Tag: The Gospel

Bible Studies

“Discussions with Jesus” The Gospel of Jesus Christ: the book of Mark

Loring Schultz

Read: Mark 2:18-28 NLT – A Discussion about Fasting – Once when – Bible Gateway

“Once when John’s disciples and the Pharisees were fasting, some people came to Jesus and asked, ‘Why don’t your disciples fast like John’s disciples and the Pharisees do?’” Mark 2:18 NLT

Photo by Yosi Prihantoro on Unsplash

In this week’s Biblical Insights, we sit back and listen to the first two of many discussions Jesus has with the Pharisees, other religious rulers, and the people of Israel in the book of Mark. Jesus’ discussions along with His teaching is the core of the gospel of Mark. His favorite name for Himself is the ‘Son of Man.’ Jesus corrects misunderstandings and outright misinformation leveled against Him by the religious rulers, and He answers all questions presented to Him. He confirms His deity, the future coming kingdom, and that He is the way of salvation and the only way to the Father.

After the dinner party Levi had for Jesus in his home, some people came to Jesus with a question concerning fasting. “Why don’t your disciples fast like John’s disciples and the Pharisees do?” (Mk.2:18 nlt) Now, these two groups couldn’t be more apart on religious matters, but the people’s concern was legitimate. John the Baptist’s disciples probably were fasting as an expression of the repentance John preached. John was also in prison at this time, so their fasting could have been in mourning for him. The Pharisees, on the other hand, fasted twice a week as a religious ritual. Fasting was a sign of contrition and penitence as far back as the days of the Judges but had become a mere outward expression. The only fasting that was required by Mosaic law was on the Day of Atonement. The Jewish people found it odd that Jesus’ disciples did not fast as other religious people did, so they asked the question.

Jesus takes this opportunity to hint of His mission here on earth. He compares Himself to a bridegroom and His disciples as guests in a marriage celebration. A marriage was a joyous occasion, no time for mourning, why would they fast. But there will come a day when Jesus leaves them, and then they will fast. It will be appropriate at that time.

Expanding on the scope of His mission, Jesus uses two illustrations to explain something new is coming. Jesus’ new gospel of repentance and forgiveness of sin cannot relate to the old traditional rituals. “Besides, who would patch old clothing with new cloth? For the new patch would shrink and rip away from the old cloth, leaving an even bigger tear than before. And no one puts new wine into old wineskins. For the wine would burst the wineskins, and the wine and the skins would both be lost. New wine calls for new wineskins.” (Mk.2:21-22 nlt)

The Pharisees prompt the second of Jesus’ discussions this week. They observe Jesus’ disciples picking heads of grain and eating them as they were traveling along the road next to the grainfields. What upset them was this occurred on the Sabbath day. They claimed Jesus’ disciples were breaking the Sabbath by working harvesting wheat on the Sabbath day. As ridiculous as that sounds, that is how far they stretched the law to conform to their new rules and regulations. Some Christian leaders today are guilty of adding do’s and don’ts above what God has stated in His Word. Just a note of caution to be sure we are biblically sound.  

The Old Testament book of Deuteronomy says, “And when you enter your neighbor’s field of grain, you may pluck the heads of grain with your hand, but you must not harvest it with a sickle.” (Dt.23:25 nlt) The Pharisees should have been familiar with that scripture, but their concern is it was the Sabbath day. Jesus gives them the example of David and his men, what they did when exhausted from hunger. “He went into the house of God (during the days when Abiathar was high priest) and broke the law by eating the sacred loaves of bread that only the priests are allowed to eat. He also gave some to his companions.” (Mk.2:26 nlt) Jesus was illustrating they may have done what was forbidden, but it is also lawful to do good and save a life on the Sabbath. He emphasized the true spirit of the Sabbath is intended for man restoration; spiritual, mental, and physical. (Mk.2:27)

FreeBibleimages.org

Jesus again confirms His Deity in His discussion with the Pharisees when He claimed He is Lord of Sabbath. He is greater than the Sabbath and therefore has the authority to reject the Pharisees rules and regulations concerning the Sabbath day. Jesus will have continual run ins with these religious rulers as we will see throughout the book of Mark, and He will confront them with who He is and His mission why He is here. Jesus said, “The time promised by God has come at last! The Kingdom of God is near! Repent of your sins and believe the Good News!” (Mk.1:15 nlt)  

Bible Studies

“Radical Change” The Good News of Jesus Christ: the book of Mark

Loring Schultz

Read: Mark 2:13-17 NLT – Jesus Calls Levi (Matthew) – Then Jesus – Bible Gateway

“As he walked along, he saw Levi son of Alphaeus sitting at his tax collector’s booth. ‘Follow me and be my disciple,’ Jesus said to him. So Levi got up and followed him.” Mark 2:14 NLT

FreeBibleimages.org

Have you noticed someone who has truly come to Christ and the radical change that has occurred in their life? I emphasize ‘truly’ for there are many who profess finding Jesus, but their lives do not show it. They are easily exposed to being fraudulent, no true conversion has taken place. Unlike the truly converted, whose lives have changed and taken on a new a meaning. Things they have done before they no longer do, things they would never do they are doing unashamed. Jesus has a way of making that happen in the most unlikely individual when they realize they need a savior. This week in our study in the gospel of Mark we meet up with such a person, Levi, whose name was changed to Mathew after he met Jesus in his place of business.

Jesus went out to the lakeshore after healing and forgiving the sins of a paralytic proving His deity in Peter’s house. Again, Jesus was teaching all who came to Him. “Then Jesus went out to the lakeshore again and taught the crowds that were coming to him.” (Mk.2:13 nlt) Jesus came to a tax booth near the Sea of Galilee. Tax booths were set up by the Roman government to collect taxes for infrastructure and to support the government. They were set strategically along the main roads to collect tolls like in our day. Commercial fishing was also taxed, so you would find a tax booth near a major fishing location. There Jesus saw Levi in his tax collector’s booth and said to him, ‘follow me and be my disciple.’ Levi didn’t hesitate to leave his lucrative job behind he went out and followed Jesus.  

Levi is a good example for us to look at of one having a radical change after accepting Christ as savior. Levi was a tax collector, one of the most despised people in Israel at that time. Tax collection ran like our modern-day franchises. Tax offices were purchased from the Roman government with the right to collect taxes in a certain area. Operators were allowed to keep everything above the required government tax rate. Tax collectors made an exuberant living by charging excess fees far above what was reasonable, and most were dishonest. These tax collectors were making themselves rich at the expense of their own people. Levi left the money on the table, realizing that he needed a savior more than the money due to his sins, and he was now about to show everyone his radical change.

Levi’s quick response to Jesus and what he is about to do next is a testimony to the genuineness of his conversion. Levi decided to have a dinner party in honor of Jesus and invite his friends, colleagues, and associates. “Later, Levi invited Jesus and his disciples to his home as dinner guests, along with many tax collectors and other disreputable sinners.” (Mk.2:15 nlt) Levi wanted his guests to meet Jesus who had made such a change in his life. This did not sit well with the Jewish leaders who were looking for anything to discredit Jesus. Jesus sitting among these people and having a meal with them was an offense to these Pharisaical leaders. “But when the teachers of religious law who were Pharisees saw him eating with tax collectors and other sinners, they asked his disciples, ‘Why does he eat with such scum?’” (Mk.2:16 nlt) The leaders felt any contact with these people would make Jesus a sinner. Sinner was a common term for tax collectors, adulterers, robbers, and the like. But in their eyes, anyone who did not follow the Mosaic Law as they interpreted it were sinners, or scum.

Christians today need to be careful we don’t look down on non-Christians by not associating with them. Jesus gave us a command to go into all the world and preach the gospel making disciples in all nations. (Mt.28:19-20) Jesus also said “But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! If you love only those who love you, what reward is there for that? Even corrupt tax collectors do that much.” (Mt.5:44, 46 nlt) Jesus answered the Jewish leaders in Levi’s home by saying, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do. I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners.” (Mk.2:17 nlt) A self-righteous person feels no need to come to Christ for salvation, but a sinner does. And that sinner will have a radical change take place in their life for all their friends and the world to see.

FreeBibleimages.org
Devotionals

Time to celebrate  

Loring Schultz

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16 ESV

Photo by Terrance Barksdale on Pexels.com

Super Bowl Sunday, the unofficial holiday in the United States, is less than two weeks away. The Philadelphia Eagles and the Kansas City Chiefs have earned their tickets to the biggest football game of the year by winning their respective conference championship games. The game has truly become an event the shuts down most of the nation for 4-5 hours on a Sunday evening. There are parties and family gatherings, with every variety of food imaginable and all eyes bent toward the giant flat screen television. Excitement builds for two weeks with fans bantering each other on who will win, and who are true fans and who are the bandwagon jumpers looking to get in on a good thing. Last year an estimated 123 million people in the United States watched the game, and that’s not including the international audience, that close to 40% of the entire population of America.

Obviously, they are not that many football fans in the U.S. or across the world, but many people get caught up in the excitement and enthusiasm of the fans and the whole event. It is a time to celebrate. On those same lines every day is an unofficial holiday for Christians, and it too is a day to celebrate. God in His grace and mercy reconciled us back to Himself through His Son Jesus Christ. Our only response needed is to accept Christ as our Savior. “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. (Eph.2:8-9 esv)

Do people around us get caught up with our enthusiasm and excitement for Christ? Do you think it’s possible for us to stir up enough excitement these next two weeks to make a difference in the kingdom of God by offering a free ticket to the biggest event in of all history, eternity with Christ?  Yes, it is time to celebrate. And maybe we’ll even see a John 3:16 sign in the end zone this year!

Devotionals

Our Sins are Nailed to the Cross        

Loring Schultz

Read: Galatians 5:16-26 NLT – Living by the Spirit’s Power – So I – Bible Gateway

“Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there. Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives.” Galatians 5:24-25 NLT

Photo by Alicia Quan on Unsplash

The apostle Paul was not one to mince words in his writings. He gives it to us straight and doesn’t hold back. Writing to the churches in Galatia Paul writes, “When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God.” (Gal.5:19-21 nlt) Anyone who is consistently living in one or more of these ways seriously needs to consider if they are truly a child of God. Paul gives this warning, not to lord it over anybody, but to warn them of the serious consequences of living such a lifestyle.

Christians may not be involved in living such a lifestyle, but occasionally those desires spring forth through temptations and our sinful nature. Paul instructs us if we walk by the Spirit, we will not carry out the desires of the flesh. (Gal.5:16) He then goes on to list what we should be desiring, the fruit of the Spirit, ‘love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness.’ (Gal.5:22-23) This is the way we should be living consistently.

The cross of Christ is where all our sins were exposed and dealt with. Christ took on our sins and paid the price for them. Our passions and sinful desires have been nailed to the cross and crucified there. We should not be trying to resurrect what has been crucified. Our sins have been nailed to the cross. Let us leave them there.

Bible Studies

“The Promised Time Has Come” The Good News of Jesus Christ: the book of Mark

Loring Schultz

Read: Mark 1:9-20 NLT – The Baptism and Temptation of Jesus – Bible Gateway

‘“The time promised by God has come at last!’ he announced. ‘The Kingdom of God is near! Repent of your sins and believe the Good News!’” Mark 1:15 NLT

FreeBibleimages.org

The first week of our study in the book of Mark we were introduced to John the Baptist whose mission was to introduce us to the Messiah, Jesus, the Son of God. He encouraged those in his day to clear the road and ‘prepare the way for the LORD’s coming!’ This week we begin to follow Jesus as He began His ministry in 27 A.D. when he was 30 years old. “One day Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee, and John baptized him in the Jordan River.” (Mk.1:9 nlt)

The question is automatically asked, ‘Why did Jesus get baptized?’ It was His deliberate act of identification with us. Jesus identified with us in all ways as human, except for sin. He was sinless. Therefore, Jesus will bear our sins on the cross at Calvary. The triune God is on displayed in Jesus’ baptism proving His deity. The Father speaks from heaven, the Son is baptized, and the Holy Spirit appears as a dove anointing Jesus for His ministry. (Mk. 1:10-11) The symbol of a dove represents gentleness and purity, which describes Jesus, our meek and mild savior.

Very often when we have a high moment, a mountaintop experience, we’re brought down to reality. The sin of this world and the luring of Satan and his demons drags us down and tempts us. After Jesus had His high moment at His baptism, the Bible says the Spirit compelled (drove) Him into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. This was a divine action and necessary for us as Jesus suffered the same temptations we face every day. He knows what we go through and can help us in our time of temptation. “For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.” (Heb.2:18 esv)

Jesus’ ministry now begins after defeating Satan by not succumbing to any of the temptations he offered up. This was Jesus’ first step in overthrowing Satan. Jesus then went into Galilee, the northern most region in Palestine, and started preaching God’s Good News, the Good News of salvation. Jesus announced, “The time promised by God has come at last! The Kingdom of God is near! Repent of your sins and believe the Good News!” (Mk.1:15 nlt) Dr. John MacArthur notes, ‘It was time for decisive action on God’s part. An era of God dealing with men had come.’ (1) And Dr. Charles Ryrie comments, ‘The rule of Messiah on earth, promised in the OT and earnestly longed for by the Jewish people, was near, for the Messiah has now come.’ (2) John the Baptist preached a message of repentance, now Jesus adds to it by believing the Good News. The Messiah is here, and He will save you from your sins.

Jesus now calls His first disciples along the shore of the Sea of Galilee, a body of water 700 ft below sea level, 14 miles long and 6 miles wide. It was fed by the waters of the upper Jordan River. Jesus saw Simon and his brother Andrew working at their craft for they were fishermen. Andrew had been a follower of John the Baptist. It is possible that Simon had been also, and they both went back to work fishing after John’s arrest. Jesus calls them to follow Him and be the first Evangelists, fishers of men. They immediately drop what they were doing, making the commitment to follow Jesus.

Further up the shoreline, Jesus and His first two recruits run into fellow fishermen James and John. Fishing was a main source of income for people in the Galilean region. James and John followed suit when Jesus called them to follow Him, leaving their father and co-workers in the boat.

Take note Jesus didn’t look for those to be His disciples from the religious elites, or those with references from well-respected Rabbis, and He didn’t recruit from intellectual scholars of the first century, but He chose ordinary people who fished for a living to carry out the greatest message the world has ever known. With these four and others who will come in time, including you and me, the gospel message will go forth, right up to our current day, for the promised time has come.

  1. MacArther, John. The MacArthur Study Bible. Nashville: Word Publishing, 1997. Pg. 1458
  2. Ryrie, Charles. The Ryrie Study Bible. Chicago: Moody Publishers, 2012. Pg. 1226
Devotionals

Have you invested your mina?

Loring Schultz

Read: Luke 19:11-27 ESV – The Parable of the Ten Minas – As they – Bible Gateway

“Calling ten of his servants, he gave them ten minas, and said to them, ‘Engage in business until I come.’” Luke 19:13 ESV

FreeBibleimages.org

Jesus’ teaching often included speaking in parables, an earthly story with a heavenly meaning. He told the parable of the ten minas to refute the idea that the kingdom of God was to occur immediately. Jesus’ followers, including His disciples, did not understand His mission, but supposed He was going to establish His kingdom by overthrowing the oppressive Roman government. Jesus’ earthly mission was to give his life as a sacrifice for sin, providing salvation for all who believe in Him. He rose from the dead and ascended to heaven, promising to return and then establish His kingdom. This parable connects to Jesus’ return and every Christian’s accounting for the investment we made or didn’t make.

Jesus said to those around Him, “A nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom and then return.” (Lk.19:12 esv) This would have been understood for Herod the Great himself had gone to Rome to receive his kingdom. The nobleman calls his servants and gives each of them one mina (3 months wages) and instructs them to engage in business investing his money for a return. This is a picture of Jesus. The mina the Lord Jesus gives to every believer is the gospel message to be invested in peoples lives. There will be a day of accounting how faithful we have been to what he has given us. “When he returned, having received the kingdom, he ordered these servants to whom he had given the money to be called to him, that he might know what they had gained by doing business.” (Lk.19:15 esv)

Very descriptive reports on the return of investments are given for three of the nobleman’s servants. Each apportioned by their diligence in service. The first had a 1000% return and was awarded ten cities. The second had a 500% return and was awarded 5 cities. Both these servants loved their master and wanted to please him, taking risks to ensure an increase. The third servant did nothing at all with what he was given but kept it to himself. The nobleman takes the mina from him and assigns it to where it will have the largest prospect of return.

Our Lord Jesus has gone away as the nobleman but will also return as he did. Jesus has given us the gospel message to invest by sharing it with others while He is away. Will we have a return on His investment? Will you have a return? You won’t have a return if you don’t invest it. Have you invested your mina, the gospel?  

A Christian Perspective

Embrace the Gift of Peace for 2025

Loring Schultz

“I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.” John 14:27 NLT

FreeBibleimages.org

As 2024 is rapidly coming to a close, the hope for peace and prosperity is wished for all people and nations in the New Year. As the world looks forward to the horizon of 2025, it can’t help but to be reminded of the sunset we are seeing in the present year. So many conflicts among nations continue to rise. Social issues are still demanding their presence on the world stage, and the attack on the nuclear family is ever increasing. World Peace may seem to be hard to come by in 2025. It is not only hard to come by but will not happen despite the best efforts of world leaders. But there is peace available to every man, woman, and child in the New Year, and it is a gift we only need to receive.

 This gift of peace was first given to us as a promise from God the Father bridging the gap between us and God created by Adam and Eve. A gift of peace, a savior, would come into the world. (Gen.3:15) The gift of peace was born to us over 2,000 years ago in a stable in the town of Bethlehem. “The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.” (Lk.2:11, 14 nlt) This gift of peace, Jesus Christ, came into an unpeaceful, sinful world and has provided peace for all who believe in His name, accepting Him as savior.

On the night before His crucifixion, Jesus gave His disciples a deeper meaning to the salutation ‘Shalom’ meaning peace. “I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.” (Jn.14:27 nlt) This peace reflects our reconciliation with God the Father through Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross for our sins. This is true peace and nothing the world can provide. The world can only crave lasting peace which they cannot provide. Jesus’ peace is real and is the answer for all the fears in the world.

Devotionals

Thanksgiving Travel: Following the Highway of God

Loring Schultz

“A highway shall be there, and a road, And it shall be called the Highway of Holiness.” Isaiah 35:8a NKJV

“The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the LORD; Make straight in the desert A highway for our God.’” Isaiah 40:3 NKJV

Photo by Peter Robbins on Unsplash
 

Today is the busiest travel day of the year across the United States as millions of Americans make their way to friends and family for Thanksgiving. “AAA projects 79.9 million travelers will head 50 miles or more from home over the Thanksgiving holiday travel period. ‘Thanksgiving is the busiest holiday for travel, and this year we’re expecting to set new records across the board, from driving to flying and cruising,’ said Stacey Barber, Vice President of AAA Travel. (1) Of those estimated 79.9 million travelers, 71.1 million people will go by car. That’s a lot of highway miles.

The United States has a vast interstate highway system which can get you to grandma’s house whether 50 or 500 miles away with no trouble. Years of planning the infrastructure of major roadways in America have proven successful. One only needs a roadmap from AAA or a GPS device and you’re all set.

Highways are mentioned several times in Scripture. Isaiah speaks about ‘The Highway of Holiness, a highway for our God.’ It was a prophetic exhortation to Israel for preparing for the coming of the Messiah. It foretold John the Baptist as the forerunner of Christ. “For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah, saying: “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the LORD; Make His paths straight.’” (Mt.3:3 nkjv) The Messiah, the Lord Jesus, had come, and He has come to save those who call on His name.

God had designed His infrastructure of heaven’s highway for you and me before the world began. You don’t need a GPS or a road map. The plan of salvation and the highway to heaven is to simply trust in Jesus and His work on the cross for your sin. There is only one road, one highway to heaven. Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” (Jn.14:6 nkjv) Accept Christ as your savior this Thanksgiving and you’re on the highway to heaven. What a Thanksgiving feast that will be.

(1) Thanksgiving Travel Expected to Set New Record | AAA Newsroom

Devotionals

Thankfulness through Giving            

Loring Schultz

“Thank God for this gift too wonderful for words!” 2 Corinthians 9:15 NLT

Photo by Tim Mossholder on Unsplash

In gift giving, the recipient is the one giving thanks. They are thankful for the gift received and for the giver. We don’t think much about the giver being the one giving thanks, but as Christians that should be our main intent in giving any gift or doing any good deed for someone. God the Father gave the first gift, His Son Jesus Christ. No other gift will ever match or come close to the gift He gave us. We can never top it. But we can be thankful.

God gave us His only Son to redeem us from eternal separation from Him. Jesus came willingly to earth as a man to pave the way for our salvation from eternal hell fire. Thankfulness, indeed, should be our way of life. One sign of being thankful is giving. The apostle Paul describes the ministry of giving to the church in Corinth as a two-fold operation. The needs of people will be met, and God will be thanked for it. “So two good things will result from this ministry of giving—the needs of the believers in Jerusalem will be met, and they will joyfully express their thanks to God.” (2Cor.9:12 nlt) Paul goes on to say, “For your generosity to them and to all believers will prove that you are obedient to the Good News of Christ.” (2Cor.9:13b nlt)

The good news of Christ is the gospel unto salvation which we have accepted and are thankful. We show our thankfulness by giving of ourselves, sharing the gospel, and meeting the needs of others. Yes, through giving. Our thankfulness through giving is not only for others, but also to the one most deserving, Jesus Christ. “And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father.” (Col.3:17 nlt) May we always be giving thanks and praise to our Lord Jesus in everything we say and do, in this way we show our thankfulness through giving.  

Devotionals

Use It or Lose It

Loring Schultz

“When thou takest away my outward blessings, it is for sin,

          in not acknowledging that all I have is of thee,

          in not serving thee through what I have,

          in making myself secure and hardened.”  (1)

          Photo by Jack Niles on Unsplash      

There is an old hymn entitled “Count Your Blessings.” The chorus goes, ‘Count your blessings-name them one by one; Count your blessings-see what God hath done; Count your blessings-name them one by one; Count your many blessings-see what God hath done.’ (2) I’m sure most of us have see God’s blessings in our lives. If we take the time to count them, we will be overwhelmed in all God has done for us. With so many blessings we probably even forgot one or two. God not only blesses us for ourselves, but to share His blessings with others.

What has God blessed you with? What has He and gifted you with that can help present the gospel and be shared with others? The Lord may have blessed you with musical talent. Are you using that talent to the best of your ability to serve Him? The Lord may have blessed you with a brilliant mind in science, are you using it for His glory? You may be blessed with leadership skills, are you a part of an organization or company that can benefit having a Christian working among them. Whatever recognizable talent God has blessed you with can be and should be used for Him.

Some of you may feel you’re a small cog in a big wheel, but that cog is extremely vital. You’re a small piece of the puzzle, but without that piece, the picture is not complete. Take note how God has blessed you and use what he has given you to serve Him and others. School districts need crossing guards and hall monitors, not only science teachers. Churches and concert venues need ushers and set up crews for the service or concert to run smoothly. All organizations and companies need hands-on individuals who support the work through whatever their responsibilities are.

Count your blessings naming them one by one using and sharing them for God’s glory whether in public, your neighborhood, or in the home. They are yours to use or to lose. “So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents.” (Mt.25:28 esv)

(1) Bennett, Arthur. The Valley of Vision. East Peoria: Banner of Truth Trust, 2023. Pg 20, Union with Christ.

(2) Johnson Oatman, Jr.