A typical proverb of Solomon is a concise, two-line observation revealing or emphasizing some truth about human conduct. When taken to heart, a biblical proverb has transformative power. Here’s a case in point: “A cheerful heart is a good medicine, but a downcast spirit dries up the bones” (Prov. 17:22). Modern medical research definitely supports…

As a college student I learned a fascinating fact about the animal kingdom. If the temperature of a frog’s water is raised gradually, he senses no danger—not even when the water boils. This means that the poor little fellow will boil to death without ever thinking to hop to safety. I fear that many of…

In 1832, Margaret Mackay wrote the hymn “Asleep in Jesus.” The first stanza speaks of “a calm and undisturbed repose.” After staying up too late on Saturday night, we may be tempted to sleep in instead of attending Bible school or to doze off during the morning message. This wasn’t the sort of “undisturbed repose”…

A man watched as his bride prepared a delicious meal of roast, potatoes, and carrots. Before putting the meat in her pan, she cut off a piece and set it aside. Her husband asked why she had done this. “I don’t know,” she said. “My mother always cooks roast this way.” When questioned, the girl’s…

An infant is completely helpless. He can’t talk, understand speech, feed himself, walk, crawl or even roll over. The months and years slip by quickly, though, and soon the little guy is wanting to do everything independently. Mom, don’t lift me into bed at night. I can climb that mattress mountain all by myself. Dad,…

The apostle Peter urges Christian women to submit to their husbands (1 Pet. 3:1-6). He follows this inspired appeal with an admonition for men: “Likewise you husbands, live considerately with your wives, bestowing honor on the woman as the weaker sex, since you are joint heirs of the grace of life” (v. 7). How, exactly,…

One day “a lawyer stood up” and asked Jesus an excellent question: “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” (Luke 10:25). This fellow was no attorney but rather an expert in the Law of Moses and the religious traditions of the Jewish people. Actually, the man knew a good biblical answer to his…

  Below is a simple communion meditation. You may wish to keep it in your Bible until you have memorized its main ideas. One. One Savior died for my sins and reconciled me to the Father. Jesus said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but…

Many Christians seem to have mixed-up contentment priorities. On the one hand, external circumstances tend to make us feel dissatisfied. We may be unhappy about our physical appearance, lack of money needed to purchase a coveted item, or even the weather. On the other hand, we tend to be perfectly content with our spiritual growth—or…

One time I saw a TV commercial promoting laundry detergent. The ad promised that the product gave sheets a wonderful lavender scent. The stuff worked so well that a married couple going to bed angry would find themselves in an entirely different mood as soon as they got a whiff of the clean sheets. How…