Baptist City Blog

Sometimes, the only defense against the onslaught of attacks from those who desire to destroy you is your testimony. Paul warned Timothy that there would come a day when his testimony would“both save thyself, and them that hear thee.” There were three things that Timothy was to guard carefully so that his testimony would continue to be his defense.

When I was a boy, there was a time when candy cigarettes were the thing every child wanted. I remember asking my mother if I could have candy cigarettes only to hear her respond with an emphatic, “No!” I asked my mother why I couldn't have candy cigarettes, and she said, “We don't play sin in our house.” When other parents thought my parents were too strict, they understood that if you play sin, you will eventually try it for real.

Monday, 2/22/16  Ps 48:14, For this God is our God for ever and ever: he will be our guide even unto death. This verse has enough comfort in it to last....oh...a lifetime at least.             Pro 17:16, Wherefore is there a price in the hand of a fool to get wisdom, seeing he hath no heart to it? Before we can people to “buy into” church and spiritual things, we need to get their heart. Their actions (treasure: $, time, will) will follow their heart.            Just an observation:  Peter publicly abandoned the ministry in John 21:3 (I go a fishing). In John 21:15, he was given the chance to publicly reenlist (Lovest thou me?) Not sure what to think...did the Lord give him the opportunity to “un-do” what he had done in the same manner he’d done it? Your thoughts?

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We often hear how the NFL tells the players that it is a privilege to work for them. Very few people get the privilege of working in the NFL. It isn’t a right to work for the NFL, but only a select few get to work for them. When they remind their players that it is a privilege, they are also telling them that they need to conduct themselves in a worthy manner as is becoming to the organization.

Paul talks about a “thorn in the flesh” that was given to him by God. Three times he asked God to remove the thorn, but God’s answer is seen in the verse above when He says, “My grace is sufficient for thee.” As much as Paul wanted this thorn removed, this thorn was his story of grace. His thorn showed God’s power in his life. If the thorn were removed, the story of grace could not be seen. Paul’s dialogue with God shows us several reasons that God gives us a“thorn in the flesh.”

Years ago, they came out with a lawn mower that was self-starting. I remember them advertising how you would never again have to pull the rope to start the engine. That was a great selling point for anyone who had a lawn mower that was hard to start. Having a self-starting engine made it much easier for the owner when they wanted to mow their lawn.

“Mark ye well her bulwarks, consider her palaces; that ye may tell it to the generation following.”

What God did for Israel was truly miraculous. To take a nation from Egypt and bring them through the wilderness and into the Promised Land could only have been done by the hand of God. Not only was God’s deliverance miraculous, but the infrastructure He gave them was second to none.