Guidelines For Living Devotional

How To Live Beyond Revenge

Of all the endearing qualities of the Bible, none is more striking or confirms the fact that the hand of God moved the writers of Scripture more than the fact that stories weren't modified or altered to make individuals look better than they really were.  Read something today or see a "documentary" and you're not at all certain that someone didn't put a spin on the story to make a client or hero look better--usually much better--than they are.  Often the reality is vastly different from the projected image.  It's the perception of truth which is written about--not truth itself.

Never Look Back!

Are you familiar with the Bible story about the wife of a man named Lot?  When Lot and his family were told to run away from the city of Sodom as God was destroying it, God told them not to look back.  Lot's wife looked back and instantly turned into a pillar of salt!  Jesus himself made a reference to this woman whose life was taken in judgment but what Jesus said leaves a lot unsaid.  Its context is found in a discussion Jesus had with His disciples about the end times, and how God would eventually send judgment upon a world who has rejected His offer of life.

The Promises Of God Are For You

Nehemiah, the cupbearer to the Persian King Artaxerxes, describes something which is unique in all history.  Speaking of Israel in the wilderness, he says of God, "Because of your great compassion you did not abandon them in the desert. By day the pillar of cloud did not cease to guide them on their path, nor the pillar of fire by night to shine on the way they were to take" (Nehemiah 9:19).  What's he saying?  He is describing something that can only be described as supernatural.  God's presence in the midst of these who had fled Egypt was manifest by a cloud that covered the tabernacle by day, providing relief from the burning desert sun, and at night the cloud turned into a pillar of fire that provided warmth and also brought fear to the hearts of their enemies.

What Is Your Faith In?

Does it really make any difference what you believe, as long as you believe it with all your heart?  Many millions of men and women would answer in the negative.  They would respond that it does not make much difference what you believe as long as you believe it with all your might.  Some would perhaps add that all religions lead to the same place if you do your best and follow the teaching.

3 Guidelines To Effectively Deal With Stress

Tension itself is not necessarily a bad thing.  Remember, the violin attains beauty in tone because of the tension of the strings as the bow gently glides across them; but too much tension will only snap the string.

Do We Need Another Bible Translation?

Today there are many translations of the Bible into English, and publishing companies have jumped on the commercial bandwagon with specialty Bibles for students, for business people, for married couples, for singles--for all kinds of people groups. 

3 Guidelines On How To View Time

"Dost thou love life?" asked the venerable Ben Franklin more than 200 years ago. "Then do not squander time, for that's the stuff life is made of!"  And who would question what Franklin said?  Regardless of the inequities in life, when it comes to the use of our time, we are all equal.  Genius or idiot, gifted or neglected, wise or foolish, when it comes to time, we all have exactly the same amount‑‑24 hours per day for every person.  Yet, when it comes to the use of our time, it becomes readily apparent that there are vast differences in how we handle it.

Because You Won’t Live Forever!

In his autobiographical book entitled The World Is My Home, author James Michener wrote about an incident in his life which took place when he was but five years of age.  The farmer at the end of the lane where they lived had an old apple tree that was no longer productive. Instead of cutting down the tree, the farmer took eight long rusty nails and drove them into the tree, four at the base of the tree and four additional ones higher up, quite evenly spaced. 

What You Need To Get Rid Of Today

Should you ever have the opportunity to visit ancient Corinth, there is an out-of-the way, seldom-seen-by-tourists place that makes what Paul wrote to the Corinthians more meaningful.  Remember Paul's comments that those who run in a race should run in such a way as to gain the prize?   If your guide really knows his geography, he will take you to the place near the Corinthian canal where the Isthmian games were held every two years. 

How To Understand The Prophecies About Jesus

Dr. Charles Ryrie, an authority of Bible prophecy, says, "Someone has calculated that actually there are more than 300 prophecies concerning various aspects of the first coming of Christ.  We can assuredly say that no one could possibly have made this number of accurate predictions by chance.