Posts by Brown Trail Church of Christ (Page 3)
The Last Best Hope of Earth
One month before signing the Emancipation Proclamation, Abraham Lincoln wrote a letter to Congress in which he addressed freeing the country’s slaves. In it, Lincoln stressed the importance of doing the right thing to “save our country,” which he described as “the last best hope of earth.” I want to borrow and amend Lincoln’s words. The family unit in American culture is under attack from many sides: radical feminism, which denies the value of husbands and fathers; gay rights advocates…
God’s Plan for Man’s Redemption
Even though Adam never met Abraham, Moses never met David, and Jeremiah never met John, they are all inextricably linked. Though the Bible is a compilation of 66 separate books, it tells but one story. The personalities of the Bible and the books that tell us of them are all connected as integral parts of God’s plan for the redemption and salvation of mankind. That, really, is the theme of all scripture: the salvation of mankind from the guilt of…
The Glory of the Word: Lessons from Psalm 119 – Part 4
The 119thPsalm offers some wonderful, timely, and practical lessons for daily Christian living, nearly all of which are rooted in the power and glory of God’s word. Let us consider a few. Psalm 119:97 There’s an old adage that says, “Familiarity breeds contempt.” That may hold true in some situations, but not when you’re discussing the law of God. Familiarity breeds love. It was because of the psalmist’s daily and day-long contemplation of God’s word that he could exclaim, “O…
The Glory of the Word: Lessons from Psalm 119 – Part 3
The 119thPsalm offers some wonderful, timely, and practical lessons for daily Christian living, nearly all of which are rooted in the power and glory of God’s word. Let us consider a few. Psalm 119:63 In the world of texting and instant messages, a “BFF” is a “best friend forever.” Friends are a wonderful blessing from our God. The best friends that I have in this world are those who want to spend eternity in the same place I do. When…
The Glory of the Word: Lessons from Psalm 119 – Part 2
The 119thPsalm offers some wonderful, timely, and practical lessons for daily Christian living, nearly all of which are rooted in the power and glory of God’s word. Let us consider a few. Psalm 119:59 Few things should be as helpful each day as a few minutes of serious introspection. Whether you choose to do it in the morning, evening, or some other time of day, do it. We easily see the need for self-examination in the pursuit of good physical…
The Glory of the Word: Lessons from Psalm 119 – Part 1
The 119thPsalm offers some wonderful, timely, and practical lessons for daily Christian living, nearly all of which are rooted in the power and glory of God’s word. Let us consider a few. Psalm 119:1 “How blessed are those whose way is blameless, who walk in the law of the Lord.” Some folks have been known to lament that there is little enjoyment in a life lived under the restrictions of biblical morality and teaching. The most enjoyable life, we’re told,…
The Abiding Consequences of Sin
There are at least two results of sinful choices: guilt and consequences. By guilt, I mean the debt that God places on your spiritual account and for which the impenitent will be lost. By consequences, I refer to the adverse temporal circumstances in one’s life that are brought about by the sin. Consider these two components. Guilt When a man commits sin he transgresses God’s law (1 John 3:4) and incurs a debt to God that he is incapable of…