It is easy to read past II Timothy 2:24, “the Lord’s bondservant must not be quarrelsome, but kind to all”, and not think much of it other than that it is a very general admonition, which everyone should know: “be kind to all.” Sure; we should all do that. But if you really stop and think about what that is saying, it is quite a challenge: we are to be kind to ALL!
— this means we are to be kind to our friends and those we like; easy enough.
Exodus 22:26-27 may read at first like a quirky, specific law for Israel, but it is in fact an admonition to grace: “If you ever take your neighbor’s cloak as a pledge, you are to return it before the sun sets, for that is his only covering; it is his cloak for his body. What else shall he sleep in? And it shall come about that when he cries out to Me, I will hear him, for I am gracious.”
In the midst of sundry precepts following The Ten Commandments, God instructs His people to be gracious to each other. The specific command here is that if they take a man’s cloak as a pledge (for a loan) they are not to keep it, but are to graciously give it back to him that evening so he will have something with which to cover himself while he sleeps. That is going “above and beyond” what lenders typically do, but God admonishes His people to be gracious, and do more than is expected in their dealings with others. Continue reading
Psalm 122 opens with a familiar and beloved verse for many: “I was glad when they said to me, let us go to the house of YHWH”. This Psalm is one of 15 Psalms called “Songs of Ascent” which were sung by those who were going up to the Lord’s house for worship in the Old Testament. This verse and the ones following it teach us some important things about worship. Take for example :4, “The tribes go up, even the tribes of The Lord – an ordinance for Israel – to give thanks to the name of the Lord.” Look at what this 4th verse teaches us about worship then and now: Continue reading
I attended a Good Friday service at Trinity Baptist, Norman last night and really enjoyed the service. It included some public worship singing, a series of scripture readings, and several choir anthems. I had not been in the habit, as a pastor, of having Good Friday services, although Friday night I wondered why. I guess we live and learn! If I return to the pastorate I think I would seriously consider doing something like that.
One personal tradition I have observed over the years on what we call “Easter weekend” has to do with the song, “Up From The Grave He Arose.”
Psalm 125:3 says: “For the scepter of wickedness shall not rest upon the land of the righteous, so that the righteous will not put forth their hands to do wrong.” Basically this verse indicates that God will not allow wicked rulers over a righteous people, so that His people will not be compelled to do evil. But, on the other hand, when the people themselves ARE wicked, then God may well allow them to have the kind of leadership they deserve. Continue reading
Many Christians think we should not hate anything, but that is not true according to scripture. Psalm 97:10 says “Hate evil, you who love the Lord.” In fact, one of the greatest problems modern Christians have is that they do NOT hate evil. They tolerate evil, toy with it, even secretly love it. But how can we learn to really hate evil?
We have found that there is generally something to laugh about, even in the midst of some of our most difficult experiences as a family — and that laughter helps us keep whatever measure of sanity we still possess. Selling our home and moving from Moss Bluff due to my illness was one of those trying experiences, but there were definitely some of those laughs along the way:
There is something touching about God’s command in Exodus 22:21, “You shall not wrong a stranger or oppress him, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt.” Indeed I think it is intended to call out the empathy of God’s people for others: “for YOU were strangers in the land of Egypt .” Continue reading
In I Timothy 5:8 Paul writes: “But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his own household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.” That last phrase really catches one’s attention: “worse than an unbeliever”? But it really is possible for a Christian to be “worse than an unbeliever” in a particular scenario. For whatever an unbeliever does in that situation, it does not reflect poorly upon the gospel, and the glory of God. But when a person who claims the name of Christ is in that same situation and acts unbecomingly, it DOES tarnish the glory of the God he serves in the eyes of the watching world, and thus this compromiser is “worse than an unbeliever.” Continue reading
In II Timothy 2:16 scripture commands: “But avoid worldly and empty chatter, for it will lead to further ungodliness”. There are two kinds of language the Bible enjoins in this verse:
— First, we are to avoid “worldly” talk. This could mean all kinds of language which is offensive to holiness: swearing, off-color or immoral language, etc. Most of us know this kind of language should not characterize our lives.
— But it is interesting that it is not only “worldly” talk are we to avoid, that which is “negative” in holiness, but also “empty chatter”: just vain, worthless, unprofitable “chatter.” When we speak, it is to be something positively GOOD, something GODLY, something PURPOSEFUL. Ephesians 4:29 says that we are only to speak “that which is good for edification according to the need of the moment, that it may give grace to those who hear.” Our words are not merely to “fill the airwaves”; they should do someone some good!
So it is not only negatively “worldly” talk we are to avoid, but also “empty” talk that doesn’t really help anyone. As we begin this new week, ask God to help you think before you speak, and “avoid worldly and empty chatter.”
I'm a retired Southern Baptist pastor of almost 40 years. My wife Cheryl & I moved to Norman, OK in March of 2025. I share a weekly overview for Sunday School teachers of the weekly Lifeway "Explore the Bible" lesson, as well as texts of my sermons and other articles.
shawnethomas 