“He Is Not the God of the Dead But of the Living” (11/4)

Thought from today’s Bible reading from Matthew 22; Mark 12.

The Sadducees did not believe in the resurrection. When they confronted Jesus on this point, they thought they had an unanswerable argument that would prove the foolishness of believing in the resurrection.

They presented a scenario in which a woman was married to seven brothers, each one followed the death of the next older brother (Matthew 22:23-27). The Sadducees then asked Jesus this question: “In the resurrection, therefore, whose wife of the seven will she be? For they all had married her” (Matthew 22:28). Notice how Jesus responded:

But Jesus answered and said to them, ‘You are mistaken, not understanding the Scriptures nor the power of God. For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven.’

‘But regarding the resurrection of the dead, have you not read what was spoken to you by God: “I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob”? He is not the God of the dead but of the living’” (Matthew 22:29-32).

Jesus’ argument “silenced the Sadducees” (Matthew 22:34). They had no answer for Him. If God said, “I am” the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, even after these men were dead, then one should necessarily infer that these men continued to exist, even after death.
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Are You Redeeming the Time?

[The following was slightly adapted from a sermon outline by A.W. Dicus entitled, ‘Christian Economics.’]

WatchesEach week contains 10,080 minutes. What do people do with their time?

The time spent by a fairly active church member on spiritual activities:

  • Attends on Sunday, three hours = 180 minutes
  • Attends on Wednesday night = 60 minutes
  • Reads the Bible two hours = 120 minutes
  • Prays 15 minutes daily = 105 minutes
  • Visits the sick, three hours = 180 minutes
  • Total time for the Lord = 645 minutes

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The Night Watches

Moon and clouds

When we read Psalm 119, we can easily see the love and respect David had for the word of God. It is the same attitude that we need to have for the word. One of the things this love and respect caused David to do was meditate on God’s word.

My eyes anticipate the night watches, that I may meditate on Your word” (Psalm 119:148).

David said that during the “night watches” was when he took time to meditate upon the word of God. There are several reasons why this time late at night would be advantageous to one’s study of and meditation on the word.
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Do Not Be As the Mule Which Has No Understanding (5/14)

Thought from today’s Bible reading from Psalm 32, 51, 86, 122.

I will instruct you and teach you in the way which you should go; I will counsel you with My eye upon you. Do not be as the horse or as the mule which have no understanding, whose trappings include bit and bridle to hold them in check, otherwise they will not come near to you” (Psalm 32:8-9).

One of the traits that sets mankind apart from the animals is that we have the ability to reason and make thoughtful decisions. Unfortunately, this ability is not always utilized, hence the reason for the psalmist’s admonition.
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Who Was Samson’s Wife? (4/4)

Thought from today’s Bible reading from Judges 13-15.

The woman which Bible students associate with Samson is Delilah. Because of this, many assume that Delilah was Samson’s wife. But if we take a closer look, we will see that she was not.

Then Samson went down to Timnah and saw a woman in Timnah, one of the daughters of the Philistines. So he came back and told his father and mother, ‘I saw a woman in Timnah, one of the daughters of the Philistines; now therefore, get her for me as a wife’” (Judges 14:1-2).

Later, Samson and this Philistine woman are called each other’s husband and wife (Judges 14:15).
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"Wait, and I Will Listen to What the Lord Will Command" (2/27)

Thought from today’s Bible reading from Numbers 8-10.

When the time came for the Israelites to observe the Passover, a few of them were unable to observe it. They questioned Moses as to what they could do:

But there were some men who were unclean because of the dead person, so that they could not observe Passover on that day; so they came before Moses and Aaron on that day. Those men said to him, ‘Though we are unclean because of the dead person, why are we restrained from presenting the offering of the Lord at its appointed time among the sons of Israel?’ Moses therefore said to them, ‘Wait, and I will listen to what the Lord will command concerning you’” (Numbers 9:6-8).

The Lord then revealed to Moses a provision for those who were unable to observe the Passover at the appointed time (Numbers 9:9-12). This was not to be used as a loophole for those were able to observe but neglected it (Numbers 9:13). But God made an exception for those who were unclean or away on a journey.

What I want us to notice here is not the exception, but Moses’ reply to these men when they questioned him about what they could do in this situation.
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How to Grow in Knowledge of God’s Word

2 Peter 3:18

Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 3:18).

All Christians have an obligation to increase in their knowledge and understanding of the Lord. To do this, we must become more acquainted with His word. But how are we to do this? In this article we will notice six things we can do to grow in knowledge of the word of God.
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