Authors

The Need for Wisdom

September 1, 2023

A Precious Commodity “I said, I will be wise; but it was far from me” (Ecclesiastes 7:23). — David Rice The value of wisdom is expressed also in Proverbs, “Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding” (Proverbs 4:7). Although Solomon was gifted by God with wisdom, he recognized that this quality could otherwise be challenging to obtain. Wisdom requires experience. As the years pass by, and we reflect on experience in the past, we […]

Life, in Retrospect

September 1, 2023

Lessons of Life “Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth” (Ecclesiastes 12:1). — Joe Megacz In Ecclesiastes chapters ten, eleven, and twelve, Solomon looks back on his life and what lessons the years have taught him. Beginning in chapter ten, Solomon presents his observations, from personal experience, on growing old. Having already declared numerous times that all material gain is vanity, Solomon recognizes that, on the other hand, a person’s reputation for wisdom and honor is a lasting and […]

A Reed Shaken by the Wind

July 1, 2023

John the Baptist “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind?” (Matthew 11:7 ESV). — Jerry Wesol Our Lord Jesus had been preaching and healing the sick, the blind, the lame and raising the dead back to life. During this time, he was visited by disciples of John the Baptist, when he had been imprisoned. They brought a question from John inquiring if Jesus was truly the long‑awaited Messiah, or should they expect another […]

Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount

July 1, 2023

The Spirit of the Law “Return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning; and rend your hearts, not your garments” (Joel 2:12‑13 ESV). — Matt Kerry God wanted Israel to love Him. He wanted them to understand His purposes, the reasons for His laws, and the effect that sacrifices were supposed to have on their hearts. Instead, they viewed God’s laws as a series of traditions, and many persisted in aiming to achieve worldly success. In […]

Parables by the Sea

July 1, 2023

Narratives with Meaning “The words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life” (John 6:63). — John Bivol Not only the apostles and disciples saw the spirit of God in our Lord, but even temple officers remarked, “No one ever spoke like this man!” (John 7:46 ESV). It is difficult to understand why anyone would not follow such a man if invited. The time his disciples spent with him was their greatest experience in life. However, they still […]