Abstain From All Appearance of Evil
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- Last Updated on Wednesday, 18 April 2012 10:13
- Published on Wednesday, 08 February 2012 00:00
- Written by Patrick Swayne
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Paul’s command following one’s proving all things is two-fold – not only are Christians to “hold fast that which is good,” they are to “abstain from all appearance of evil” (1 Thessalonians 5:21-22). But what does it mean to abstain from all appearance of evil? This verse has often been taken out of its context, and therefore applied to a great number of situations. Some of these situations are appropriate, but some of them are not. In order to properly fulfill this command, Christians must know what it does not mean, what it means, and how it applies.
A Lesson In Hair (Ezekiel 5)
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- Last Updated on Wednesday, 18 April 2012 10:13
- Published on Wednesday, 08 February 2012 00:00
- Written by Patrick Swayne
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Ezekiel was one of the most graphic preachers to have ever walked the face of the earth – after hearing one of his sermons, one would be in little doubt as to where the Lord stood. This is because he was often instructed by the Lord to employ what can be referred to as an “object lesson” – using a physical illustration to teach a spiritual or physical truth. On one such occasion, he was instructed to teach the children of
From Blindness to Sight (Mark 10:46-52)
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- Last Updated on Wednesday, 18 April 2012 10:12
- Published on Wednesday, 08 February 2012 00:00
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You open your eyes and see nothing. No matter how many times you blink, no matter how many times you rub your eyes, no matter how many times you doubt what has happened to you, all that encompasses you is darkness – darkness so thick that you could cut it with a knife. You get on your hands and knees and crawl across the ground, dizzied from the loss of one of your sensory perceptions. People walk to and fro around you, stumbling over you when you cross their path. They yell at you, telling you to get out of the way, but do not offer a helping hand. You hear the laughter of children, and then feel the shove of a small hand on your side – had you been able to see, the shove would have meant nothing, but in this impaired state, you fall over. Kicked and stepped on, you finally make it to a wall and prop your back against it. Your state is hopeless; you feel helpless. You feel something land on your lap – you pick it up with your hand, and feel the shape and features of a coin.
Go To The Ant (Proverbs 6:6-8)
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- Last Updated on Wednesday, 18 April 2012 10:13
- Published on Wednesday, 08 February 2012 00:00
- Written by Patrick Swayne
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The ant is a remarkable creature. Like all of God’s creatures, the ant was created with an undeniable and unmistakable design; its body, its natural work ethic, the house it builds, the way it works with other ants for a common goal – the ant could not possibly have been devised by chance or circumstance, but could only be the product of the Almighty. It is to this remarkable creature that Solomon calls our attention, when we are considering a path that is not profitable.
Don’t Just Do Something! Sit There!
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- Last Updated on Wednesday, 18 April 2012 12:25
- Published on Saturday, 04 February 2012 16:36
- Written by Patrick Swayne
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We’ve all probably heard the expression, “Don’t Just Stand There! Do Something!” However, I recently read a financial column by Alex Scherer that advised the opposite: “Don’t Just Do Something! Sit There!” The advice was given in light of the huge losses and gains in ticker prices that often follow a company’s quarterly earnings report. The columnist urged readers never to buy or sell a stock on the day those numbers come out as the information released on that day alone actually has little bearing on a stock’s future performance. Further, the great fluctuations of that day can often cause one to make an investing mistake. I found the sentiment to be rather interesting as it applies to much more important spiritual matters.