Tag Archives: Bible

Walk By Faith

5 As you do not know what is the way of the wind, Or how the bones grow in the womb of her who is with child, So you do not know the works of God who makes everything. 6 In the morning sow your seed, And in the evening do not withhold your hand; For you do not know which will prosper, Either this or that, Or whether both alike will be good.

Ecclesiastes 11:5-6

This wisdom in this Scripture passage is so valuable for Christians. We don’t understand how the Lord works nor will we ever be able to fully comprehend the ways of God in this life. Until we can learn to live with this tension, we will never grow in our faith. If we demand that God explain Himself, we will live lives of confusion, panic, and desperation. It is far better to accept this fact and trust Him by faith.

Solomon uses two examples in these verses. We cannot trace the ways of the wind. We may understand it better in our day. However, the dynamics of wind remain not fully understood, even today.  For instance, why do tornadoes move as they do? Why do tornadoes destroy certain homes but leave others untouched?  We simply don’t know.

We cannot understand fully how babies form in the womb. Certainly, we know much more about the gestation process in our day than they did in Solomon’s time. The mystery of childbirth persists.  While our understanding of the “what” has increased, the underlying reasons—the “why”—remain to be explored. My point is not to give a biology lesson. I only mean to remind us that life is enigmatic and difficult to ascertain.

Paul tells us “we walk by faith and not sight.”  (2 Corinthians 5:7) God doesn’t make us privy to everything He does to grow our faith. Trust Him, Believer!

Tony French

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Unity

The Lord loves unity among His people. His desire is to see His people living in oneness. Christ is glorified as we, His people, relate to one another in unity. Consider these verses:

Psalm 133:1 Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brothers to dwell together in unity!

 John 17:11 “I am no longer in the world; and yet they themselves are in the world, and I come to You. Holy Father, keep them in Your name, the name which You have given Me, that they may be one even as We are.   

John 17:22 “The glory which You have given Me I have given to them, that they may be one, just as We are one;

John 17:23 I in them and You in Me, that they may be perfected in unity, so that the world may know that You sent Me, and loved them, even as You have loved Me.

Ephesians 4:1-3 Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love, being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

Ephesians 4:23 Until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ.

Colossians 3:14 Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity.

May we continue to grow in oneness, unity, and love!

Tony French

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Spiritual Training

Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.

Mark 13:31

The Bible: Preparing The Christian By Strengthening The Christian

Have you ever wondered how to live a life that pleases God? Psalm 119:9 poses this question: “How can a young man cleanse his way?” The answer follows immediately: “By taking heed according to Your word.” The Bible serves as our preparation manual for godly living. It equips us with the knowledge and wisdom we need to navigate life’s challenges and to serve God effectively.

Think of the Bible as a spiritual gym where we exercise our faith muscles. The more we engage with it, the stronger and more prepared we become to face life’s trials and temptations. It shapes us like a potter molds clay, preparing us to be vessels fit for God’s use.

Tony French

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Loved

You are loved! You are loved more than you can ever know.

The Bible tells us how much we are loved. God’s Word has revealed the one, true God who loves us in word and deed.

He loves us unconditionally……

Romans 5:8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

He loves us unwaveringly…….

Romans 8:38-39 For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

He loves us sacrificially……

John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

We should never frustrate the love of God by living in willful sin. But, we know that He will forgive us when we call on Him in repentance. (1 John 1:9-10)

We know that it may not always feel like God loves us. But, we also know that His love is not based on feelings. God loves us because He chooses to love us.

Always remember the love God has for you. May this simple truth undergird and encourage you this day, and every day!

Tony French

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Madness

5 There is an evil I have seen under the sun, As an error proceeding from the ruler: 6 Folly is set in great dignity, While the rich sit in a lowly place. 7 I have seen servants on horses, While princes walk on the ground like servants. 8 He who digs a pit will fall into it, And whoever breaks through a wall will be bitten by a serpent. 9 He who quarries stones may be hurt by them, And he who splits wood may be endangered by it. 10 If the ax is dull, And one does not sharpen the edge, Then he must use more strength; But wisdom brings success. 11 A serpent may bite when it is not charmed; The babbler is no different. 12 The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious, But the lips of a fool shall swallow him up; 13 The words of his mouth begin with foolishness, And the end of his talk is raving madness. 14 A fool also multiplies words. No man knows what is to be; Who can tell him what will be after him? 15 The labor of fools wearies them, For they do not even know how to go to the city! 16 Woe to you, O land, when your king is a child, And your princes feast in the morning! 17 Blessed are you, O land, when your king is the son of nobles, And your princes feast at the proper time– For strength and not for drunkenness! 18 Because of laziness the building decays, And through idleness of hands the house leaks. 19 A feast is made for laughter, And wine makes merry; But money answers everything. 20 Do not curse the king, even in your thought; Do not curse the rich, even in your bedroom; For a bird of the air may carry your voice, And a bird in flight may tell the matter. 

Ecclesiastes 10:5-20

The inane madness of this world is seen very readily today just as it was in the days of the King. It is meaningless and insane. Once again, the preacher breaks it down for us to see in plain fashion. Here are some thoughts about the madness of life.

**Solomon begins by telling us that the fool ends up in authority. This is one example of the vanity of life on this earth. Not every leader is a fool. However, some truly are.  It’s illogical, yet undeniably true.

**Though work is good and healthy, it can also be harmful in certain cases. Work doesn’t mean that all our wishes and desires will be fulfilled. Working hard does not guarantee material wealth.

**The foolish receive recognition and fame. Those who seem to be the least worthy of recognition receive fame and fortune. In our day, we have folks who are famous for nothing. They haven’t achieved anything of significance. But somehow, they end up well-known and even adored. 

**At times, rulers are self-seeking and foolish. This thought should not surprise us. Solomon has made this point several times already in the book of Ecclesiastes.

**Laziness can also lead to disaster. Some give in to laziness and fail to take care of God’s blessings. The results of this folly can be devastating not just for the slothful one but also for his/her family. God has blessed us with much and we ought to take care of it.

**Finally, Solomon teaches us that our words can be used against us. I would imagine that has happened to you. To be fair, sometimes we use our words to tear down and destroy and that is wrong. At times, language intended for positive purposes may be misused, resulting in misinformation or misrepresentation.

Tony French

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Persuasive Force

 16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the servant of Godmay be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

2 Timothy 3:16-17

The Bible is the persuasive force for salvation and growth in the life of a Believer. Maturity and growth occur through the study and application of God’s Word. The Scriptures promote maturity, joy, and peace for the Christian. 

The Bible isn’t just a moral guidebook; it’s a powerful tool that God uses to draw us to Himself. Through its pages, we discover the grand narrative of creation, fall, and redemption. We learn about our own sinful nature and our desperate need for a Savior. But we also encounter the incredible news of God’s love and grace, manifested in the person of Jesus Christ.

Romans 10:17 reminds us that “faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.” It’s through Scripture that we’re persuaded of our need for salvation and led to put our trust in Christ. But the Bible’s persuasive power doesn’t stop at salvation – it continues to work in our lives, urging us towards spiritual maturity and deeper devotion to God.

Tony French

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Careful Living

1 Dead flies putrefy the perfumer’s ointment, And cause it to give off a foul odor; So does a little folly to one respected for wisdom and honor. 2 A wise man’s heart is at his right hand, But a fool’s heart at his left. 3 Even when a fool walks along the way, He lacks wisdom, And he shows everyone that he is a fool. 4 If the spirit of the ruler rises against you, Do not leave your post; For conciliation pacifies great offenses.

Ecclesiastes 10:1-4

Solomon concludes the book of Ecclesiastes with application for the hearer. The last three chapters give instructions on how we are to live in the meaninglessness of life. It is advisable to give this matter careful consideration at this stage.

The writer commences with a warning against folly. Folly could be thought of as mindless pursuits that lead to nowhere. Folly doesn’t have to be sinful (though at times it includes sinful acts.) Even good things when done in mindless, non-thoughtful manner can be considered folly.

The preacher is making a point. Life is short and we need to be live carefully and thoughtfully. Recreation and fun have its place in our lives. But, when we are totally given over to these things they become our idols. We can lose God’s blessing and opportunities for growth when our time is occupied with folly.  Therefore, we need to avoid folly and use our time wisely.

Tony French

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Purify

19 We also have the prophetic message as something completely reliable, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. 20 Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation of things. 21 For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.

2 Peter 1:19-21

In a world filled with distractions and conflicting voices, there’s one source of truth that stands the test of time – the Bible. This sacred text isn’t just a collection of ancient stories; it’s a living, breathing guide that has the power to shape our lives in profound ways. Today, let’s explore the transformative power of Scripture and how it can impact our daily walk with God.

The Bible: Our Spiritual Purifier

Imagine a filter that can cleanse not just water, but our very thoughts and actions. That’s precisely what the Word of God does for us. As we immerse ourselves in Scripture, it begins to purify our hearts and minds, gradually molding us to be more like Jesus. This transformation isn’t always visible to the naked eye, but over time, it becomes evident in the way we think, speak, and act.

Psalm 119:2-3 beautifully captures this truth: “Blessed are those who keep his testimonies, who seek him with the whole heart. They also do no iniquity; they walk in his ways.” The more we engage with God’s Word, the more it cleanses us from within, helping us to resist sin and walk in God’s ways.

Tony French

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Sword Of The Spirit

17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; 

Ephesians 6:17

Let us take up the Word of God which is the sword of the Spirit. The Bible, God’s Holy Word, is our help and strength as we study it and apply it to our lives. Without it, we are left to wander and follow our own devices.

4 Facts About the Bible

**The Bible is God’s Truthful Word

**The Bible is God’s Total Word

**The Bible is God’s Timely Word

**The Bible is God’s Transforming Word

As Christians and as churches, let us not seek mere tradition, the past, or “that’s what we used to do” as our guiding light. Let us look to the light of God’s Word as He leads us into the future. Wield the Sword of the Spirit, Child of God. Take it up and fight against the schemes of the evil one.

Tony French

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Obey

 “If you love Me, keep My commandments.

John 14:15

As Jesus’ teaches in Scripture, He calls for a response. His teaching has authority and power. It cannot be ignored. The hearer will either reject Christ’s teaching or follow Christ and be changed. There is no middle ground.

The same is true of us. We have a choice to make when confronted with the truth of God’s Word. We will obey it or we will forsake it. Jesus gives a helpful, practical principle to drive home His point in this verse of the Bible.

What will you do with Jesus’ message? Will you appropriate it and obey it? Or will you reject the Word of the Savior?

Tony French

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