What an amazing book!

· The Bible is a perfect book (Psalm 19:7 The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.)

· The Bible is a preserved book (Psalm 12:6-7 The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever.)

· The Bible is a profitable book (2 Timothy 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:)

· The Bible is a prophetic book (2 Peter 1:21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.)

· The Bible is a pure book (Proverbs 30:5 Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him.)

· The Bible is a powerful book (Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.)

A good name

What do you do when a mysterious hand appears during your party and starts writing on the wall something that you don’t understand? Call the guy with a good testimony. Daniel was known for some things: an excellent spirit, knowledge, understanding, interpretation of dreams, showing of hard sentences, dissolving of doubts, having the Holy Spirit in him, and having light in him. When Belshazzar made the worst choice of his reign by defiling the gold and silver vessels from the temple of God, God sent him a message of his definite destruction. The king despaired when none of Babylon’s wisest men could discern the message. Then his wife told him of Daniel. Belshazzar called for Daniel and said to him in Daniel 5:14, “I have even heard of thee…” and then again in verse 16, “I have heard of thee…” Daniel was a great man of God, and he was even known as such to the pagan world. He had a good testimony.

This calls for some self-reflection. It is required of a bishop that he “have a good report of them which are without” (1 Timothy 3:7). Deacons, “likewise” (1 Timothy 3:8), are to be “men of honest report” (Acts 6:3). So as a man in the ministry, yes, I must have a good testimony. But just as Christian, we all need to. Proverbs 22:1 says, “A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather than silver and gold.” In Ecclesiastes 7:1 it says, “A good name is better than precious ointment…”

What are you known for?

The abominations we don’t talk about.

It is common as a Bible believer to hear a preacher comment on homosexuality. It is a subject quite pertinent to our times. The frequent commentary on the matter is, “It’s an abomination!” To which I say, “Amen!” Because the Scriptures do condemn the behavior as sinful and it is expressly called an abomination: Leviticus 18:22, Leviticus 20:13, Romans 1:26-27, 1 Corinthians 6:9. However, I wonder to myself why we so often elevate this sin above other sins that God has called an abomination. For example, sometimes Christians will tell “white lies”, and we don’t consider them to be that big of a deal. If we had the Lord’s heart on the matter we would hate it when our tongue tells a lie or when someone else lies: Proverbs 6:16-17 “These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him…a lying tongue…” Proverbs 12:22 “Lying lips are abomination to the LORD…” What about another abomination to the Lord, Proverbs 6:17 “A proud look…” Proverbs 16:5 “Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD…” The Lord hates pride. He sure put Nebuchadnezzar through the ringer, and after He did, Nebuchadnezzar said, “…those that walk in pride he is able to abase.” Daniel 4:37.

Proverbs 8:13 “The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.”

May we fear the Lord and may God give us a holy hatred for evil in all its forms! Both in our own lives, and in the lives of others. And may we always remember, too, that we are to hate the sin, not the sinner.

”But by the grace of God I am what I am…” 1 Corinthians 15:10