuteronomy 4:2). “Do not…