“Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear.” Ephesians 4:29 Words are powerful! The Bible speaks often about the tongue. At West Main, we’ve studied the sins of the tongue, and one thing is clear: controlling our speech is an expectation from God. James reminds us: “If anyone thinks himself to be religious, and yet does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this man’s religion is worthless.” James 1:26 One sin of the tongue is gossip. The Scriptures give repeated warnings: “He who goes about as a talebearer reveals secrets, but he who is trustworthy conceals a matter.” Proverbs 11:13 Gossip destroys trust, ruins reputations, and tears down relationships. Brothers and sisters in the first century were warned: “But refuse to put younger widows on the list, for when they feel sensual desires in disregard of Christ, they want to get married, thus incurring condemnation, because they have set aside their previous pledge. At the same time they also learn to be idle, as they go around from house to house; and not merely idle, but also gossips and busybodies, talking about things not proper to mention…” 1 Timothy 5:11–13 What Is Gossip? Definitions help us see it clearly: “A statement in general circulation without confirmation or certainty of facts.” ( Dictionary.com ) “Rumor or talk of a personal, sensational, or intimate nature. A person who habitually spreads intimate or private rumors or facts.” (American Heritage Dictionary) The Bible goes even deeper. In 1 Timothy 5:13 , translations use words like “gossips,” “tattlers,” or “talking foolishly.” These women were over-interested in the affairs of others, spreading things “not proper to mention.” In 1 Timothy 3:11 , Paul warns against “malicious gossips” or slanderers. The Greek word is diabolos—often translated as “Devil.” Gossip reflects Satan’s work as the adversary and accuser. It involves hostile intent (cf. 2 Timothy 3:3; Titus 2:3). Gossip is ungodly and must be avoided. How Do I Know If I’m Gossiping? James urges us to be “quick to hear, slow to speak” (James 1:19). That alone would prevent much gossip. But we can also ask ourselves: Should I be sharing this? (Proverbs 11:13) What is my purpose for sharing this? (3 John 9–11) If the purpose is not to build up or bring grace, then it doesn’t belong on our lips. The Damage of Gossip We know the dangers, but let’s be reminded: It shows a lack of spiritual maturity and hinders others. It breeds distrust and suspicion. It destroys friendships (Proverbs 17:9). It damages our influence (Colossians 4:5–6). It fails to follow the example of Jesus (Ephesians 4:29–5:2). A Better Way Instead of gossip, let’s speak words that build up, encourage, and give grace. Let us be hearers and doers of the Word. Let us choose trustworthiness over talebearing. The devil thrives on gossip. God calls us to something better. Let’s avoid gossip at all costs.

In Luke 17:7–10 , Jesus tells His disciples a parable that doesn’t often get the same attention as some of His other stories. But it’s a powerful reminder about humility, faithfulness, and our place in God’s kingdom. The Setting Unlike many parables aimed at the Pharisees or other critics, this one is spoken to Jesus’ disciples—men who were eager to learn from Him. At the start of Luke 17 , Jesus warns them about temptation and the seriousness of causing others to stumble. Then, in verse 5 , the apostles say to Him: “Increase our faith!” Jesus responds first with the image of a mustard seed—tiny, yet capable of producing something great. Faith doesn’t have to start big to accomplish great things, but it must grow. And then, instead of promising to “increase their faith” for them, Jesus tells a story about a servant and his master. The Parable “Will any one of you who has a servant plowing or keeping sheep say to him when he has come in from the field,‘Come at once and recline at table’? Will he not rather say to him, ‘Prepare supper for me, and dress properly, and serve me while I eat and drink,and afterward you will eat and drink’? Does he thank the servant because he did what was commanded? So you also, when you have done all that you were commanded, say,‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty.’” ( Luke 17:7–10 ) Servants and Their Master In the parable: The master represents God. The servant represents Christians—in this immediate context, the apostles themselves. The servant’s obligation is simple: fulfill the master’s will before tending to his own needs. The master’s priorities come first. That’s the natural, expected relationship between a servant and a master. In the same way, God’s will must come before our own. We may care for our needs, but always within the boundaries and timing He sets. God as the Perfect Master In Jesus’ illustration, a good master makes his expectations clear and provides for his servants so they can succeed. God does this perfectly. Clear instructions: We have His word—an entire book laying out His will for our lives. He’s not vague about what He expects. Provision: God gives what we need to accomplish His work. He equips us for service and promises to care for us. Following His will benefits us, too. God’s ways lead to stronger relationships, wiser decisions, and better stewardship of life’s resources. Sin complicates and destroys; obedience builds and blesses. No “Thank You” Expected This is the part that can sound harsh: the master doesn’t say “thank you” to the servant for doing his job. Why? Because it’s the servant’s duty. The servant already receives the agreed-upon provision—food, clothing, shelter. Similarly, God doesn’t owe us gratitude for doing His will. Serving Him is our obligation. In our daily jobs, we don’t expect our boss to throw a party every time we complete an assignment. We simply do what we were hired to do and receive our wages. “Unworthy Servants” Jesus tells us to view ourselves as “unworthy” (or “unprofitable”) servants. That doesn’t mean our work is meaningless—it means our service doesn’t put God in our debt. We don’t “add value” to Him in the sense of increasing His worth. God is perfect and self-sufficient. But He chooses to let our work add value to His kingdom . That’s an incredible privilege—but it’s still not about us. It’s about Him. We don’t work to shine a light on ourselves, to earn salvation, or to make ourselves “worthy.” We work because it’s what we ought to do. The Heart of the Lesson This parable is about humility and perspective: Serving God is our duty —not a favor we’re doing for Him. Obedience doesn’t earn extra credit —we’re simply doing what’s expected. The reward is by God’s grace —not because we deserve it. The apostles asked Jesus to increase their faith. His answer? You grow it yourself—like a mustard seed—through steady, humble service. Work hard, be faithful, and remember: you’re serving the Master, not working for applause. For Us Today It’s tempting to want recognition for what we do in the kingdom. But Jesus says that’s not the point. God already promised the greatest possible reward—eternal life with Him—not because we earned it, but because He loves us. Our role is clear:Serve faithfully. Put His will first. Do the work not for praise, but because it’s what we ought to do. And at the end of the day, when we’ve done everything commanded of us, our response should be: “We are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty.”

A while ago, I wrote a bulletin article on retaining more of what we read in the Bible, and I was encouraged by the positive feedback. God’s word must always be a priority for His people. He has given us His word so we can both read it and understand it. Paul said in Ephesians 3:3-5 :“…That by revelation there was made known to me the mystery, as I wrote before in brief. By referring to this, when you read you can understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, which in other generations was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed to His holy apostles and prophets in the Spirit…” Notice three truths: Paul received revelation from God. He wrote it down. He wrote it so others (including us) could read and understand. From Genesis to Revelation, God has given us His words so that we might know Him. Yes, some passages are challenging—Peter himself admitted that some of Paul’s writings were “hard to understand” ( 2 Peter 3:16 ). But that shouldn’t discourage us. The Bible is a lifetime study, and God’s word is “living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword” ( Hebrews 4:12 ). Like many of you, I’ve struggled at times with consistency in daily Bible reading. Recently, however, I began something new with two brothers: a group we call “Arise and Build” (from Nehemiah’s work in rebuilding Jerusalem’s wall, Nehemiah 6:15 ). We committed to a 52-Day Challenge where we meet daily for Bible reading and prayer. Here’s how we’ve approached it: The first time through Nehemiah (13 chapters), we simply read a chapter each day and discussed what we learned. The second time, we each prepared a brief outline of every chapter and compared notes. We also asked, “What’s one word that describes this chapter?” to help retain what we read. The third time, we’ll expand our outlines with more details. The fourth time, we plan to use colored pencils to mark themes—locations, people, prayers, sins, and more—so the text locks deeper into our memory. It’s not fast, but it’s effective. Slow and steady builds lasting understanding. By the end, we’ll each have a thorough outline of Nehemiah—and more importantly, we’ll have saturated our minds with God’s word. If you’ve struggled with Bible reading, consider studying with someone else. When our 52 days are up, we plan to start again and invite others to join. If 13 chapters feels overwhelming, try something smaller. Read Jude or 3 John (just one chapter) every day for a week. Or meditate on 10 verses at a time. The key is simple: Arise and Build. Take the step. Be intentional. Open God’s word again and again. As Paul wrote: “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ” ( Romans 10:17 ).

In Luke 7:36–50 , Jesus tells a short but powerful parable in the middle of an unexpected dinner party moment. It’s a story that challenges the way we think about sin, forgiveness, and love for God. And it starts with a Pharisee named Simon. The Setting Simon invites Jesus to eat at his home. We’re not told his motives — maybe they were genuine, maybe not — but like most encounters with Jesus, the evening doesn’t go as planned. While they’re reclining at the table, a woman from the city comes in, bringing an alabaster jar of perfume. She begins to weep, washing Jesus’ feet with her tears, wiping them with her hair, kissing them, and anointing them with the perfume. To us, that might feel unusual. But in their culture, this was a sign of deep respect and honor — the kind of welcome a host should have provided for a guest. She took it upon herself to do it for Jesus. Simon, however, isn’t impressed. Thinking to himself, he says, “If this man were a prophet, he would have known who and what sort of woman this is… that she is a sinner.” He doesn’t say it aloud, but Jesus answers anyway. The Parable Jesus tells him: “A certain moneylender had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty.When they could not pay, he cancelled the debt of both. Now which of them will love him more?”( Luke 7:41–42 ) Simon answers, “The one, I suppose, for whom he cancelled the larger debt.” Jesus says, “You have judged rightly.” The Meaning In the parable: The moneylender represents God, the one who forgives. The debt represents sin — something we cannot repay. The two debtors represent people who see themselves as very sinful (500 denarii) and less sinful (50 denarii). The Pharisee’s mistake — and ours at times — is thinking that the “amount” of sin changes our standing before God. We put sins on a scale: “That lie wasn’t so bad.” “At least I’m not like them.” Or the opposite: “I’ve sinned too much for God to forgive me.” But Jesus is making it clear: Sin is sin. All of it separates us from God. A “50 denarii sinner” and a “500 denarii sinner” are both hopeless without God’s forgiveness. Romans 3:23 says, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” There are no degrees of separation — only separation. What Both Debtors Had in Common Both were in debt.Both were unable to pay.Both were completely dependent on the moneylender’s mercy. The same is true for us. Whether we grew up in church or spent years running from God, we’re all in the same spiritual position apart from Christ — unable to repay what we owe. Why the Perception Matters Jesus applies the story directly to Simon. The woman washing His feet knew she needed forgiveness — and that awareness overflowed into love and gratitude. Simon, on the other hand, seemed to think he didn’t need much forgiveness at all. In his eyes, her sins were great and his were small. But his self-righteousness blinded him to his own debt. That’s the danger. When we forget how much we’ve been forgiven, our love for Jesus shrinks. We stop bowing at His feet. We stop pouring out our gratitude. We stop serving with joy. The Takeaway for Us Recognize Your Debt – No matter your past, you’ve been forgiven more than you can repay. Don’t minimize that truth. Stop Comparing – Other people’s sins don’t make yours less serious. Forgiveness is not about who was “worse” — it’s about who has been made whole in Christ. Let Forgiveness Fuel Love – The more we understand what we’ve been saved from, the more we’ll love and serve the One who saved us. Jesus ends by telling the woman, “Your sins are forgiven… your faith has saved you; go in peace.” That’s the invitation to all of us. Whether we see ourselves as a “50 denarii” or “500 denarii” debtor, the truth is the same: we were bankrupt without Him. And because He’s paid our debt in full, we can live in peace — and love Him with all we are.

I talked to someone on the phone a while back and they asked me, “Will I speak in tongues after I’m saved?” The short answer is “No!” The long answer is “No!” Why is it that some believe that they will speak in tongues after they are saved or think that they have to. The reason is due to false teaching. What was speaking in tongues? Tongues were languages. In Acts 2:4 it describes how the apostles began to speak with other tongues. Jews from every nation were in Jerusalem and every man heard them speak in his own language, Acts 2:5-6 .  See also Acts 2:7-13 . The apostles did not jabber with disconnected syllables coming from the mouth; they spoke languages, languages that could be understood, languages that men from the various provinces had learned. Biblically, speaking in tongues was the miracle of speaking in a language that had not been learned by the speaker. The gibberish and unintelligible sounds that some today call speaking in tongues is not like that found in the Bible. Tongues were a sign to the unbeliever, 1 Corinthians 14:22 . This gift was used in Acts 2 to convince unbelievers of the truth spoken by the apostles, Acts 2:12, 33 . In Acts 10:44-48 when Cornelius and his household began to speak in tongues, it was a sign to Peter and the Jewish brethren that (Gentiles) could be saved and a part of God’s kingdom. While it is true that tongues could be used to teach the gospel to those who did not understand the common tongue (Greek), that does not seem to be its primary use. It was used as a sign to cause unbelievers to believe, Mark 16:17-20 . In no place were tongues used as a sign that one is saved or that he is "close to God."   Tongues was a less desirable gift than prophecy, 1 Corinthians 14:5 . In an assembly where the language spoken was unknown, unless interpretation was given, the hearers were not edified by the gift of tongues, 1 Corinthians 14:5, 27-32 . Read 1 Corinthians 14:18-19 .  Paul used tongues outside the assembly. Tongues has limited use in the assembly. What would happen if an unbeliever came into an assembly where languages were spoken that the unbeliever didn't know and no interpreter was present?  They would think the Christians were crazy, 1 Corinthians 14:22-24 .  Tongues could be controlled by the speaker, 1 Corinthians 14:26-40 . All things must be done unto edification, 1 Corinthians 14:26, 40 . Only two, or at the most three, could speak in an assembly, 1 Corinthians 14:27 . If no interpreter was present, he must keep silent, 1 Corinthians 14:28 . Like the tongue speakers, the spirits of the prophets were subject to the prophets, 1 Corinthians 14:32 , indicating the gifts could be controlled. More could be said with respect to speaking in tongues. Speaking in tongues does not determine if one is saved or not. Rather, following the words of Jesus and His apostles do, Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38 . Some want people to think that if you speak in tongues, it shows how close you really are to God. That’s false! One has fellowship with the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirt when one believes and obeys the gospel! Not every Christian in the first century had the ability to speak in tongues. It didn’t make their relationship with God any less valuable or less important than those who could speak in tongues. So, how are claims of speaking in tongues explained today?           An emotional experience.  It is often necessary for those who speak in tongues to be whipped into an emotional frenzy in order to produce their phenomena. Many people think they need a sign that God has accepted them.  They have been taught that tongues is such a sign. If they have tongues, it means they are close to God and are spiritual people. They do not, however, speak actual languages by the Spirit of God. A learned experience.  People often mimic what they believe others are doing. The following questions may be asked of those who claim to speak in tongues by the Holy Spirit. Do you speak a language known to others in the world?  Acts 2:6, 8, 11 . Are your tongues used as a sign to unbelievers?  1 Corinthians 14:22 . Do several speak in tongues at once in your assemblies?  1 Corinthians 14:27 . Do your people speak in tongues only with an interpreter?  1 Corinthians 14:28 . Are your assemblies conducted in an orderly fashion?  1 Corinthians 14:40 . When one obeys the gospel, they are forgiven of their sins, Acts 2:38 . That’s reason to rejoice and to know you have fellowship with God.

In Matthew 21:28–32 , Jesus tells a short parable with a big punch. It’s directed straight at the chief priests and elders in the temple—religious leaders who were challenging His authority. They had just tried to trap Him with a question: “By what authority are you doing these things, and who gave you this authority?” Instead of answering directly, Jesus countered with His own question about John the Baptist’s ministry. Realizing that any answer would make them look bad—either to Jesus or the people—they opted for the safe, noncommittal answer: “We don’t know.” Jesus refused to answer them… but He didn’t stop talking. Instead, He said, “But what do you think?” and launched into this parable. The Parable A man had two sons. He told the first, “Go and work in the vineyard today.” The son said, “I will not,” but later changed his mind and went.The man told the second son the same thing. This son replied, “I go, sir,” but never actually went. Jesus’ question to the religious leaders was simple: “Which of the two did the will of his father?” They answered, “The first.” And they were right. Then came the sting: Jesus told them that tax collectors and prostitutes would enter the kingdom of God before them—because those sinners, like the first son, had once rejected God but later repented and obeyed. The religious leaders, like the second son, said the right words but refused to actually do what God commanded. What’s the Lesson for Us? 1. God Has Called Us to Work In the parable, the father sends his sons to work in his vineyard. Spiritually, God has called His people to work for His kingdom—not just in the “church building,” but in the world. That means sowing the seed of the gospel, serving others, and making disciples. John 9:4 reminds us, “We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming, when no one can work.” There’s an urgency to the work—our time is limited. 2. It’s Not About Where You Start The first son started wrong—saying “no” to his father’s request—but he turned around and obeyed. The second son started with the right words, but never followed through. Jesus’ point is clear: it’s not your starting point that matters; it’s where you finish. Repentance and obedience matter more than a history of religious appearances. 3. Saying It Isn’t Doing It The second son is the perfect picture of empty religion—saying the right things, wearing the right labels, showing up in the right places, but not actually doing the Father’s will. Sadly, this happens today. Some claim Christianity as a cultural identity but don’t live it out. Others attend worship faithfully but never engage in the work of the kingdom. Jesus says, “That’s not going to happen.” Calling yourself a Christian without obeying Christ is like promising to work and then walking away. 4. Our Words Are Commitments When we became Christians, we made a vow—publicly declaring that Jesus is Lord. Ecclesiastes 5:4–5 warns: “When you vow a vow to God, do not delay paying it, for he has no pleasure in fools. Pay what you vow.It is better that you should not vow than that you should vow and not pay.” God takes commitment seriously. Better not to promise at all than to promise and not follow through. A Self-Check If following Jesus feels “easy,” it might be time to examine whether we’re actually working in His vineyard. Jesus said following Him means taking up a cross, facing opposition, and sacrificing for the sake of the gospel. So ask yourself: Am I actively doing the Father’s will, or just saying I will? Do my actions match my confession? Am I serving in the kingdom with urgency and purpose? The Bottom Line The Father is still asking His children to go and work in His vineyard. The question is not, “Will you say yes?” but “Will you actually go?” It’s not our talk, reputation, or religious appearance that pleases God—it’s our obedience. And just like in Jesus’ day, the reward goes to the one who actually does what the Father says.

Is It A Sin To Be Cremated? No! There is no scriptural evidence that one sins if they decide to be cremated. There is no scriptural evidence if a family decides to have a loved one cremated, that they have committed sin. A person may have a preference with what they want to happen after they die. That is a personal decision one has to make considering a number of factors including cost and location. However, one’s soul is not in danger of being condemned if they decide to be cremated.   Let’s see what we can learn about death, the body, and cremation from the scriptures. The Bible teaches that it is appointed for men once to die according to Hebrews 9:27 . Unless we are alive when the Lord returns, we will all experience death. Therefore, one should be concerned about their soul salvation. We learn from the book of Genesis that man was created from the dust of the ground, Genesis 2:7 . The Bible says, “Then the LORD God formed man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.” The Bible also teaches in Ecclesiastes 12:7 that “…Then the dust will return to the earth as it was, and the spirit will return to God who gave it…” When we die, our bodies whether in a casket or through a cremation process will return to dust. We do have plenty of examples of individuals who were buried in scripture. Genesis 25:19-20 : “After this, Abraham buried Sarah his wife in the cave of the field at Machpelah facing Mamre (that is, Hebron) in the land of Canaan. So the field and the cave that is in it, were deeded over to Abraham for a burial site by the sons of Heth.” In Genesis 49:29 , Jacob said, “Then he charged them and said to them, ‘I am about to be gathered to my people; bury me with my fathers in the cave that is in the field of Ephron the Hittite…” We have a unique example of King Saul and what happened to his body after he died in 1 Samuel 31:11-13 and in 1 Chronicles 10:11-12 . After the death of Saul and his sons, the Philistines found them, striped them, cut off Saul’s head and “…Sent them throughout the land of the Philistines, to carry the good news to the house of their idols and to the people. They put his weapons in the temple of Ashtaroth, and they fastened his body to the wall of Beth-shan. Now when the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead heard what the Philistines had done to Saul, all the valiant men rose and walked all night, and took the body of Saul and the bodies of his sons from the wall of Beth-shan, and they came to Jabesh and burned them there. They took their bones and buried them under the tamarisk tree at Jabesh, and fasted seven days.” We find in Joshua 7:25 how Achan along with his family were stoned and then their bodies were burned. This was a result of sinful conduct Achan engaged in. In 2 Kings 23:16-20 , we find King Josiah burned the bones of pagan priests on their altars according to the word of the LORD. In Amos 2:1 it says, “Thus says the LORD, For three transgressions of Moab and for four I will not revoke its punishment, Because he burned the bones of the king of Edom to lime.” A couple of thoughts to observe. 1.        The burning of bodies and bodies was often in unique situations of judgment and dishonor. 2.        The typical practice for Israelites, was a burial in a tomb or grave. In Conclusion: One day we will die. Some have died in the ocean and were never able to have a proper burial. Others have died in fires and all that remained may have been their bones. Others have died in horrific accidents where there are virtually no remains to bury or even to cremate. What will happen to them? When the Lord returns, all will rise according to John 5:28-29 . “Do not marvel at this; for an hour is coming, in which all who are in the tombs will hear his voice, and will come forth; those who did the good deeds to a resurrection of life, those who committed the evil deeds to a resurrection of judgment.” No matter what happens to these physical bodies, we all stand before God, we will all rise from the dead and spend eternity either in heaven or in hell. It is a personal decision whether one decides to be buried or cremated.

One of the biggest evangelism fears Christians have is this: “What if I say the wrong thing?” Or worse— “What if I fail?” But Jesus told a parable that speaks directly to that fear. It’s often overlooked, found only in Mark 4:26–29, and sometimes called The Parable of the Seed Growing Itself . And it reminds us of something freeing and powerful: The growth of the gospel is not your job. Your job is to sow the seed. The Parable in Context This short parable comes right after the well-known Parable of the Sower. In that one, Jesus teaches us about how different hearts receive the word—some reject it, some accept it for a time, and others grow deep and bear fruit. This second parable continues the same theme but shifts the focus. Now, Jesus emphasizes what happens after the seed is planted. Here’s the parable, from Mark 4:26–29 (ESV): “The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground. He sleeps and rises night and day, and the seed sprouts and grows; he knows not how. The earth produces by itself, first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear. But when the grain is ripe, at once he puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come. ” What’s the Point? This farmer does his part—he scatters the seed. But once it’s in the ground, he goes on with life. He sleeps. He wakes. The seed grows—but not because of anything he does . In fact, Jesus says, “he knows not how.” The message is clear: the power is in the seed , not in the sower. The seed in this parable represents the word of God (just as it did in the previous parable). The sower is anyone who shares that word. And once the seed is sown—once the message is spoken or taught— its growth doesn’t depend on the skill or cleverness of the speaker . It’s easy to feel pressure when sharing the gospel. We worry about saying everything perfectly or knowing every answer. But this parable reminds us that God never asked us to cause the growth. That’s His part. Our job is simply to sow the seed —to share the message. We Don’t Control the Growth Jesus says, “The earth produces by itself.” The phrase in Greek is automatos —meaning the growth happens automatically, on its own. That doesn’t mean we’re careless or indifferent. Good sowers can still water the soil, tend to it -- i.e. answer questions, and encourage hearts. But at the end of the day, no one becomes a Christian because we made them . They become one because they heard the word, received it, and let it grow. You don’t have to dig up the seed to check on it. You don’t need to crack it open to speed things up. You don’t stretch the stalk to make it taller. You let it grow all on it's own. That takes patience . Sometimes the response takes days, weeks, or even years. But when the seed is planted in a good heart— “first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear.” Growth takes time. The Harvest Will Come Eventually, Jesus says, the harvest comes. Some think this refers to judgment—and it may be. But more broadly, it’s the point at which the results are revealed. It’s the moment when the fruit shows whether or not the sowing was successful. And here’s the key: the sower is still not the one producing the fruit. He’s just the one who planted the seed and waited. So What Does This Mean for Us? It means we don’t need to fear sharing the gospel . We don’t need to wait until we know everything. We don’t need to stress about having just the right words. We just need to faithfully sow the word of God and trust that His power will do the growing . The seed is powerful.The word is living and active.And the soil—the heart of the hearer—is where the growth happens. So don’t be afraid to speak up. Don’t let fear of failure keep you silent. Sow the seed. And then—like the sower—go to bed. Go about your day. Trust God to do what He promised. The gospel works. God gives the growth. And your part is simply to plant.

This blog post idea came after one of our most recent Wednesday night Bible classes. We’ve had a number of brethren teach from the Proverbs. We studied Proverbs 6:16-19 where it says, “There are six things which the LORD hates, Yes, seven which are an abomination to Him: Haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that run rapidly to evil, a false witness who utters lies, and one who spreads strife among brothers.” The question that was raised to me after class was, “God hates the shedding of innocent blood, but what about the firstborns who died in the days of Egypt?” In Exodus 11 , it says, “Thus says the LORD, about midnight I am going out into the midst of Egypt, and all the firstborn in the land of Egypt shall die, from the firstborn of the Pharaoh who sits on the throne, even to the firstborn of the slave girl who is behind the millstones; all the firstborn of the cattle as well… Exodus 11:4-5 Is this a contradiction? This is a question that can make people pause, especially those who may not be familiar with the context, character, and sovereignty of God. Let’s take a closer look. 1. God Can Do As He Pleases “Whatever the Lord pleases, He does, in heaven and in earth, in the seas and in all deeps.” – Psalm 135:6 God is not limited by human standards or subject to human judgment. He is the Creator, and as such, He has full authority over all creation. He is perfectly just, perfectly holy, and perfectly good in all His ways. His actions are not up for debate—they are righteous by nature. 2. God Is the Potter—We Are the Clay “But now, O Lord, You are our Father, we are the clay, and You our potter; and all of us are the work of Your hand.” – Isaiah 64:8 “Know that the LORD Himself is God; It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.” – Psalm 100:3 “Worthy are You, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and because of Your will they existed, and were created.” Revelation 4:11 Who are we to challenge the Potter? This isn’t an excuse to avoid tough questions, but it’s a necessary posture of humility when approaching divine matters. The clay doesn’t question the hands shaping it. 3. God Was Extremely Patient First The death of the firstborn was not the first plague—it was the tenth. God had shown plague after plague in mercy, power, and warning. Pharaoh’s heart remained hard. The people refused to repent. Their nation worshiped false gods, oppressed God’s people, and had countless opportunities to turn back. God’s judgment wasn’t rushed—it was restrained until the appointed time. 4. The Sins of One Can Negatively Affect Many We don’t always like this truth, but it is seen all throughout Scripture. Think of Achan in Joshua 7:21-26 —one man’s sin brought defeat upon the entire camp and his family. Likewise, Pharaoh’s stubbornness and rebellion brought devastating consequences upon his own people. Yes, sometimes the innocent suffers because of the sins of others. This is why leadership matters. This is why repentance matters. This is why obedience matters. 5. Were the Firstborn Babies? Not Necessarily When we read “firstborn,” many imagine infants or toddlers. That could be the case at times. But they could have been a teen, adult, or elder. The assumption that these were all babies is not supported by the text. We must be careful not to inject our own emotional images into the account without scriptural backing. 6. And Even If Some Were Young… This may be difficult to consider, but even if some were babies or young children, God is still just. He knows what’s ahead. In a nation so steeped in idolatry and rebellion, being removed early could even be seen—through a divine lens—as an act of mercy. This could also be said about the young who died in the days of the world-wide flood. This doesn’t sit well with modern ears. But God sees the beginning from the end. He knows the future paths of every soul. 7. God’s Ways Are Always Pure “The words of the Lord are pure words…” – Psalm 12:6 “The Lord is righteous in all His ways and kind in all His deeds.” – Psalm 145:17 God is not like man. His judgments are never out of cruelty, spite, or vengeance as we know it. His ways are always driven by truth, holiness, and justice. That includes the judgment on Egypt’s firstborn. 8. His Thoughts Are Not Our Thoughts “'For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,' declares the Lord." – Isaiah 55:8 We must remember that God sees from eternity. He sees the full story. We only see a page. When we wrestle with hard things in scripture, it’s okay to ask questions—but we must also trust His character.

In my post two weeks ago , we looked at what it means to be a peacemaker. As children of God, we are called to reflect the character of our Father—and He is a God of peace. But if we’re honest, peacemaking isn’t always simple. Sometimes, standing for truth seems to put us in direct conflict with the very peace we’re trying to pursue. So how do we live as peacemakers without compromising the truth? Jesus Didn’t Always Bring Peace Jesus Himself tells us something surprising in Matthew 10:34–36 (ESV) : “Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. And a person's enemies will be those of his own household.” That sounds like the opposite of being a peacemaker. But Jesus isn’t contradicting Himself. In fact, this tension is the very reality He wants us to understand: truth sometimes causes division , even when our spirit is peaceful. Jesus is the ultimate peacemaker, yet He also brought a message that divided families, communities, and even nations. Why? Because the truth exposes sin, demands change, and confronts false beliefs. Not everyone welcomes that. We’re Still Called to Be Peacemakers Romans 12:18 (ESV) gives us a balanced approach: “If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.” We can’t control how others respond to the truth. But we can control our tone, our motives, and our love. Peacemaking doesn’t mean peace at all costs . It means doing everything we can to pursue peace—without compromising righteousness. When we stand for truth, we might still be hated. That’s not failure. Jesus prepared us for this in John 15:18–19 (ESV) : “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.” Truth will often cost us something. But that doesn’t mean we abandon our peacemaking spirit. You can't always blame the gospel. There’s an important distinction we have to make. Just because someone doesn’t like us or receive our words well, doesn’t automatically mean we’re being persecuted for righteousness. Sometimes, people reject the gospel. But sometimes, people reject us because we delivered it poorly. As Jefferson Bethke put it in his book, “Sometimes people will hate us because we preach the same gospel Jesus preached, and sometimes people will hate us because we’re jerks. Let’s be careful not to do the second one and blame it on the first.” Just because we are speaking truth, it doesnt give us the right to be rude or to deliver the message in a way that is unnecessarily harsh with people. Our message being right does not justify us being rude to people. We need to check our hearts and ensure that we arent the problem. Are we sharing truth with gentleness and respect? Or with pride and self-righteousness? Being a Peacemaker Doesn’t Always Result in Peace Peacemaking and peacekeeping are not the same. Peacekeeping avoids conflict. Peacemaking steps into conflict with the goal of reconciliation. Romans 12:18 says, “if possible.” That phrase tells us something: peace isn’t always possible . You may reach out, forgive, explain your convictions lovingly—and still be rejected. That’s not on you. What matters is that you made the effort. That you loved sincerely. That you didn’t wait for the other person to come to you. That you took the first step. Truth First, but Always with Love Ephesians 4:15 (ESV) gives us the model: “Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ.” Truth and love are not enemies. In fact, truth without love isn’t really truth —and love without truth isn’t really love. Peacemaking means holding both. It means caring enough to speak up, but also caring enough to listen, to weep, and to forgive. Final Thoughts Yes, we are peacemakers. That calling never goes away. But peacemaking doesn’t mean compromising the truth to avoid uncomfortable conversations or strained relationships. Jesus didn’t do that. The apostles didn’t do that. And neither can we. But even when truth creates conflict, we never stop loving , never stop hoping, and never stop trying to build bridges. We are people of truth—but we carry that truth in a spirit of peace. As Jesus said in the Beatitudes: “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.” ( Matthew 5:9 , ESV)

My freshmen year at the University of Illinois I had a lot of questions. Questions like… a.    “Why am I almost failing Geology 117?” b.    “Why does the guy in the room next to mine eat so many Burger King Whoopers?” c.    “How can I get that girl to be interested in me?” d.    “Why does the Bible I just bought have 80 books in it?” My freshmen year I took a religious course. I was required to buy the New Oxford Annotated Bible with the Apocrypha for the class. My first question was, “What is the Apocrypha?” I had learned that there are 66 books in the Bible, not 80. How come I had never heard of these books? How many books make up the Bible? Is it 66 or 80? I knew what Paul said in 2 Timothy 3:16 : “All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.” So are these Apocrypha books inspired? Let’s answer that question. Some Facts About The Apocrypha Books. Let’s first understand some facts concerning these books. The word “Apocrypha” means, “Things that are hidden.” This term in antiquity held an honorable significance as well as a derogatory one, depending upon the point of view of those who made use of the word. According to the traditional usage “Apocrypha” has been the designation applied to the 14 books, or portions of books, that are found in Catholic Bibles. These books are the following: (Tobit, Judith, The Additions to the Book of Esther ‘contained in the Greek version of Esther’, Ecclesiasticus or the Wisdom of Jesus son of Sirach, Baruch, The Letter of Jeremiah, The Prayer of Azariah and the Song of the Three Jews, Susanna, Bel and the Dragon, 1 and 2 Maccabees, 1 and 2 Esdras, and The Prayer of Manasseh. Some of these books are historical, novelistic, didactic, devotional, epistolary, and apocalyptic. Depending upon how they are grouped there are either 14 or 15 books. It was the Catholic Church in 1546 A.D. at the Council of Trent that said that these books were “infallibly” pronounced to be part of the Canon (which books are the normative books for Christian faith and inspired). It was stated at this council, “ If anyone, however, should not accept the said books as sacred and canonical, entire with all their parts…and if both knowingly and deliberately he should condemn the aforesaid tradition let him be anathema (forever cursed) (Denzinger, SCD, number 784).” There are some who believe that there’s a strong argument to be made about these books. For example, it’s been said that… There are similarities between them and the New Testament text, 2 Maccabees 7,12. The New Testament quotes, mostly from the Greek Old Testament (LXX), which contained the Apocrypha. Therefore, this gives tacit approval of the whole text, including the Apocrypha. For some, the arguments seem to be solid. So, have we been missing something? Are These Books Inspired? The answer to the question is NO! But why? Consider the following facts. While there may have been allusions to the Apocrypha in the New Testament, there are no clear New Testament quotations from them--not once is there a definite quotation from any apocryphal book. While there are other quotations in the New Testament from outside sources (Acts 17:28) none of these are described as Scripture. The writers simply referred to a truth contained in these writings or statements. While there are no allusions to the Apocrypha as being scripture in the New Testament, that’s not the case with the other books in the Old Testament. Jesus and the other New Testament writers referenced 18 of the 22 Old Testament books, Matthew 19:4-5 ; 1 Corinthians 10:1-2 ; John 3:14 . The fact that the New Testament writers quoted from the Greek Old Testament in no way proves that the Apocryphal books contained in Greek manuscripts of the Old Testament are inspired. It’s not certain if the Greek (LXX) of the first century A.D. contained these books. The earliest Greek manuscripts that included them were in the 4 th Century. Even if they were, Jesus and the apostles never once quoted them although they are supposed to have been included in the very version of the Old Testament (the LXX) that they usually cited. The Jews had a good understanding of what was inspired and what was not, Deuteronomy 17:18 ; Nehemiah 8:1 ; Daniel 9:1-2 ; Jeremiah 26:18 ; Ezekiel 14:14 . They stored them carefully, Deuteronomy 31:26 ; Joshua 24:26 . In current Roman Catholic Bibles (NAB) they reveal that the Apocrypha are “religious books used by both Jews and Christians which were not included in the collection of inspired writings.” Instead, they “were introduced rather late into the collection of the Bible (see St. Joseph Edition of the New American Bible, 413). From a historical standpoint the Jews recognized that there were 22 books (equivalent to our 39) that made up the Hebrew Bible. These books were not recognized as scripture by the Jews, by Jesus Himself, by the apostles, or even by Jewish historians like Josephus. Even first century Christians recognized what was inspired writings, 1 Timothy 5:15-17 . Finally, when you start to read the Apocrypha, one will be able to take away that it’s not to be viewed as inspired. In 1 Maccabees 9:27 it says, “So there was great distress in Israel, such as had not been since the time that prophets ceased to appear among them.” What’s being said there? He’s saying that his words are to be viewed differently than from a prophet. Prophets were God’s spokesmen and were inspired. None of these books claim to have been written by prophets. There are no supernatural confirmations of any of the writers or what they said. There is no predictive prophecy, and in the Jewish community whose books these were, they acknowledged that the prophetic gifts had ceased in Israel (4 th century) before the Apocrypha was written! Case Closed! What is the conclusion to the matter? The Apocrypha books are not inspired books! Conclusion: The 66 books we have are the words of God, 2 Timothy 3:16 . The Spirit has preserved them for us. Therefore, let’s be sure that we know these books. Let’s trust what we have and let’s be confident that we are not missing any of God’s truth. Let’s embrace His truth and live it, John 8:32 . We will be judged by them on the last day, John 12:48-49 .

Peace is not just something God gives. It’s who He is. Scripture repeatedly calls Him the God of peace : Romans 16:20 says, “The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet.” 1 Thessalonians 5:23 prays, “Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely.” Hebrews 13:20 describes Him as “the God of peace, who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant..." God is not passive when it comes to peace—He actively makes peace. And if that’s who He is, it has everything to do with who we’re called to be. How Did God Make Peace? The ultimate act of peacemaking is found in the gospel. Colossians 1:20 tells us that God reconciled all things to Himself, “making peace by the blood of His cross.” And 2 Corinthians 5:19 says, "...in Christ God was reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them.” In simple terms, God sought peace when we chose war . We rebelled, turned our backs on Him, and lived in opposition to His will. But instead of abandoning us, He pursued peace. Through Jesus, He reconciled us. He ended the confrontation between our sinful nature and His perfect, peaceful nature. The entire plan of redemption reaches its climax at the cross—where God made peace between Himself and us, not by ignoring sin, but by paying its price through His Son. That’s not just something God did. It’s who He is. Sons of God Have the Spirit of Peace And if that’s who God is, then His children will reflect that nature. Galatians 4:6 says, “Because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, ‘Abba! Father!’” Romans 8:14 echoes this: “For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.” So how do we become sons of God? John 1:12 says, “To all who received Him, who believed in His name, He gave power to become children of God.” Galatians 3:26 adds, “For in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith.” Being a child of God isn’t about church attendance or spiritual background—it’s about trusting in Christ. But with that identity comes responsibility. If God is a peacemaker and we are His children, then we are called to carry His character. The Spirit He puts in us is a Spirit of peace. And if we are led by that Spirit, we will become peacemakers . Peacemakers Are Called Sons of God That’s why Jesus says in Matthew 5:9 , “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.” Peacemaking doesn’t earn you the title "son of God"—it reveals it. It shows who your Father is. Later in the same chapter, Jesus explains what peacemaking looks like. In verses 43–45 , He says: “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven.” According to Jesus, peacemaking means more than staying out of conflict. It means loving your enemies, praying for your persecutors, and actively working to end hostility. It means following the example of our Father who loved us when we were enemies and brought us near. A Simple Step Toward Peacemaking Jesus gives us one especially practical way to begin: in Matthew 5:47 , He says, “If you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same?” This may seem small, but it’s often where peacemaking starts. Sometimes we go to great lengths to avoid people we don’t like. We might not be rude—we just won’t be nice. We might even justify it by saying, “I’m just keeping the peace.” But avoiding someone isn’t peacemaking—it’s avoiding peacemaking. It keeps the wall in place instead of trying to break it down. God didn’t just give us a nod from a distance—He gave His Son. If we’re His children, we can start with something as small as a hello. As John Piper put it, “Show as much courtesy as the enemy will tolerate.” That small step may not fix everything—but it opens the door to something greater. Final Thoughts If we are children of God, we carry His Spirit. And that Spirit leads us to peace—not just peace with God, but peace with others. It pushes us to reconcile, to forgive, to take the first step, and to love those who don’t love us back. Peacemaking isn’t always easy—but it is a mark of who we belong to. It’s a reflection of our Father. Start small. Start sincerely. Start with a hello.