Here in North America we are blessed often with a rainbow in the sky during the summer season. It’s not that one does not appear at other times, but lest frequent. A rainbow forms, in simple terms, as light mixes with water droplets. You made have noticed a few when washing your car. But the most amazing spectacle is seeing one in the sky on a summer day after a thunder shower. God, the creator of the heavens and the earth, did not form the rainbow at the earth’s creation, but after the great flood in the book of Genesis. Nevertheless, God created it. He created it and placed in the sky for a purpose, His covenant with the earth, His rainbow.
It is well-known the rainbow has been hijacked of its meaning over the last several decades, but that is a subject for another day. Our focus today is why did God place a rainbow in the sky. The rainbow is God’s covenant, His promise to us that ‘Never again will the floodwaters destroy all life.” (Gen.9:15 nlt) The world, in Noah’s day, was extremely sinful and evil. “The LORD observed the extent of human wickedness on the earth, and he saw that everything they thought or imagined was consistently and totally evil. God observed all this corruption in the world, for everyone on earth was corrupt.” (Gen.6:5,12 nlt) God had decided He would destroy all living creations due to their wickedness. But Noah found favor with the Lord. The entire story of Noah and the great flood is found in Genesis chapters 6 through 9.
Back to our ‘sign in the sky.’ The Lord has kept His promise through the ages, and we have proof that He will continue to do so as we see His covenant sign in the sky in the form of a rainbow. But our world has become increasing wicked once again, and this time Jesus Christ is returning to earth to make things right. “When the Son of Man returns, it will be like it was in Noah’s day. In those days before the flood, the people were enjoying banquets and parties and weddings right up to the time Noah entered his boat. People didn’t realize what was going to happen until the flood came and swept them all away. That is the way it will be when the Son of Man comes.” (Mt.24:37-39 nlt
Don’t get caught by surprise as in the days of Noah, but remember God’s faithfulness, His promises, and His plan for Salvation available only through His Son, Jesus.
“I cried out to the LORD, and he answered me from his holy mountain. I lay down and slept, yet I woke up in safety, for the LORD was watching over me.” Psalm 3:4-5 NLT
Trying to fall asleep when you have something heavy on your mind is almost impossible. You’ve try some of the latest sleep aids on the market and they do not work. The old cliché ‘try counting sheep’ never worked even after downing a glass of warm milk as most grandmothers recommended back in the day. But when our minds are preoccupied with current troubles it is hard to shake them off. It’s difficult just to find a few minutes when our minds are completely still from the noise of the day in order to relax and fall asleep. There is one method I recommend if you haven’t tried it recently and that is following King David’s method of praying confidently.
The king of Israel was being undermined by his own son Absalom who was after his father’s throne to the point that war had broken out between the two camps. (2 Sam. 15-18) King David was being pursued by Absalom and his army as he fled Jerusalem. David wrote Psalm 3, a psalm of praying confidently, during this time which also served as encouragement for many other future battles throughout Israel’s history.
David let out his frustrations as he began the psalm, “O LORD, I have so many enemies; so many are against me.” (Ps.3:1 nlt) He is letting the Lord know what He already knows, but David still laments over his situation. People were beginning to say that even God would not recue him, that all is lost. Imagine now trying to go to sleep under these conditions with Absalom’s army all around you. But David knew of God’s protection and how He is able to sustain him and bring through this. So, he cried out to the Lord, praying confidently, and the Lord heard him and answered him. And David wrote, “I lay down and slept, yet I woke up in safety, for the LORD was watching over me.” (Ps.3:5 nlt)
We too can have the same confidence that the Lord will put our thoughts and minds at rest in the evening hours to get the sleep we need despite our troubled thoughts. David was able to rest comfortably with an aggressive army surrounding him knowing God will protect and watch over him, and he will awake in safety. I recommend you try it. According to David, it works.
“God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another. Do you have the gift of speaking? Then speak as though God himself were speaking through you. Do you have the gift of helping others? Do it with all the strength and energy that God supplies.” 1 Peter 4:10-11a NLT
Fear of not being qualified or talented enough has kept many Christians from serving the Lord in their local church. There are also other, not so legitimate, reasons for not serving and you most certainly cannot serve if you do not attend church, but that is for another day. Today, be encouraged the Lord God has gifted you to serve Him in His church. If you are a child of God you have been given a spiritual gift, maybe even a combination of serval gifts, but one in particular to serve God within His church.
The gifts that God bestows upon us at our conversion are spiritual gifts of a supernatural nature. They are gifts we did not possess before, nor could we achieve them on our own. They are also not to be confused with natural God given abilities which can and should be used to bring glory to God. These are gifts given to us by God to serve Him and our brothers and sisters in Christ where we gather together as a body of believers.
It is also important to note not everyone has the same gift. Oh, there may be others who have similar gifts, but a variety of gifts works best for the church to function orderly and for all to be taught, encouraged, cared for, and blessed. Whether you have the gift of teaching, administration, leadership, hospitality, serving, exhortation and caring, or a hands on where needed, used the gift God has given you for His glory. You are qualified and talented enough so do not fear. Do you have the gift? Yes, you do!
“Jesus replied, ‘Your mistake is that you don’t know the Scriptures, and you don’t know the power of God.’” Mark 12:24 NLT
This week in Biblical Insights Jesus is approached by two groups of religious rulers opposed to each other but have a common enemy, Jesus. Their goals are to trap Jesus into contradicting Himself and for Him be at odds with either the Roman government or the Jewish law.
Our first group is a combined group of the Pharisees and the Herodians. The Herodians were a political group of supporters of King Herod, not exactly the Jews best friend but they were sent together to ask Jesus a question about paying taxes. “Later the leaders sent some Pharisees and supporters of Herod to trap Jesus into saying something for which he could be arrested.” (Mk.12:13 nlt) Their hope was Jesus wouldn’t recognize the Herodians and He would agree with the Pharisees in not paying tribute to Caesar by not paying taxes forcing His arrest.
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The Pharisees and Herodians used flattery by telling Jesus they knew how honest He was. They noted His impartiality, playing no favorites, and always speaking the truth of God. Then they asked Jesus should we be paying taxes to Caesar. Of course Jesus saw right through this. “Why are you trying to trap me? Show me a Roman coin, and I’ll tell you.” (Mk.12:15 nlt) Showing Jesus a coin, He asked them an easy question, whose picture is on the coin? When they replied with ‘Caesar’s’ Jesus said, “Well, then, give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and give to God what belongs to God.” (Mk.12:17 nlt) Problem solved. But the Pharisees didn’t see it that way. They hated to pay taxes to the Roman government who was oppressing them. Their thought was, Jesus would never sanction such a tax, but he did, and they were amazed. They also failed at their attempt to trap Jesus in having Him arrested or the crowds turning on Him which was the real goal.
What Jesus laid out to the taxpayers of His day applies to us in our day. Jesus implied our responsibility to the government does not interfere with our responsibilities to God. We are under divine obligation to pay taxes to the government God has placed over us, for all authority comes only from Him. Many Christians today have the same problem the Jews had in paying taxes to an oppressive government, but Jesus spoke it plainly, “give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and give to God what belongs to God.”
Our second group this week are the Sadducees. They were the sophisticated Jewish party and very wealthy. Australian Theologian Leon Morris describes them best, “The conservative, aristocratic, high-priestly party, worldly minded and very ready to cooperate with the Romans, which, of course, enabled them to maintain their privileged position.” They were made up of High priests, chief priests, and most of the Sanhedrin. They were highly political and had great influence in the religious activities at the Temple. They oversaw the Temple business which Jesus disrupted the day before by clearing them all out. Their beliefs were noticeably opposite the Pharisees and other religious rulers. The Sadducees did not believe in the resurrection. They were all about this world and making a profit. The Sadducees only recognized the first five books of Moses as authority and did not adhere to any oral, traditional, or Scribal law of the Pharisees. They also denied the existence of angels.
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This group, the Sadducees, described in the previous paragraph asked Jesus the most ridiculous question. They based the question on a law of Moses found in the Old Testament. The Sadduceess were seeing common ground with Jesus for their question. They confirmed the book of Moses and knew of Jesus’ quotations from Moses. But their question was to prove their point of no resurrection. They start by saying, “Teacher, Moses gave us a law that if a man dies, leaving a wife without children, his brother should marry the widow and have a child who will carry on the brother’s name.” (Mk.12:19 nlt) The purpose of Moses’ law was to provide a continuance of the man’s family name and inheritance rights. The first son born would be considered the son of the dead brother. The Sadducees then create a scenario where there were seven brothers and all of them died without passing on a son, and then the woman died. Now their ridiculous question from a group who doesn’t believe in the resurrection, “So tell us, whose wife will she be in the resurrection? For all seven were married to her.” (Mk.12:23 nlt) Absurdity!
“Jesus replied, ‘Your mistake is that you don’t know the Scriptures, and you don’t know the power of God.’” (Mk.12:24 nlt) The Sadducees were ignorant of the Scriptures. If they knew God’s Word even just the first five books they claim to believe they would know of the power of God and His ability to raise the dead. People today are just as ignorant of the Bible as the Sadducees were. They don’t believe because they don’t know. They don’t know because they haven’t read. They don’t read because their eyes are blinded by the spirit of darkness in this world. Christians should be in prayer for eyes and hearts to be opened in people to read God’s Word and understand His plan of salvation.
Jesus then explained those raised from the dead are not married as when they were here on earth but are like angels in heaven. Angels do not marry and do not have children. Life in heaven is not like life on earth. Marriage was established by God on the earth for companionship and advancing the human race. Believers in heaven will have a totally new spiritual existence.
The Sadducees needed understanding in another area in which Jesus is going to explain to them. They needed to know the truth of the resurrection. “But now, as to whether the dead will be raised—haven’t you ever read about this in the writings of Moses, in the story of the burning bush? Long after Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob had died, God said to Moses, ‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.’” (Mk.12:26 nlt) Jesus went right to book of Moses, the book they should have been familiar with for they accepted it as the authority of God. This Scripture proves there is a resurrection of the dead. God spoke of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob as being alive. He said, ‘I am the God of Abraham’ not ‘I was’, but ‘I am’ in the present tense.
Only the power of God is able to raise someone from the dead. Every believer’s body will be raised up on the last day and be united with our living souls in heaven. Our physical bodies die but our souls live on either in heaven with Christ or in hell with the lost until they reunited at the Lord’s return unto eternal life or eternal punishment. Don’t be as the Sadducees. Don’t be ignorant of the Bible, believe in the resurrection and the power of God, and accept Christ as His Spirit calls you unto salvation.
“Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.” John 17:17 NIV
“Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.” 2 Timothy 2:15 NIV
Last weekend, recently drafted Cleveland Browns quarterback, Dillon Gabriel got caught in the social media ‘taken out of context’ web. A question by a sideline reporter was not fully aired or referred to, only his answer. “Speaking with CBS Sports reporter Aditi Kinkhabwala, Gabriel was asked about his comfortability in front of a camera. The poised Gabriel was authentic in his answer, a harmless and fun response.” (1) Gabiel’s fun response escalated rapidly when sports reporters and commentators from major sports outlets looking for a story failed to do their journalistic research. Their main concern was to adapt the answer to their bias narrative ignoring the truth. Eventually the truth came out, but the damage was done and too late for all the headline and sound bite social media followers who never saw the update.
I’m sure many of us have been taken out of context having our words twisted to mean something other than what was intended. Most of the time it is done to humiliate us or to put their opinion into focus as the right point of view. We may not be able undo the damage each time, but it is imperative for Christians that we try because our integrity and the truth is at stake.
Social media and bias reporters work as a conduit to get many false narratives accepted by as many people as they can to push their agenda. The Bible has been taken out of context for centuries, but not at the rate it is today. Again, those with a certain point of view and an agenda to push due to their politics or to satisfy the changing culture will take the Bible out of context to suit themselves. The Bible’s truth has not changed. It is not subject to re-interpretation. The Bible is not a fluid document, but the very Words of God. God’s Words mean the same today as when they were first written. It is vital for Christians to take a stand for the unchanging truth of God’s Word. Jesus confirmed the truth of God’s Word in His intercessory prayer, and Paul tells us not to be ashamed and to correctly handle the word of the truth (The Bible). It may come with criticism and be taken out of context, but we have proof the Bible is true as we apply it to our lives through the Holy Spirit.
Every Christian has a spotlight shining on them. We could say it is the light of Christ reflecting off us and that would be true, but I surmise the spotlight is one placed on us by others who know of our faith and are keeping an eye on us. Those watching us are both other Christians and non-Christians, even our own church family. Living in the light of Christ and in obedience to Scripture is more than a testimony towards those outside of Christ but is a requirement on how all Christians should act before their brothers and sisters in the Lord.
Psalm 119, the longest chapter in the Bible, can be thought of as the ‘word of life’ intended to give us godly instruction. Almost every verse throughout the psalm has a reference to God’s Word. ‘Commandments, decrees, instructions, laws, word, and regulations’ are noted in the first sixteen verses of the chapter, and it continues up to its conclusion.. It is indeed a chapter of instruction. It is a chapter in the word of God that’s all about the word of God.
The psalmist in the front half portion of the psalm writes, “You have charged us to keep your commandments carefully. Oh, that my actions would consistently reflect your decrees! Then I will not be ashamed when I compare my life with your commands.” (Ps.119:4-6 nlt) Being charged by God to keep His commandments and decrees, the psalmist’s desire is for his actions to match what God’s Word commands him to do. So should be our desire as Christians in 2025, to have our conduct submitted in accordance with Scripture. Our Christian conduct should reflect our faith in Christ by obeying His Word in front of those who do not know the Lord, leading them to Him, and to those who do.
Traveling through areas we haven’t been before requires caution. Whether it’s traveling by automobile with the most sophisticated GPS or strolling a scenic countryside on a Sunday afternoon walk, if you haven’t been that way before, a little caution is recommended. It is that way in our lives as well. Every day we wake up to a new day where we have never been before, caution is needed.
For the Christian, each day is a particular challenge. We have never ending responsibilities between family, work, and other household chores among those extra curriculum activities we add on ourselves. Managing it all is a struggle and by the end of the day we’re wiped out. We have a to tendency let our guard down, in fact it may have started to slide midway through the day, and when we’re most vulnerable the enemy attacks. With all of our responsibilities each day we must add the essential one to our list; ‘stay alert.’
1 Peter 5:8 says, “Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.” (nlt) Just as traveling a road we haven’t been on previously requires some attention and staying alert, each day is a road we haven’t traveled on, and Satan is prowling around looking for that opportunity to pounce on us. Staying alert is vital from morning until night. Satan knows our weak moments as they occur, and we would be smart to recognize them ourselves and stay alert. (have that cup of coffee) If we are not paying attention, Satan and his minions will take advantage of our lapse and before we know it, he got us. Remember we haven’t been this way before, caution ahead, so stay alert!
“You know that these hands of mine have worked to supply my own needs and even the needs of those who were with me. And I have been a constant example of how you can help those in need by working hard. You should remember the words of the Lord Jesus: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” Acts 20:34-35 NLT
Hundreds of common sayings and proverbs we use today had their start somewhere. Someone had said them for the first time and the phrase caught on and spread over time. Many of those someone’s are unknown as history traces back to the origin of a saying to a place and time and the events that created such a saying. The saying ‘it is better to give than to receive’ is easy to trace and comes from a reliable source, the Bible, and spoken by a most reliable person, Jesus Christ.
Paul is giving final instructions to the elders of the church in Ephesus as he was about to leave for Jerusalem. He had told them this would probably be the last time they would see other each. It was an emotional time for them all. He encouraged them to preach the Word that he spoke to them concerning the Good News of Jesus Christ strengthening the new believers. Paul advised them to be good shepherds and feed the flock warning them that false teachers and accusers would soon arrive to sway the new converts away from the truth.
Paul ended his final words to these elders by reminding them of his work ethic while he was with them. Paul never took a salary for preaching the gospel but worked as a tent maker. He provided for himself and those who served with him. Paul was saying his work not only met his needs, but the needs of others, which he was glad to do. He also said, ‘a little hard work never hurts anyone,’ and it actually helps others. But Jesus has the final word on this, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ So, be blessed, and give.
“And “don’t sin by letting anger control you.” Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry, or anger gives a foothold to the devil.” Ephesians 4:26-27 NLT
Do you have a right to be angry? Perhaps you do. But your right to be angry is always to be on based on when righteousness and justice are not being done. When sin against you or your neighbor is going unpunished, or when society accepts leniency over justice for violent crimes you and I have a right to be angry. But what are we to do with that anger, that righteous anger?
The Bible gives us two answers as to what to do with our anger. The apostle Paul tells the church in Ephesus not to let anger control us. It is very easy to be angered at someone who has done us wrong, by gossip, false accusations, even physical assaults in our total innocence. Keeping that anger under control is not easy, but extremely difficult to do. Yet, Paul instructs us not to let it control us, and also not to go to bed angry. His reasoning is it gives the devil a foothold into our lives in an area he can control by feeding that anger with his lies.
King David gives us the same advice in Psalm 4, “Don’t sin by letting anger control you. Think about it overnight and remain silent.” (Ps.4:4 nlt) In a sense, David is telling us to give it over to the Lord. Other Bible translations say, ‘Meditate in your heart upon your bed.’ The idea is to think deeply about your anger and bring God into the conversation.
The world today gives us countless justifiable reasons to be angry. Christians need a watchful eye as Satan, and his demons will look for any opportunity to turn even justifiable anger for his use if we do not give it over to the Lord.
“Oh come, let us worship and bow down; Let us kneel before the LORD our Maker. For He is our God, And we are the people of His pasture, And the sheep of His hand.” Psalm 95:6-7 NKJV
Have you ever had a God moment? How would you describe it? Each one of us is different in our own way and I’m sure our God moments would differ, of course seeing that you had one. GotQuestions.org describes it his way, “Many Christians define a God moment as an intimate, unique, or uncommon experience that helps them see that something or someone bigger than themselves (i.e., God) is at work in their lives. It might be an answered prayer, a sudden revelation, or a chance encounter.” (1) The simplest things could be a God moment for me. What some would consider a coincidence, I see as God presenting Himself making His presence known, a God moment.
The other day during my quiet study time with the Lord, I was reading a devotional from a well-known Pastor and author and was struggling to concentrate particularly on the key verse. Perhaps due to the early hour of the morning or my allowing my mind to wander, the verse wasn’t sinking in. Asking the Lord to sharpen my focus, He did just that. As I was reading the verse, the song on the radio was singing the exact words in exact time with my reading them. It got my attention. It was a God moment. The song produced and performed by ‘Maranatha Music.’ was “Oh come, let us worship and bow down.” In perfect timing they sang as I read, “Oh come, let us worship and bow down; Let us kneel before the LORD our Maker. For He is our God, And we are the people of His pasture, And the sheep of His hand.” (Ps. 95:6-7 NKJV)
The verse itself is a call to worship the Lord and recognize Him as our creator and God. He watches over us as His sheep and is with us at all times. There are many God moments in our lives that come and go without us even realizing them, not to mention the ones we take for granted. It is nice to be reminded with a God moment we are not expecting that He is continually pasturing His sheep. Have you been reminded lately with a God moment? Chances are, you were.
Word for the Soul 