Shows
Enthusiastic IdeasPredictability (February 15)PREDICTABILITY (FEBRUARY 15)View on Website -- https://wordpoints.com/predictability-february-15/"Our peculiar dangers are those that surprise us and work treachery in the fort" (Henry Ward Beecher).PREDICTABILITY IS ONE OF THE LEAST APPRECIATED OF ALL CHARACTER TRAITS. It’s one of those virtues that operate below the surface, and as long as it’s there, we tend to take it for granted. When someone conducts their relationship with us in such a dependable way that we never have to worry whether they’ll do as we’ve come to expect, we may think th...
2026-02-1503 min
Obeying the GospelAlpha and Omega (January 18)ALPHA AND OMEGA (JANUARY 18)View on Website -- https://wordpoints.com/alpha-omega-january-18/"I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end" (Revelation 22:13).ALPHA IS THE FIRST LETTER IN THE GREEK ALPHABET, AND OMEGA IS THE LAST. From “alpha to omega” is, as we would say, everything “from a to z.” When Jesus said, “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” He was making a claim to be God Incarnate, nothing less than the Eternal God who came into the world in human form. But why should this...
2026-01-1802 min
Enthusiastic IdeasAdmiration (January 17)ADMIRATION (JANUARY 17)View on Website -- https://wordpoints.com/admiration-january-17/"To love is to admire with the heart; to admire is to love with the mind" (Théophile Gautier).TO BE ABLE TO ADMIRE — AND TO ADMIRE THE THINGS THAT ARE TRULY ADMIRABLE — IS A CHARACTER TRAIT WORTH CULTIVATING. And mind you, being “able to admire” is a trait that has to be cultivated. If there are few things that we admire, or if the things we admire are not really very worthy, it’s probably because we’ve not worked on keeping our hearts op...
2026-01-1703 min
Enthusiastic IdeasTenderheartedness (January 6)TENDERHEARTEDNESS (JANUARY 6)View on Website -- https://wordpoints.com/tenderheartedness-january-6/"The prudence of the best heads is often defeated by the tenderness of the best hearts" (Henry Fielding).AMONG THE VIRTUES VALUED TODAY, TENDERHEARTEDNESS IS ONE OF THE LEAST VALUED. In the minds of many, tough-mindedness is the key to success in the real world, and tenderness is seen more as a weakness than a strength. The truth, however, is that tenderness can solve a much wider range of problems than the decrees of authority or the dominion of brute force. In the...
2026-01-0602 min
Enthusiastic IdeasAspiration (January 5)ASPIRATION (JANUARY 5)View on Website -- https://wordpoints.com/aspiration-january-5/"It seems to me we can never give up longing and wishing while we are thoroughly alive. There are certain things we feel to be beautiful and good, and we must hunger after them" (George Eliot).ONE OF OUR MOST MARVELOUS ENDOWMENTS IS THE ABILITY TO ASPIRE TO GREATER THINGS THAN THOSE WE’VE KNOWN BEFORE. Unlike other creatures that are limited to what “is,” we are able to contemplate what “can be.” With wonderful creativity, we can envision ideals that go beyond the imperf...
2026-01-0503 min
Enthusiastic IdeasAwakening (January 4)AWAKENING (JANUARY 4)View on Website -- https://wordpoints.com/awakening-january-4/"A single event can awaken within us a stranger totally unknown to us. To live is to be born slowly" (Antoine de Saint-Exupéry).LIFE IS ALWAYS FILLED WITH THE PROMISE OF AWAKENINGS. In the case of some of us, we have slumbered through life to such an extent that we’re desperately in need of being awakened. Others have lived their lives more fully and may seem already to have been awakened. In either case, however, we need to be stirred. Within eac...
2026-01-0403 min
Enthusiastic IdeasPrinciples (January 3)PRINCIPLES (JANUARY 3)View on Website -- https://wordpoints.com/principles-january-3/"There are principles that govern human effectiveness — natural laws in the human dimension that are just as real, just as unchanging and unarguably 'there' as laws such as gravity are in the physical dimension" (Stephen R. Covey).AS WE GROW IN WISDOM, WE COME TO SEE THE VALUE OF LIVING A PRINCIPLED LIFE. Indeed, the worth of the contribution we make as we travel through this world depends on the strength with which we adhere to principles. Positive contributions are not produced by moo...
2026-01-0303 min
Enthusiastic IdeasExcellence (January 2)EXCELLENCE (JANUARY 2)View on Website -- https://wordpoints.com/excellence-january-2/"No one ever attains very eminent success by simply doing what is required of him; it is the amount and excellence of what is over and above the required that determines the greatness of ultimate distinction" (Charles Kendall Adams).WE SHOW GRATITUDE FOR THE GIFT OF LIFE WHEN WE STRIVE FOR THE HIGHEST AND BEST WITHIN OURSELVES. Against the powerful pull of mediocrity, we must exert our best effort. “Good enough” is not good enough. When we give ourselves to those around us, we m...
2026-01-0203 min
Enthusiastic IdeasBeginnings (January 1)BEGINNINGS (JANUARY 1)View on Website -- https://wordpoints.com/beginnings-january-1/"The tragedy of life is not that it ends so soon, but that we wait so long to begin it" (W. M. Lewis).WITH THE DAWNING OF EVERY NEW DAY, WE’RE GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE NEW BEGINNINGS. Although we often take it for granted, the clean slate offered to us each morning is one of the best aspects of our sojourn in this world. Why is it that we so rarely seize this advantage? Why do so many days pass in wh...
2026-01-0103 min
Obeying the GospelWhat Hinders You? (December 31)WHAT HINDERS YOU? (DECEMBER 31)View on Website -- https://wordpoints.com/what-hinders-december-31/"And now why do you wait? Rise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on his name" (Acts 22:16).WHEN ANANIAS FOUND SAUL OF TARSUS, THE NOTORIOUS PERSECUTOR OF THE CHURCH, SAUL HAD BEEN FASTING AND PRAYING SORROWFULLY FOR THREE DAYS. “And now why do you wait?” Ananias asked. “Rise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on his name.” Saul did as he was instructed, received the forgiveness of his sins, and served Jesus Christ fervently for the rest...
2025-12-3102 min
Obeying the GospelHave You Obeyed the Gospel? (December 30)HAVE YOU OBEYED THE GOSPEL? (DECEMBER 30)View on Website -- https://wordpoints.com/obeyed-gospel-december-30/"For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God?" (1 Peter 4:17).WHEN PETER SPEAKS OF “JUDGMENT,” HE PRESENTS US WITH A SOBERING THOUGHT. The marvelous gift of the freedom of our will is accompanied by responsibility and accountability to our Creator. The time will come when we will be judged. In our conscience, we all know...
2025-12-3002 min
Obeying the GospelHave You Died with Christ? (December 29)HAVE YOU DIED WITH CHRIST? (DECEMBER 29)View on Website -- https://wordpoints.com/died-with-christ-december-29/"Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life" (Romans 6:3,4).IN THE GOSPEL, THERE IS AN INSEPARABLE LINK BETWEEN CHRIST’S DEATH AND OUR BAPTISM. The death of Christ is obviously important; it is...
2025-12-2903 min
Obeying the GospelExamining Ourselves (December 28)EXAMINING OURSELVES (DECEMBER 28)View on Website -- https://wordpoints.com/examining-ourselves-december-28/"Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you? -- unless indeed you are disqualified" (2 Corinthians 13:5 NKJV).GIVEN THE IMPORTANCE OF OUR RELATIONSHIP TO GOD, THERE IS NO HIGHER PRIORITY FOR US THAN SELF-EXAMINATION. Are we, or are we not, in a right relationship with Him? Do we, or do we not, have the hope of eternal life? And no less critical is this question: by what standard...
2025-12-2803 min
Obeying the GospelForgiven, Saved, Born Again (December 27)FORGIVEN, SAVED, BORN AGAIN (DECEMBER 27)View on Website -- https://wordpoints.com/forgiven-saved-born-again-december-27/"For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. For one who has died has been set free from sin. Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live...
2025-12-2703 min
Obeying the GospelHave You Accepted Christ? (December 26)HAVE YOU ACCEPTED CHRIST? (DECEMBER 26)View on Website -- https://wordpoints.com/accepted-christ-december-26/"Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving" (Colossians 2:6,7).PAUL’S COUNSEL TO THE COLOSSIANS IS ONE THAT APPLIES TO ALL OF US WHO HAVE OBEYED THE GOSPEL. He said, “As you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him.” Having accepted Christ, we need to live like persons who have actually done that.We oft...
2025-12-2603 min
Obeying the GospelAre You a Christian? (December 25)ARE YOU A CHRISTIAN? (DECEMBER 25)View on Website -- https://wordpoints.com/are-you-a-christian-december-25/"Then Agrippa said to Paul, 'You almost persuade me to become a Christian'" (Acts 26:28 NKJV).THE QUESTION “ARE YOU A CHRISTIAN?” IS PERHAPS MORE CONFUSING TO PEOPLE TODAY THAN IT WOULD HAVE BEEN IN THE FIRST CENTURY. But when Agrippa said, “You almost persuade me to become a Christian,” he knew what a Christian was. He understood the word “Christian” in its original sense: a disciple of Jesus Christ.Sadly, there is no evidence that Agrippa ever became a Christian...
2025-12-2502 min
Obeying the GospelWhen You Return, Expect a Celebration (December 24)WHEN YOU RETURN, EXPECT A CELEBRATION (DECEMBER 24)View on Website -- https://wordpoints.com/when-return-expect-celebration-december-24/"But the father said to his servants, 'Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.' And they began to celebrate" (Luke 15:22-24).IT SHOULD GIVE US COURAGE TO READ THE WORDS “AND THEY BE...
2025-12-2403 min
Obeying the GospelCome to Jesus, Do Not Tarry (December 23)COME TO JESUS, DO NOT TARRY (DECEMBER 23)View on Website -- https://wordpoints.com/come-to-jesus-do-not-tarry-december-23/"You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me, yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life" (John 5:39,40).WHEN JESUS INVITES US TO COME TO HIM, IT IS POSSIBLE TO REFUSE. Tragic as such a refusal is, many do refuse. But many others simply delay, thinking an easier time will come later.It is always important for us...
2025-12-2303 min
Obeying the GospelA Victory Given by God (December 22)A VICTORY GIVEN BY GOD (DECEMBER 22)View on Website -- https://wordpoints.com/victory-given-god-december-22/"But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ" (1 Corinthians 15:57).GRATITUDE IS ONE OF THE MAJOR MOTIFS THAT WE HEAR IN THE GREAT SYMPHONY OF THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST. The apostle Paul, for example, uses the expression “thanks be to God” six times in his letters. And he uses it in 1 Corinthians 15:57 as he reaches the climax of his magnificent discussion of the resurrection of Christ.“Victory” is a powerful word, but it i...
2025-12-2203 min
Obeying the GospelReal Restoration to God (December 21)REAL RESTORATION TO GOD (DECEMBER 21)View on Website -- https://wordpoints.com/real-restoration-god-december-21/"Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me" (Psalm 51:10).IF WE WANT SALVATION AT ALL, MOST OF US ONLY WANT SALVATION FROM OUR CIRCUMSTANCES, NOT SALVATION FROM OUR SINS. We’d like help with the difficult, painful aspects of our lives, especially the unjust things other people have done to us. It is the unpleasantness and hardship of this broken world that we want God to fix.Now and then, though, we...
2025-12-2102 min
Obeying the GospelWhat Profit? (December 20)WHAT PROFIT? (DECEMBER 20)View on Website -- https://wordpoints.com/what-profit-december-20/"For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?" (Matthew 16:26).IN THE LAST TWO THOUSAND YEARS, MANY DIFFERENT MESSAGES HAVE BEEN PREACHED BY THOSE CLAIMING TO UPHOLD THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST. Today, most of what goes by the name of “Christianity” is a far cry from what Jesus taught and what He instructed His apostles to teach. To be specific, the original emphasis on t...
2025-12-2003 min
Obeying the GospelThe Two Great Alternatives (December 19)THE TWO GREAT ALTERNATIVES (DECEMBER 19)View on Website -- https://wordpoints.com/two-great-alternatives-december-19/"He will render to each one according to his works: to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life; but for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury" (Romans 2:6-8).JESUS SAID THAT EVERY TREE IS KNOWN BY THE FRUIT IT BEARS. Our outward deeds are important because, in the end, they will have shown the kind of...
2025-12-1903 min
Obeying the GospelSeeing the Truth, Deciding to Respond (December 18)SEEING THE TRUTH, DECIDING TO RESPOND (DECEMBER 18)View on Website -- https://wordpoints.com/seeing-truth-deciding-respond-december-18/"But when he came to himself, he said, 'How many of my father's hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you"'" (Luke 15:17,18).THE LOST SON IN THIS STORY MADE A DECISION. Alienated from his father, and having abused every blessing he had ever been given, this young man “came to...
2025-12-1803 min
Obeying the GospelWe Can't Get Back to God on Our Own (December 17)WE CAN'T GET BACK TO GOD ON OUR OWN (DECEMBER 17)View on Website -- https://wordpoints.com/cant-get-back-god-own-december-17/"For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe" (1 Corinthians 1:21).IT IS OBVIOUS THAT THE CONSEQUENCES OF SIN IN THE WORLD ARE DISTRESSING TO US. There are few rational people anywhere who do not understand the difficulties of the human condition: we struggle with loneliness, depression, anxiety, fear, anger, alienation, and irrelevance (to name...
2025-12-1703 min
Obeying the GospelWhat Happens When We Say No? (December 16)WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE SAY NO? (DECEMBER 16)View on Website -- https://wordpoints.com/what-happens-when-say-no-december-16/"As I live, declares the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live; turn back, turn back from your evil ways, for why will you die, O house of Israel?" (Ezekiel 33:11).IT WOULD BE A MISTAKE TO THINK THAT GOD IS UNAFFECTED WHEN WE REJECT HIM. It was He who gave us the freedom to choose, and He will not force His will upon...
2025-12-1603 min
Obeying the GospelWill All Be Saved? (December 15)WILL ALL BE SAVED? (DECEMBER 15)View on Website -- https://wordpoints.com/will-all-be-saved-december-15/"Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance? But because of your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God's righteous judgment will be revealed" (Romans 2:4,5).MOST PEOPLE BELIEVE THAT EVERYBODY IS GOING TO HEAVEN. At almost every funeral service, the speaker comforts the family by saying that the deceased (no matter...
2025-12-1503 min
Obeying the GospelIn Christ, We Can Be Everything God Intended (December 14)IN CHRIST, WE CAN BE EVERYTHING GOD INTENDED (DECEMBER 14)View on Website -- https://wordpoints.com/in-christ-everything-god-intended-december-14/"For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God" (Romans 8:19).BOUND TO THE PRESENT MOMENT AS WE ARE, WE CAN’T SEE VERY FAR BACKWARD OR FORWARD. So we can only imagine what human beings were before they fell into sin, and it is beyond our dreams to envision what we will be, in Jesus Christ, when God has completed His future plans for us. Paul said “the revealing of the...
2025-12-1403 min
Obeying the GospelGod, the Support of the Saved (December 13)GOD, THE SUPPORT OF THE SAVED (DECEMBER 13)View on Website -- https://wordpoints.com/god-support-saved-december-13/"Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen" (Jude 24,25).JUDE’S CHRISTIAN FRIENDS NEEDED TO BE ASSURED OF GOD’S HELP. They faced difficulties that would test their allegiance to Christ, ordeals that might overwhelm them if t...
2025-12-1303 min
Obeying the GospelLooking Beyond Our Salvation to the Savior (December 12)LOOKING BEYOND OUR SALVATION TO THE SAVIOR (DECEMBER 12)View on Website -- https://wordpoints.com/looking-beyond-our-salvation-december-12/"The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, 'Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!'" (John 1:29).AS THE “LAMB OF GOD,” JESUS CHRIST IS THE ONE WHO “TAKES AWAY THE SIN OF THE WORLD.” The words “looking to Jesus” (Hebrews 12:2) are powerful. If our sins are to be taken away, it is to Him that we must look. We have no other hope (Acts 4:12).However, there is a s...
2025-12-1202 min
Obeying the GospelObedience Is Not a Negative Concept (December 11)OBEDIENCE IS NOT A NEGATIVE CONCEPT (DECEMBER 11)View on Website -- https://wordpoints.com/obedience-not-negative-concept-december-11/"By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome" (1 John 5:2,3).NOWADAYS, MOST PEOPLE THINK OF EQUALITY IN SUCH A WAY THAT THEY BELIEVE HIERARCHIES ARE EVIL AND ARE TO BE AVOIDED WHEREVER POSSIBLE. The very word obedience evokes an image of pre-modern times, before equality came to be viewed as...
2025-12-1102 min
Obeying the GospelThe Most Disturbing Message in the World (December 10)THE MOST DISTURBING MESSAGE IN THE WORLD (DECEMBER 10)View on Website -- https://wordpoints.com/most-disturbing-message-world-december-10/"Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, 'Brothers, what shall we do?'" (Acts 2:37).WOULD YOU SAY BEING “CUT TO THE HEART” IS A GOOD THING? These days, most people wouldn’t. We want, at all costs, to experience happy feelings, and we would be turned off by any sermon that called on us to pass through the wilderness of godly sorrow. We only w...
2025-12-1003 min
Obeying the GospelJesus, the Crisis-Producer (December 9)JESUS, THE CRISIS-PRODUCER (DECEMBER 9)View on Website -- https://wordpoints.com/jesus-crisis-producer-december-9/"Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword" (Matthew 10:34).IN RESPONSE TO JESUS, PEOPLE DID MANY DIFFERENT THINGS, BUT ONE THING NOBODY DID WAS REMAIN NEUTRAL. Jesus’ teaching authoritatively called for a decision, and those who did not make a decision for or against Jesus were making the worst decision of all. As Jesus said, “Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not...
2025-12-0903 min
Obeying the GospelFlee! Don't Look Back! (December 8)FLEE! DON’T LOOK BACK! (DECEMBER 8)View on Website -- https://wordpoints.com/flee-dont-look-back-december-8/"Then the Lord rained on Sodom and Gomorrah sulfur and fire from the Lord out of heaven. And he overthrew those cities, and all the valley, and all the inhabitants of the cities, and what grew on the ground. But Lot's wife, behind him, looked back, and she became a pillar of salt" (Genesis 19:24-26).THE ADMONITION TO FLEE IS SOMETIMES MORE IMPORTANT THAN WE REALIZE. If we were in a difficult situation, the advice to “get out of ther...
2025-12-0803 min
Obeying the GospelThe Deadliest Temptation (December 7)THE DEADLIEST TEMPTATION (DECEMBER 7)View on Website -- https://wordpoints.com/deadliest-temptation-december-7/"And as he reasoned about righteousness and self-control and the coming judgment, Felix was alarmed and said, 'Go away for the present. When I get an opportunity I will summon you'" (Acts 24:25).TEMPTATION COMES TO US IN VARIOUS WAYS. Sometimes we are tempted to engage in acts of deliberate disobedience. Knowing full well what God’s will is, we are persuaded to do what God has said we must not do, as Eve did when she ate of the forbidden fruit (Ge...
2025-12-0703 min
Obeying the GospelA Gentle Knock at the Door (December 6)A GENTLE KNOCK AT THE DOOR (DECEMBER 6)View on Website -- https://wordpoints.com/gentle-knock-door-december-6/"Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me" (Revelation 3:20).IT MAY STRIKE US AS UNUSUAL THAT WHEN GOD CAME INTO THE WORLD, HE CAME IN SUCH A GENTLE WAY. Perhaps He could have landed with an invading army and compelled our submission with brute force. But he appeared as a gentle Teacher, asking us to...
2025-12-0603 min
Obeying the GospelMade in God's Image, We Long for His Fellowship (December 5)MADE IN GOD'S IMAGE, WE LONG FOR HIS FELLOWSHIP (DECEMBER 5)View on Website -- https://wordpoints.com/made-gods-image-long-fellowship-december-5/"So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them" (Genesis 1:27).HUMAN BEINGS HAVE ALWAYS MARVELED AT THEIR UNIQUENESS. Compared to differences that separate the lower creatures, we are so different from even the highest of other living beings, the difference can hardly be described. But how and why are we so different? Until the 18th century in Western Europe, almost every person...
2025-12-0502 min
Obeying the GospelWe Are Not Saved by Those We Are Connected To (December 4)WE ARE NOT SAVED BY THOSE WE ARE CONNECTED TO (DECEMBER 4)View on Website -- https://wordpoints.com/we-are-not-saved-by-those-we-are-connected-to-december-4/"Bear fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not presume to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father,' for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham" (Matthew 3:8,9).IF THE JEWISH LEADERS THOUGHT OF SALVATION IN “INSTITUTIONAL” TERMS, THEY WERE NOT ALONE. Very few of us can say we haven’t made the same mistake. We are strongly tempted to think that our ticket into t...
2025-12-0403 min
Obeying the GospelGod Will Judge the World in Righteousness (December 3)GOD WILL JUDGE THE WORLD IN RIGHTEOUSNESS (DECEMBER 3)View on Website -- https://wordpoints.com/god-judge-world-righteousness-december-3/"The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent, because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead" (Acts 17:30,31).THE IDEA OF A “JUDGMENT DAY” IS UNPOPULAR THESE DAYS. Fewer of those who designate themselves as Christians believe that such a thing will actu...
2025-12-0303 min
Obeying the GospelPutting Our Hand to the Plow (December 2)PUTTING OUR HAND TO THE PLOW (DECEMBER 2)View on Website -- https://wordpoints.com/putting-hand-plow-december-2/"Yet another said, 'I will follow you, Lord, but let me first say farewell to those at my home.' Jesus said to him, 'No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God'" (Luke 9:61,62).ONE COMMON THREAD RUNNING THROUGHOUT THE NEW TESTAMENT IS COMMITMENT. Will we follow Jesus? Our answer must be more than “maybe” or “if I don’t change my mind.”DECISIVENESS. Too many so-called...
2025-12-0203 min
Obeying the GospelJesus Christ and Him Crucified (December 1)JESUS CHRIST AND HIM CRUCIFIED (DECEMBER 1)View on Website -- https://wordpoints.com/jesus-christ-crucified-december-1/"For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified" (1 Corinthians 2:2).PAUL WAS GRATEFUL FOR HIS BRETHREN IN CORINTH, BUT HE WAS WORRIED ABOUT THEM. They had divided into factions, each group following its favorite teacher of the gospel (1 Corinthians 1:10-13). This kind of sectarianism was common in cities like Corinth, of course, where the public forum was filled with philosophers, orators, and teachers — each wooing followers by showing himself to be more on the in...
2025-12-0103 min
Obeying the GospelEntrance Into the Eternal Kingdom (November 30)ENTRANCE INTO THE ETERNAL KINGDOM (NOVEMBER 30)View on Website -- https://wordpoints.com/entrance-eternal-kingdom-november-30/"Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall. For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ" (2 Peter 1:10,11).AS CHRISTIANS, IT IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT FOR US TO GROW IN THE CHARACTER TRAITS OF GODLINESS. Just prior to the text above, Peter had encouraged his readers to work hard at...
2025-11-3003 min
Obeying the GospelJudged by Our Response to Jesus' Word (November 29)JUDGED BY OUR RESPONSE TO JESUS' WORD (NOVEMBER 29)View on Website -- https://wordpoints.com/judged-response-jesus-word-november-29/"I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness. If anyone hears my words and does not keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world. The one who rejects me and does not receive my words has a judge; the word that I have spoken will judge him on the last day" (John 12:46-48)....
2025-11-2903 min
Obeying the GospelCalled, Beloved, Kept (November 28)CALLED, BELOVED, KEPT (NOVEMBER 28)View on Website -- https://wordpoints.com/called-beloved-kept-november-28/"Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ and brother of James, to those who are called, beloved in God the Father and kept for Jesus Christ: May mercy, peace, and love be multiplied to you" (Jude 1,2).BEING A CHRISTIAN IS A REALITY THAT CAN BE LOOKED AT FROM MORE THAN ONE ANGLE. In other words, a person who is a Christian can describe his identity in various ways. Let’s look at the three expressions Jude used to address his fellow Christians....
2025-11-2803 min
Obeying the GospelFaith Has Consequences (November 27)FAITH HAS CONSEQUENCES (NOVEMBER 27)View on Website -- https://wordpoints.com/faith-consequences-november-27/"For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ" (2 Peter 1:5-8).THERE IS A “JUDICIAL” ASPECT TO THE GOSPEL, BUT SALVATION IN CHRIST INVOLVES FAR MORE THAN...
2025-11-2703 min
Obeying the GospelHonest About Our Transgressions (November 26)HONEST ABOUT OUR TRANSGRESSIONS (NOVEMBER 26)View on Website -- https://wordpoints.com/honest-about-our-transgressions-november-26/"For when I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long" (Psalm 32:3).WE NEED TO ACCEPT THE LORD’S VERDICT CONCERNING OUR SINS. Our sins can be forgiven if we accept His plan for their forgiveness, but a part of the plan is repentance — and repentance includes taking honest responsibility for what we’ve done. To the best of our present understanding, we must see the seriousness of our sins and enter a plea of “guilty as charg...
2025-11-2603 min
Obeying the GospelIf We Have Died to Sin (November 25)IF WE HAVE DIED TO SIN (NOVEMBER 25)View on Website -- https://wordpoints.com/died-to-sin-november-25/"What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it?" (Romans 6:1,2).ONE OF OUR GREATEST CHALLENGES IS TO RESPOND RIGHTLY TO GOD’S GRACE. Surely there is no greater gift than the forgiveness of our sins in God’s Son, Jesus Christ. But we must determine not to “receive the grace of God in vain” (2 Corinthians 6:1).In Romans 6...
2025-11-2503 min
Obeying the GospelA Sobering (and Encouraging) Thought (November 24)A SOBERING (AND ENCOURAGING) THOUGHT (NOVEMBER 24)View on Website -- https://wordpoints.com/sobering-encouraging-thought-november-24/"Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up" (Galatians 6:7-9).IDEAS HAVE EMOTIONAL CONSEQUENCES, AND THE IMPACT THEY...
2025-11-2403 min
Obeying the GospelObedience Is a Choice (November 23)OBEDIENCE IS A CHOICE (NOVEMBER 23)View on Website -- https://wordpoints.com/obedience-choice-november-23/"Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered. And being made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him" (Hebrews 5:8,9).ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT LESSONS WE CAN LEARN FROM JESUS IS THE LESSON OF VOLUNTARY OBEDIENCE TO GOD. Even with His unique relationship to the Heavenly Father, Jesus still had to choose to obey. “Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered.” In making this difficult choi...
2025-11-2302 min
Obeying the GospelO to Be Like Thee! (November 22)O TO BE LIKE THEE! (NOVEMBER 22)View on Website -- https://wordpoints.com/be-like-thee-november-22/"Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure" (1 John 3:2,3).IN HIS DEALINGS WITH US, GOD HAS A GREAT GOAL. It is not merely to rescue us but to reform us. For all who will accept His plan, God intends...
2025-11-2203 min
Obeying the GospelHave We 'Put On' Christ? (November 21)HAVE WE "PUT ON" CHRIST? (NOVEMBER 21)View on Website -- https://wordpoints.com/put-on-christ-november-21/"For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ" (Galatians 3:27).IN THE NEW TESTAMENT, ONE WAY CHRISTIANS ARE DESCRIBED IS TO SAY THAT THEY ARE PEOPLE WHO HAVE “PUT ON” CHRIST. The image, of course, is that of taking off one set of clothes and putting on another. In his new relationship with Jesus Christ, the Christian has “put on” His Lord — he has adopted the characteristics of Christ in such a way as to have “c...
2025-11-2103 min
Obeying the GospelJesus Christ, Our Example (November 20)JESUS CHRIST, OUR EXAMPLE (NOVEMBER 20)View on Website -- https://wordpoints.com/jesus-christ-example-november-20/"For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you" (John 13:15).CERTAIN PARTS OF JESUS’ WAY OF LIFE ARE POPULAR AND FREQUENTLY PRAISED. When we want support for our viewpoint, there always seems to be some aspect of Jesus’ teaching and lifestyle that we can appeal to. And whatever our theology or sociology, we can find a favorite angle from which to admire Jesus.The problem is, we tend to “...
2025-11-2002 min
Obeying the GospelWhen the Feeling of Salvation Fails Us (November 19)WHEN THE FEELING OF SALVATION FAILS US (NOVEMBER 19)View on Website -- https://wordpoints.com/feeling-salvation-fails-november-19/"Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, for the sake of the faith of God's elect and their knowledge of the truth, which accords with godliness, in hope of eternal life, which God, who never lies, promised before the ages began and at the proper time manifested in his word through the preaching with which I have been entrusted by the command of God our Savior" (Titus 1:1-3).FEELINGS ARE IMPORTANT, BUT THEY...
2025-11-1903 min
Obeying the GospelConfident in Christ . . . and Careful (November 18)CONFIDENT IN CHRIST . . . AND CAREFUL (NOVEMBER 18)View on Website -- https://wordpoints.com/confident-christ-careful-november-18/"Watch yourselves, so that you may not lose what we have worked for, but may win a full reward" (2 John 8).TOWARD THE END OF JOHN’S LIFE, THE CHRISTIANS IN ASIA WERE IN DIRE STRAITS. Threatened with persecution, heartbroken at the doctrinal apostasy that was taking place, disturbed about the prevalence of moral corruption among Christians, and concerned about the complacency of so many churches, the faithful brothers and sisters were hard pressed. And John was concerned about these fa...
2025-11-1803 min
Obeying the GospelEven in Christ, We Are Not Yet Fully Alive (November 17)EVEN IN CHRIST, WE ARE NOT YET FULLY ALIVE (NOVEMBER 1)View on Website -- https://wordpoints.com/even-in-christ-not-yet-fully-alive-november-17/"And this is the promise that he made to us -- eternal life" (1 John 2:25).WHEN GOD ENTERED THIS WORLD AND TOOK UPON HIMSELF HUMAN FORM, A NEVER-BEFORE THING BEGAN TO HAPPEN. The miracle of the Incarnation was not just that God became man but that in the person of His Son, Jesus Christ, God brought into this world a new kind of life. This new life is nothing less than the kind of life that...
2025-11-1703 min
Obeying the GospelOpportunity to Seek God (November 16)OPPORTUNITY TO SEEK GOD (NOVEMBER 16)View on Website -- https://wordpoints.com/opportunity-seek-god-november-16/"For this reason every one of your faithful followers should pray to you while there is a window of opportunity" (Psalm 32:6 NET).GOD GRANTS US THE TIME TO SEEK HIM, BUT THE SPAN OF THAT TIME IS NOT UNLIMITED. Eventually, our time in this world comes to an end; after that, there will be nothing left but the rendering of God’s judgment on the way we responded to His salvation. “Just as it is appointed for man to die once...
2025-11-1603 min
Obeying the GospelThe Church in Splendor (November 15)THE CHURCH IN SPLENDOR (NOVEMBER 15)View on Website -- https://wordpoints.com/church-splendor-november-15/". . . so that [Christ] might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish" (Ephesians 5:27).IT IS INTRIGUING TO THINK OF CHRIST “PRESENTING THE CHURCH TO HIMSELF.” The basic image is that of a bride being presented to her bridegroom (as in 2 Corinthians 11:2; Revelation 21:2), but here Christ is pictured as presenting His own bride to Himself. Christ gave Himself up for His bride, in the words of Rich...
2025-11-1503 min
Obeying the GospelThe Power (and Beauty) of Commitment (November 14)THE POWER (AND BEAUTY) OF COMMITMENT (NOVEMBER 14)View on Website -- https://wordpoints.com/power-beauty-commitment-november-14/"But Ruth said, 'Do not urge me to leave you or to return from following you. For where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God my God. Where you die I will die, and there will I be buried. May the Lord do so to me and more also if anything but death parts me from you'" (Ruth 1:16,17).THERE IS NOT IN THE SCRIPTURES...
2025-11-1403 min
Obeying the GospelThe Gospel Is True, but We Must Pay Attention (November 13)THE GOSPEL IS TRUE, BUT WE MUST PAY ATTENTION (NOVEMBER 13)View on Website -- https://wordpoints.com/gospel-true-pay-attention-november-13/". . . how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? It was declared at first by the Lord, and it was attested to us by those who heard, while God also bore witness by signs and wonders and various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will" (Hebrews 2:3,4).THE RESULTS OF THE SURVEY STRUCK ME. In a recent poll, people in Western Europe who have abandoned religion after being...
2025-11-1303 min
Obeying the GospelNo Christianity without Correctability (November 12)NO CHRISTIANITY WITHOUT CORRECTABILITY (NOVEMBER 12)View on Website -- https://wordpoints.com/christianity-correctability-november-12/"They hate him who reproves in the gate, and they abhor him who speaks the truth" (Amos 5:10).THE PROPHETS SENT BY GOD TO CALL FOR REPENTANCE IN ISRAEL DID NOT ALWAYS FIND A RECEPTIVE AUDIENCE. Israel, desperately in need of a radical return to God, often rejected the pleas of the prophets for a change of heart. Apparently this was characteristic of the attitude of many of them about correction in general. Even when it came to listening to the...
2025-11-1202 min
Obeying the GospelDon't Limp! Decide! (November 11)DON’T LIMP! DECIDE! (NOVEMBER 11)View on Website -- https://wordpoints.com/dont-limp-decide-november-11/"And Elijah came near to all the people and said, 'How long will you go limping between two different opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him.' And the people did not answer him a word" (1 Kings 18:21).ELIJAH DID NOT PULL ANY PUNCHES. Challenging the people to choose between the worship of God and the worship of Baal, he mocked their wishy-washy attitude: “How long will you go limping between two different opinions?” Or as...
2025-11-1102 min
Obeying the GospelThe Samaritan Syndrome (November 10)THE SAMARITAN SYNDROME (NOVEMBER 10)View on Website -- https://wordpoints.com/samaritan-syndrome-november-10/"So these nations feared the Lord and also served their carved images. Their children did likewise, and their children's children -- as their fathers did, so they do to this day" (2 Kings 17:41).THE PEOPLE DESCRIBED IN THIS TEXT ARE THOSE WHOSE DESCENDANTS WERE KNOWN IN THE NEW TESTAMENT PERIOD AS THE SAMARITANS. Descendants of intermarriage between Israelites and the foreigners imported by the Assyrians in 722 BC into Samaria, the central section of Israel, the Samaritans practiced a religion that was a...
2025-11-1003 min
Obeying the GospelA Decision Only We Can Make (November 9)A DECISION ONLY WE CAN MAKE (NOVEMBER 9)View on Website -- https://wordpoints.com/decision-only-we-can-make-november-9/"'Return to me . . . and I will return to you,' says the Lord of hosts" (Zechariah 1:3).THE MESSAGE PREACHED BY THE PROPHETS WAS THE MESSAGE OF REPENTANCE. Despite their blessings, Israel had frequently strayed from God, and they needed to turn back. This was not a popular message. Nobody ever likes to be told that they have departed from God, but in Israel’s case, this would have been especially true. Given the privileges of their role in Go...
2025-11-0903 min
Obeying the GospelTake My Yoke Upon You (November 8)TAKE MY YOKE UPON YOU (NOVEMBER 8)View on Website -- https://wordpoints.com/take-my-yoke-upon-you-november-8/"Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light" (Matthew 11:28-30).THE INVITATION OF JESUS IS AN INVITATION TO THE WEARY. The satisfied may find Him “interesting,” if even that, but those who recognize the toll that sin...
2025-11-0803 min
Obeying the GospelHastening the Coming (November 7)HASTENING THE COMING (NOVEMBER 7)View on Website -- https://wordpoints.com/hastening-coming-november-7/". . . waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set on fire and dissolved, and the heavenly bodies will melt as they burn!" (2 Peter 3:12).THE APOSTLE PETER SPEAKS IN THIS PASSAGE OF SOMETHING THAT PEOPLE TODAY DON’T THINK ABOUT VERY OFTEN, IF THEY THINK ABOUT IT AT ALL. The “day of God” is coming, he says, and it will be a day when the present universe will come to an end. Having...
2025-11-0702 min
Obeying the GospelTurning from the Power of Satan to God (November 6)TURNING FROM THE POWER OF SATAN TO GOD (NOVEMBER 6)View on Website -- https://wordpoints.com/turning-from-power-of-satan-to-god-november-6/". . . to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me" (Acts 26:18).PAUL WAS AN APOSTLE AND WE ARE NOT, BUT THE MISSION ASSIGNED TO HIM IS ONE WE CAN LEARN FROM. He was given the task of taking the gospel to the Gentiles, and in the...
2025-11-0603 min
Obeying the GospelTesting Everything by the Scriptures (November 5)TESTING EVERYTHING BY THE SCRIPTURES (NOVEMBER 5)View on Website -- https://wordpoints.com/testing-everything-by-scriptures-november-5/"Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so" (Acts 17:11).THE PROPHETS IN ISRAEL HAD PREDICTED THE COMING OF A MESSIAH. This Messiah or Christ (literally, “Anointed One”) would reign over a kingdom superior to any of the kingdoms of mankind (Daniel 2:44). But Jesus of Nazareth was not the only individual in the first century (or even later) to claim to b...
2025-11-0502 min
Obeying the GospelChoose Life! (November 4)CHOOSE LIFE! (NOVEMBER 4)View on Website -- https://wordpoints.com/choose-life-november-4/"I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore choose life, that you and your offspring may live, loving the Lord your God, obeying his voice and holding fast to him" (Deuteronomy 30:19,20).WE ARE ABLE TO CHOOSE OUR DESTINY. If the alternatives are obedience to God (which leads ultimately to life) and disobedience (which leads to death), it is possible to “choose life,” as Moses urged Israel to do...
2025-11-0402 min
Obeying the GospelHenceforth (November 3)HENCEFORTH (NOVEMBER 3)View on Website -- https://wordpoints.com/henceforth-november-3/"I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing" (2 Timothy 4:7,8).A CURIOUS THING HAPPENS AS THE YEARS GO BY AND WE GROW OLDER IN CHRIST. Toward life’s end, we grow weary; the body deteriorates and the toll ta...
2025-11-0303 min
Obeying the GospelSelf Must Be Crucified (November 2)SELF MUST BE CRUCIFIED (NOVEMBER 2)View on Website -- https://wordpoints.com/self-must-be-crucified-november-2/"Then Jesus told his disciples, 'If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it'" (Matthew 16:24,25).FOR JESUS, THE JOY WAS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE CROSS. The “joy that was set before him” could only be His after He “endured the cross” (Hebrews 12:2). If we wish to follow Jesus, what will we...
2025-11-0203 min
Obeying the GospelAfter Baptism, What's Different? (November 1)AFTER BAPTISM, WHAT’S DIFFERENT? (NOVEMBER 1)View on Website -- https://wordpoints.com/after-baptism-whats-different-november-1/". . . but declared first to those in Damascus, then in Jerusalem and throughout all the region of Judea, and also to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, performing deeds in keeping with their repentance" (Acts 26:20).IN THIS TEXT, PAUL GIVES US A SUMMARY OF THE MESSAGE GOD SENT HIM TO PREACH. To one and all, he preached that “they should repent and turn to God, performing deeds in keeping with their repentance.” This preaching called for a chan...
2025-11-0102 min
Obeying the GospelEvery Deed Will Be Tested (October 31)EVERY DEED WILL BE TESTED (OCTOBER 31)View on Website -- https://wordpoints.com/every-deed-tested-october-31/"For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil" (Ecclesiastes 12:14).THE LAST VERSE IN ECCLESIASTES GIVES US THE REASON WHY WE SHOULD FEAR GOD AND KEEP HIS COMMANDMENTS. Reverence and obedience must define the way we live because “God will bring every deed into judgment.” All that we do is going to be tested, not by the trial of any human evaluation, but by the judgment of God Himself. Not wanting to deal...
2025-10-3102 min
Obeying the GospelIn a World of Futility, How Should We Live? (October 30)IN A WORLD OF FUTILITY, HOW SHOULD WE LIVE? (OCTOBER 30)View on Website -- https://wordpoints.com/world-futility-how-live-october-30/"The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man" (Ecclesiastes 12:13).IN ECCLESIASTES, WE ARE CONFRONTED WITH OUR POWERLESSNESS. Neither the human race collectively nor any of us individually can ever be sure that performing actions “A” and “B” will lead to “C” in this life. It might, but it might not. But if what we do can’t be counted on to give us the...
2025-10-3003 min
Obeying the GospelThere Are Those Who Pervert God’s Grace (October 29)THERE ARE THOSE WHO PERVERT GOD'S GRACE (OCTOBER 29)View on Website -- https://wordpoints.com/pervert-gods-grace-october-29/"For certain people have crept in unnoticed who long ago were designated for this condemnation, ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into sensuality and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ" (Jude 4).THERE WAS AN URGENT PROBLEM AMONG THE CHRISTIANS TO WHOM JUDE WROTE. Having urged them to “contend for the faith” (v.3), in v.4 Jude gave the reason why such a defense of the faith was necessary: it was because “certain people have c...
2025-10-2903 min
Obeying the GospelThe Faith Is Worth Contending For (October 28)THE FAITH IS WORTH CONTENDING FOR (OCTOBER 28)View on Website -- https://wordpoints.com/faith-worth-contending-for-october-28/"Beloved, although I was very eager to write to you about our common salvation, I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints" (Jude 3).JUDE MAKES TWO POINTS ABOUT THE GOSPEL, EACH OF WHICH OUGHT TO IMPRESS US. First, he calls it “the faith.” And second, he says that it was “once for all delivered to the saints.” The faith is not an ever-evolving system o...
2025-10-2802 min
Obeying the GospelEach Must Choose (October 27)EACH MUST CHOOSE (OCTOBER 27)View on Website -- https://wordpoints.com/each-must-choose-october-27/"Now therefore fear the Lord and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness. Put away the gods that your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord. And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve...
2025-10-2703 min
Obeying the GospelThe Good Confession (October 26)THE GOOD CONFESSION (OCTOBER 26)View on Website -- https://wordpoints.com/good-confession-october-26/"Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses" (1 Timothy 6:12).OPENNESS, TRANSPARENCY, DISCLOSURE. These are words with a very high social value these days. We tend to view them positively (at least as far as other people’s conduct is concerned).But what about openness with regard to our religious convictions, especially those that might get us...
2025-10-2603 min
Obeying the GospelWhy Saul, the Rabbi, Obeyed the Gospel of Christ (October 25)WHY SAUL, THE RABBI, OBEYED THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST (OCTOBER 25)View on Website -- https://wordpoints.com/why-saul-rabbi-obeyed-gospel-christ-october-25/". . . in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith -- that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead" (Philippians 3:8...
2025-10-2503 min
Obeying the GospelWhat Was Written in the Hebrew Scriptures (October 24)WHAT WAS WRITTEN IN THE HEBREW SCRIPTURES (OCTOBER 24)View on Website -- https://wordpoints.com/written-in-hebrew-scriptures-october-24/"Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things" (Luke 24:46-48).THIS STATEMENT WAS MADE BY JESUS TO A GROUP OF HIS DISCIPLES ON THE EVENING OF THE SAME DAY ON WHICH HE HAD BEEN RAISED FROM THE DEAD. As He appeared...
2025-10-2403 min
Obeying the GospelWe Must All Appear (October 23)WE MUST ALL APPEAR (OCTOBER 23)View on Website -- https://wordpoints.com/we-must-all-appear-october-23/"For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil" (2 Corinthians 5:10).IT IS A VERY SERIOUS THING THAT PAUL SAYS HERE. There is not a single one of us who will not have to account for himself or herself before Christ at the judgment. That accounting will be an absolutely accurate assessment of our life-choices, whether good or...
2025-10-2303 min
Obeying the GospelIf Faith Does Not Act, It Does Not Save (October 22)IF FAITH DOES NOT ACT, IT DOES NOT SAVE (OCTOBER 22)View on Website -- https://wordpoints.com/faith-not-act-not-save-october-22/"For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead" (James 2:26).FAITH IS ABOUT AS BASIC A CONCEPT AS THERE IS IN THE GOSPEL. Its importance in our response to God is immense (Philippians 3:8,9). But faith, or trust, is not easy. It requires a good deal of courage. For example, it takes faith to accept whatever the Lord’s commandments are in cases where what He requires go...
2025-10-2203 min
Obeying the GospelChrist in Us, the Hope of Glory (October 21)CHRIST IN US, THE HOPE OF GLORY (OCTOBER 21)View on Website -- https://wordpoints.com/christ-in-us-hope-of-glory-october-21/"To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory" (Colossians 1:27).ALTHOUGH THE GOSPEL WAS FORESHADOWED IN THE OLD TESTAMENT, IT WAS A “MYSTERY” UNTIL GOD FULLY REVEALED IT IN THE LIFE OF JESUS CHRIST AND THE TEACHING OF THE APOSTLES. It was not mysterious in the sense of being weird or arcane, but it was a “myster...
2025-10-2103 min
Obeying the GospelImmanuel (October 20)IMMANUEL (OCTOBER 20)View on Website -- https://wordpoints.com/immanuel-october-20/"Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel" (Isaiah 7:14).ONE OF THE FUNDAMENTAL TRUTHS OF THE GOSPEL IS THE INCARNATION. From the Latin for “flesh,” the Incarnation means that God took fleshly form. In order to deal with human sin at its deepest level, God allowed Himself to be born into the world as a human being. In the person of Jesus Christ, the Son of God was...
2025-10-2003 min
Obeying the GospelHis Wonderful Passion and Purity (October 19)HIS WONDERFUL PASSION AND PURITY (OCTOBER 19)View on Website -- https://wordpoints.com/wonderful-passion-purity-october-19/"When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. And he began to teach them many things" (Mark 6:34).ONE OF OUR GREAT ENDOWMENTS AS HUMAN BEINGS IS THE CAPACITY TO FEEL THINGS EMOTIONALLY. Whatever “emotions” any of the lower creatures may seem to have, these are far below the emotional abilities of human beings. And we are able to feel things the way we do beca...
2025-10-1902 min
Enthusiastic IdeasLeadership (February 22)LEADERSHIP (FEBRUARY 22)View on Website -- https://wordpoints.com/leadership-february-22/"He that would be a leader must be a bridge" (Welsh Proverb).IT WOULD BE HARD TO THINK OF GEORGE WASHINGTON, BORN ON THIS DAY, WITHOUT THINKING OF LEADERSHIP. If it hadn’t been for his ability to blaze a trail, both literally and figuratively, our nation might easily have been lost trying to find its freedom. We wouldn’t have to stretch our imaginations much to believe that the availability of his leadership at that time was providential.When history judg...
2025-10-1802 min
Obeying the GospelJesus Is Fairer, Jesus Is Purer (October 18)JESUS IS FAIRER, JESUS IS PURER (OCTOBER 18)View on Website -- https://wordpoints.com/jesus-fairer-purer-october-18/"He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation" (Colossians 1:15).DARKNESS CAN HAVE A DARKENING EFFECT ON US MENTALLY. If you were to live underground long enough, you would almost forget that there is such a thing as sunshine, and when you finally saw it again, you would be exhilarated. In a similar way, those who heard Jesus Christ might have had a hard time putting it into words, but they would have felt...
2025-10-1803 min
Obeying the GospelAccept Forgiveness, Grow in Godliness (October 17)ACCEPT FORGIVENESS, GROW IN GODLINESS (OCTOBER 17)View on Website -- https://wordpoints.com/accept-forgiveness-grow-godliness-october-17/"Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation" (1 Peter 2:2).IF WE ARE OUTSIDE OF JESUS CHRIST, IN A LOST CONDITION BECAUSE WE’VE NEVER OBEYED THE GOSPEL, GOD WOULD SAY TWO THINGS TO US. He would say, first, that we need to accept His forgiveness by obeying the gospel. But He would also say that, having been forgiven, we need to start growing in godliness each day.Th...
2025-10-1703 min
Obeying the GospelApostasy Was Foretold (October 16)APOSTASY WAS FORETOLD (OCTOBER 16)View on Website -- https://wordpoints.com/apostasy-foretold-october-16/"Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons" (1 Timothy 4:1).PREDICTIONS OF APOSTASY, LIKE THE ONE ABOVE, ARE FOUND THROUGHOUT THE NEW TESTAMENT. It was a matter of great concern to all of the apostles. The fact that there would occur a departure from the foundational teachings of the gospel was not something they could think about except with a broken heart.Here...
2025-10-1603 min
Obeying the GospelRestoration as an Ongoing Work (October 15)RESTORATION AS AN ONGOING WORK (OCTOBER 15)View on Website -- https://wordpoints.com/restoration-ongoing-work-october-15/"Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent" (Revelation 2:5).IN YESTERDAY’S READING, WE TALKED ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF RESTORING THE FAITH AND PRACTICE THAT WE FIND IN THE NEW TESTAMENT. Today, let’s reemphasize the fact that restoration must be an ongoing work. There will never come a time when we can say, “What i...
2025-10-1503 min
Obeying the GospelRestoration as a Principle (October 14)RESTORATION AS A PRINCIPLE (OCTOBER 14)View on Website -- https://wordpoints.com/restoration-principle-october-14/"Let what you heard from the beginning abide in you. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, then you too will abide in the Son and in the Father" (1 John 2:24).THE CONCEPT OF “RESTORATION” IS OF FUNDAMENTAL IMPORTANCE IN BOTH THE OLD AND THE NEW TESTAMENTS. We can’t read the Scriptures seriously and not see that if we intend to be God’s faithful people, “restoration” must be a work we engage in. God has never — in any age of...
2025-10-1402 min
Obeying the GospelThe Apostolic Traditions (October 13)THE APOSTOLIC TRADITIONS (OCTOBER 13)View on Website -- https://wordpoints.com/apostolic-traditions-october-13/"So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the traditions that you were taught by us, either by our spoken word or by our letter" (2 Thessalonians 2:15).IS “TRADITION” A GOOD THING OR A BAD THING? The word is neutral; it simply means “that which has been received.” So tradition can be good or bad, depending on several things: the source from which it was received, the nature of what has been received, and what is done with it after it is received...
2025-10-1303 min
Obeying the GospelThe Apostles (October 12)THE APOSTLES (OCTOBER 12)View on Website -- https://wordpoints.com/apostles-october-12/". . . built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord" (Ephesians 2:20,21).THE CHURCH OF WHICH CHRIST IS THE CORNERSTONE HAS A SOLID FOUNDATION: THE APOSTLES AND PROPHETS. Prophecy was important, obviously, but since it was a gift of the Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:8-10), it was imparted by the apostles (Acts 8:14-19). So the work of the apostles was primary (1 Corinthians 12:28). It was...
2025-10-1203 min
Obeying the GospelEverywhere in Every Church (October 11)EVERYWHERE IN EVERY CHURCH (OCTOBER 11)View on Website -- https://wordpoints.com/everywhere-every-church-october-11/"That is why I sent you Timothy, my beloved and faithful child in the Lord, to remind you of my ways in Christ, as I teach them everywhere in every church" (1 Corinthians 4:17).THE THINGS PAUL TAUGHT AS AN APOSTLE, HE TAUGHT EVERYWHERE IN EVERY CHURCH. And the statement Paul makes here is like others in the same letter indicating that the order he imposed on the Lord’s work and worship in Corinth did not vary from what he imposed on...
2025-10-1103 min
Obeying the GospelThe Way (October 10)THE WAY (OCTOBER 10)View on Website -- https://wordpoints.com/the-way-october-10/"But Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem" (Acts 9:1,2).AS THESE VERSES INDICATE, “THE WAY” IS HOW THE CHRISTIAN FAITH WAS KNOWN IN ITS EARLY DAYS. The fact that the faith was known by that description says several things. First, a “way” indicate...
2025-10-1002 min
Obeying the GospelA People for God’s Name (October 9)A PEOPLE FOR GOD'S NAME (OCTOBER 9)View on Website -- https://wordpoints.com/people-for-gods-name-october-9/"Simeon has related how God first visited the Gentiles, to take from them a people for his name" (Acts 15:14).A PERSON’S “NAME” COMMUNICATES HIS CHARACTER OR INNER NATURE. Hence, “a good name is better than precious ointment” (Ecclesiastes 7:1). In the case of God’s name, of course, much more is involved than with any human name. God’s name stands for not only His character but also His power — especially His power to deliver and to save. When the apostles wer...
2025-10-0903 min
Obeying the GospelI Will Be Their God (October 8)I WILL BE THEIR GOD (OCTOBER 8)View on Website -- https://wordpoints.com/will-be-their-god-october-8/"For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my laws into their minds, and write them on their hearts, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people" (Hebrews 8:10).THIS VERSE IS PART OF THE HEBREW WRITER’S QUOTATION OF JEREMIAH 31:31-34, WHICH IS THE LONGEST OLD TESTAMENT QUOTATION IN THE NEW TESTAMENT. For today’s study, let’s focus on God’s...
2025-10-0803 min
Obeying the GospelA People for His Own Possession (October 7)A PEOPLE FOR HIS OWN POSSESSION (OCTOBER 7)View on Website -- https://wordpoints.com/people-own-possession-october-7/"But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God's people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy" (1 Peter 2:9,10).IN THIS TEXT IN THE KING JAMES VERSION, CHRISTIANS ARE DESCRIBED AS “A PECULIAR PEOPLE.” One of the...
2025-10-0703 min
Obeying the GospelAnd They Will Be His People (October 6)AND THEY WILL BE HIS PEOPLE (OCTOBER 6)View on Website -- https://wordpoints.com/they-will-be-his-people-october-6/"And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, 'Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God'" (Revelation 21:3).WHEN GOD TOOK UPON HIMSELF HUMAN FLESH, HE DWELLED (“TABERNACLED”) AMONG US FOR A WHILE. The Gospel of John makes this point in 1:14, where it says that in Jesus Christ, God “lived here with us” (CEV). This is a sta...
2025-10-0603 min
Obeying the GospelA Ransomed People (October 5)A RANSOMED PEOPLE (OCTOBER 5)View on Website -- https://wordpoints.com/ransomed-people-october-5/"And they sang a new song, saying, 'Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation'" (Revelation 5:9).THE LAMB THAT WAS SLAIN! Reminiscent of the Passover lamb in Israel, Jesus was a greater sacrifice, enabling God to justify mankind from its sins. John the Baptist said on one occasion as he saw Jesus coming toward him, “Be...
2025-10-0503 min
Obeying the GospelThe Washing of Water with the Word (October 4)THE WASHING OF WATER WITH THE WORD (OCTOBER 4)View on Website -- https://wordpoints.com/washing-water-word-october-4/". . . that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word" (Ephesians 5:26).TO ACCOMPLISH THE PURPOSES OF CHRIST, THE CHURCH MUST BE “SANCTIFIED.” This word sounds like nothing more than religious lingo to some, but its concept is important and not hard to understand. To be “sanctified” is to be set apart for special use.For example, I have an iron skillet in which I have never made anything but cornbrea...
2025-10-0403 min
Obeying the GospelThe Church in Philippi (October 3)THE CHURCH IN PHILIPPI (OCTOBER 3)View on Website -- https://wordpoints.com/church-in-philippi-october-3/"Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, with the overseers and deacons" (Philippians 1:1).IT IS OBVIOUS THAT PAUL HAD A SPECIAL LOVE FOR THE CHRISTIANS IN THE CITY OF PHILIPPI. The church there had begun in unusual circumstances (Acts 16:11-40), and the brethren had kept in touch with Paul, helping and encouraging him generously. In the text above, we have the salutation of a letter that Paul and Timothy...
2025-10-0303 min