May 15
Do you take the Bible literally? The answer, of course, is “Yes and No.” A good answer this question: We take the Bible in its plain and obvious sense, unless otherwise indicated. It may be better to say we take a literary approach to the Word of God. Like any great literature, there are different ways of expressing ideas. Robert Little writes: “Parts of the Bible are obviously written in symbolic language, for example, Ezekiel’s vision of the cherubim. The book of Revelation is declared to be communicated in symbolic language (1:1), and it contains much that must be taken in this way. An...
Read MoreMay 14
It is feared that much Christian activity is attempted without the work resting on a solid foundation of prayer, holiness, Bible study and dependence on the Spirit of God. In his book “From Death to Life,” William Haslam tells how he was busy with the construction of the new church building were he served. But he wasn’t even saved! An elderly Cornish woman, deeply taught in the things of God, arrested him one day as he walked by her cottage: “Mr. Haslam, are ye goin’ to build your spire from the top?” The question was an arrow to his heart, and he couldn’t get the thought out of his mind....
Read MoreMay 13
“Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again’” (John 3:7). Ravi Zacharias addresses an increasingly common complaint: “‘Why can’t we leave everybody alone to follow the religion within which they were born? Why all this proclamation and propagation?’ Once again, this demand challenges the very core of the Christian faith, because no one is born a Christian. The relationship a Christian claims is one that comes not by culture but by virtue of a personal choice to follow Jesus Christ. Christian ideas may be inherited within a culture, but the Christian commitment is a personal...
Read MoreMay 12
John Townsend had been visiting a prisoner on death row. One day he said to his daughter Abbie, “This man will be executed tomorrow. He always welcomes me, but shows no interest in his soul. Would you have the courage to visit him?” Arriving at his cell, Abbie held out her hand, but he did not take it. So she took his hand in hers, trying to speak. Instead, a flood of tears fell on his hand. Mr. Townsend led her away, saying, “Remember, ‘He that goes forth and weeps bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing bringing his sheaves with him.’” At 6:30 the next morning a...
Read MoreMay 11
“For our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Spirit and in much assurance, as you know what kind of men we were among you for your sake” (1 Thess 1:5). What kind of men largely influenced what kind of results came from their gospel efforts—at least Paul thought so. In his seminal book, “Forward Movements of the Last Half Century,” A.T. Pierson writes: “All real advance finds its starting-point, as also its goal, in more conformity to God. Character lies back of conduct; what we are ultimately shapes what we do. Hence the stress of the whole word of God...
Read MoreMay 10
I noticed her in the crowd; she looked to me like royalty. When I asked her to tell me her story, she said her father was a drunk and her mother slept to escape. No one cooked or cleaned or cared for the little girl. “One day, a beautiful lady met me on the street and asked, ‘Would you like to come to a place every week where you’ll be loved?’ She started attending her Sunday School class. The first week the teacher noticed she had no Bible, so arranged to take her for one the next day. “She could have just bought me one, but she made an event out of it—took me to a restaurant and bought be...
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