What Is A Proverb? A proverb is something that contains a timeless truth. It is very much like the law of gravity in that it is unalterable. The truths contained in the proverbs are just as true today. It is amazing that God’s word can be applied in every age, every culture, and in every tongue that they are read. A proverb is based on real-life experiences. It is divine truth that has been verified by the experience of the author. Proverbs has been called “A Laboratory Manual on Life.” It is not merely a theological treatise or a book of wise sayings. A proverb is morally and ethically sound. It provides guidance in making godly choices in difficult situations. It instructs the believer on how to conduct himself/herself in the world. It offers simple, practical advice to help in daily decision making. A proverb is a general statement of truth that allows for, but does not condone, exceptions to the rule. The statement “Smoking is harmful to your health” is generally true. However, occasionally a smoker may live to be 90 years old. This is very similar to the proverbs. The proverb “the fear of the Lord prolongs days, but the years of the wicked shall be shortened” (Proverbs 10:27) is also true. However, occasionally the good die young and the wicked live a long life. A proverb is a statement that will help us to understand life and the world. The great thing about the book of Proverbs is that it contains every element to help us understand, interpret, and apply the others. If we will read them, and rightly divide them, we will have a better outlook on life. We can learn from the experience of Solomon and other wise men. There is no need to go through the “trial and error” in order to gain the wisdom in the book of Proverbs. Why Study The Proverbs? The Proverbs are the Christian’s guide to wisdom. Some people do not like to study the proverbs because they seem like 138 random miscellaneous thoughts. In all actuality the proverbs show careful consideration, arrangement and grouping by the writers in an organized manner. They can be arranged as follows: Chapters 1-8 deal with the youth, chapters 10-24 deal with the godly and ungodly, chapters 25-26 deal with relationships, chapters 27-29 deal with everyday activities, chapter 30 is the wisdom of Agur, and chapter 31 is the wisdom of King Lamuel. James Burton Coffman says that like the Pentateuch and the Psalms, Proverbs is divided into five parts: (1) The proverbs of Solomon (1-9); (2) more proverbs of Solomon (10-24); (3) the proverbs of Solomon copied by Hezekiah (25-29); (4) the words of Agur (30); and (5) a mother's counsel (31). The best study of proverbs may not be a verse by verse, or even chapter by chapter study, but a topical study. The Proverbs help a Christian understand the importance of God and His Word. The proverbs offer practical advice on our relationship with God. They teach us how to fear God, understand His word, and apply the wisdom of God to life. We can gain insight into who God truly is: His eyes – 5:21, 15:3 His strength – 3:25-26, 10:29, 21:31 His justice – 1:30-31, 2:7-9, 3:22, 12:14, 13:15, 24:12 His hatred – 3:32, 6:16-19, 11:1-20, 12:22, 15:8, 20:10, 20:23 His mercy – 15:29, 16:2-6, 28:13 His creativity – 14:27, 22:2, 29:13 We also can see what He desires for us to do: His desire for respect – 1:7, 3:7-8, 9:10, 10:27 His desire for our wisdom – 1:25-26, 2:5-6, 8:22-36 His blessings for wisdom – 1:7-33, 3:13-26, 4:7, 9:10 The Proverbs help a Christian understand the importance of family. The proverbs deal with advice in selecting a spouse. They deal with being a good spouse. They also deal with child rearing, discipline, and family relationships. The Proverbs help a Christian understand the importance of friendship. The proverbs deal with all kinds of relationships and companionship. They even give warning on how to deal with your enemies. They give advice on what to do, and what not to do, with your friends. The Proverbs help a Christian understand the importance of business and work. The proverbs teach that a man must work and provide for his family. At the same time they warn us to be careful of our priorities. Therefore, they warn about money, greed, selfishness, and gambling. The Proverbs help a Christian understand the heart, tongue, and good character. They warn about discretion, judgment, prudence, pride, and anxiety. They also warn about making foolish vows, speaking lies, and evil words. They also warn about covetousness, laziness, drunkenness, and gluttony. They encourage us to have assurance, love, and not to seek revenge. The Proverbs help a Christian understand true wisdom, how to act wisely, how to live a righteous life, and how to treat others with fairness. They also give hope to those seeking common sense, sound advise, and seek to inspire all men to live a moral and ethically sound life. This may be why it is quoted frequently in the New Testament: Proverbs 3:11-12 is quoted in Hebrews 12:5-6 Proverbs 3:34 is quoted in James 4:6 Proverbs 4:26 is quoted in Hebrews 12:13 Proverbs 11:31 is quoted in I Peter 4:18 Proverbs 13:7 is quoted in II Corinthians 6:10 Proverbs 22:8 is quoted in II Corinthians 9:7 Proverbs 22:8 is quoted in Galatians 6:7 Proverbs 24:21 is quoted in I Peter 2:17 Proverbs 25:7 is quoted in Luke 14:10 Proverbs 25:21 is quoted in Romans 12:20 Proverbs 26:11 is quoted in II Peter 2:22 Proverbs 27:1 is quoted in James 4:14,16 Proverbs 30:4 is quoted in John 3:13 Even Jesus’ words echo the proverbs. He tells the story of the wise and foolish builders (Proverbs 14:11), those taking the chief seats (Proverbs 25:6-7), and the rich fool (Proverbs 27:1). I guess the answer is why wouldn't we want to study the proverbs? Have a great week! You are loved. Ray Reynolds, PhD #RayReynolds #summerdale #churchofchrist #churchtiktok #christiantiktok #Christian #YouTube #church #spiritual #peachtreepress #inspiration #encourage #positive #thoughts #counseling #ministry #didaskobibleinstitute #TheStory #rayreynoldsrap #reclaiminghope #reclaiminghopeministry #faith #hope #Love #Bible #BibleStudy #BibleVerses #religion #Jesus #Christ #God #HolySpirit #Christianity #Scripture #onpoint #dailyBiblereading #Proverbs

The third book of Psalms is predominately comprised of psalms from the sons of Asaph (Psalms 73-83). This family was devoted to leading the people in worship to God in His temple (I Chronicles 25:1). However, of the 17 Psalms in this section there is also a psalm of David (Psalm 86), one from Heman the Ezraite (Psalm 88), one from Ethan the Ezraite (Psalm 89), and three from the Sons of Korah (Psalm 84-85, 87). Psalms: Book Three relates to the book of Leviticus. The general theme concerns the Sanctuary. The book begins with the Sanctuary as related to man (Psalms 73-83, related to Leviticus 1-7) and concludes with the Sanctuary as related to God (Psalms 84-89, related to Leviticus 8-27). Many of these psalms were actually written by the Levitical priests. They emphasizes God’s faithfulness—a faithfulness that spans generations and are not just used in conjunction with the psalmist (like the first two books) but with the entire nation. In Book Three, we see the Lord around us, remaining faithful to His people through the generations. The Asaph psalms prefer the name Elohim or El, in reference to God, but the rest of the book uses Yahweh. These were written to be sung by the temple choirs and/or congregational hymns. They remind us that God alone is holy and that we should remember our place before Him when we worship. When we come into God’s presence we should have reverential fear, awe, and respect for Him. The first psalm in this book announces, “Truly God is good to Israel” (Psalm 73:1). God has been just in all of His dealings with the nation of Israel despite the sufferings that the people often went through and the sins they committed. The final psalm in this book speaks of the fact that God has kept His covenant with David, therefore He should be worshipped and praised (Psalm 89). Don’t miss the double “Amen” at the end! Again. My favorite psalm in the this section is Psalm 85 that delivers a message of revival and restoration to Israel. It says, "Mercy and truth have met together; Righteousness and peace have kissed. Truth shall spring out of the earth, and righteousness shall look down from heaven. Yes, the Lord will give what is good; And our land will yield its increase. Righteousness will go before Him, and shall make His footsteps our pathway." There is always hope when we serve a merciful God. He is righteous! And His will is to keep us on the path of righteousness. Have a great week! You are loved. Ray Reynolds, PhD #RayReynolds #summerdale #churchofchrist #churchtiktok #christiantiktok #Christian #YouTube #church #spiritual #peachtreepress #inspiration #encourage #positive #thoughts #counseling #ministry #didaskobibleinstitute #TheStory #rayreynoldsrap #reclaiminghope #reclaiminghopeministry #faith #hope #Love #Bible #BibleStudy #BibleVerses #religion #Jesus #Christ #God #HolySpirit #Christianity #Scripture #onpoint #dailyBiblereading #Psalms

The first book of Psalms is mostly written by David. Psalms 1, 2, 10 and 33 are anonymous but are usually attributed to David. However, as previously mentioned Acts 4:25 attributes Psalm 2 to David. There is some evidence that Psalm 10 could have been split off from Psalm 9 (a psalm of David). Also, the Septuagint attributes Psalm 33 to David. This leaves only the introductory Psalm 1 without solid confirmation or dedication. Therefore, most scholars believe that this is probably an exclusive, but not exhaustive, collection of Davidic psalms. Ezra may have compiled these psalms with the intended purpose of keeping this first book entirely comprised of Davidic psalms. We can trust his scholarship and the work of the Holy Spirit (II Peter 1:20-21). Psalms: Book One relates to the book of Genesis. The general theme is about man and His relationship to God (Psalm 1, related to Genesis 1-2), then follows with man’s fall and rebellion (Psalms 2-15, related to Genesis 3-11), and ends with hope of redemption through Christ (Psalms 16-41, related to Genesis 12-50). These 41 psalms focus on God’s ability to deliver those who fear Him as the Creator. They reflect much of David’s life and his understanding of the glory of God. This book uses the divine name Yahweh (273), more than Elohim (15). Every kind of emotion is revealed in these Psalms. As we read these psalms we witness David pouring out his heart to God, begging God for protection, and asking Him for help against his enemies. They have a personal appeal to the reader and help us to put ourselves in his shoes. No doubt God allows these psalms to be preserved in our Bible to help us feel a one-on-one interaction with God. Psalm 1 sets the scene for the rest of the book. The man blessed by God is the one who is obedient to His word, while the sinner rejects it and receives His judgment. From the perfection of those who are blessed by God we are led to the Salvation of the Lord. Along the way we see the consequences of sin and the need for redemption. We see the depravity of man despite the great love of God toward the sinner. This causes David to ask, “What is man” that God should pay any attention to him (Psalm 8)? In Psalm 9 he speaks of the Lord as the God who has the power to deliver from the enemy. In Psalm 10 David knows that God hears and answers prayer which is a sign of His deliverance. Toward the middle of the book, we can see David speaking to God as the Great Shepherd who watches faithfully over His flock (Psalm 23). David praises God as the King of Glory (Psalm 24). Psalm 36 reveals that God hates sin but loves those who trust in Him. However, the closing thought of the section is almost identical in thought to the first psalm as it speaks of the blessed person (Psalm 41). The doxology reads, “Blessed be the LORD God of Israel from everlasting to everlasting.” Don’t miss the double “Amen” at the end! Have a great week! You are loved. Ray Reynolds, PhD #RayReynolds #summerdale #churchofchrist #churchtiktok #christiantiktok #Christian #YouTube #church #spiritual #peachtreepress #inspiration #encourage #positive #thoughts #counseling #ministry #didaskobibleinstitute #TheStory #rayreynoldsrap #reclaiminghope #reclaiminghopeministry #faith #hope #Love #Bible #BibleStudy #BibleVerses #religion #Jesus #Christ #God #HolySpirit #Christianity #Scripture #onpoint #dailyBiblereading #Psalms

Paul Harvey is famous for saying, “And now, the rest of the story.” I realize that dates me but Paul Harvey was beloved by my father. I can still remember him turning up the dial so that the whole car could hear Paul’s commentary on current events. “If I Were The Devil” remains one of my favorite bits from his program. While we were reading Ezra, and the first part of Nehemiah, there seems to be a dark and dreary scene. Broken walls. Temple in ruins. Carved idols. High places. Compromised leadership. Captivity. Shame. Heartache. Tears. The Persian King Cyrus overthrew the Babylonian King Belshazzar in 539 B.C. The Persian rulers were far more benevolent than the Babylonian or the Assyrian oppressors. They were sympathetic to the religious needs of the various people groups they ruled. King Cyrus encouraged all foreigners in Babylon to return to their homelands, set up their gods, and pay their taxes. It would have taken several months to prepare for the journey and several months to make the journey with the young and the elderly. So in 537 B.C. about 50,000 exiles left Babylon to return to their homeland and rebuild the temple in Jerusalem. This is the rest of the story… There is hope for Israel! Ezra and Nehemiah answered the call of God. The rest of the story is not about ruin or reproach, but about revival. As you may know, the enemy ridiculed the idea of reviving stones (Nehemiah 4:3). Nehemiah and the people would do just that; and, I might add, in record time (Nehemiah 4:1-6, 6:15). The greatest revival was what really took place in the hearts and minds of those who worked with Nehemiah to rebuild the walls. Let me assure you that revival is possible! Our God will help us, as He did Nehemiah (Matthew 19:26, Romans 8:31). As was the case in Nehemiah’s time, revival today must begin in the hearts and the minds of God’s people (I Peter 2:5). If we desire revival in the church, we must consider passages that tell us the terms of revival. II Chronicles 7:14 says, “if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” We must also study great stories of revival. By following his example, we can do the same today. In each chapter of Ezra and Nehemiah we find another building block that will lead us to growth in God’s kingdom. It took only 52 days to bring revival to God’s people (Nehemiah 6:15). How long will it take to revive the church today? Will you answer the call of God? Have a great week! You are loved. Ray Reynolds, PhD #RayReynolds #summerdale #churchofchrist #churchtiktok #christiantiktok #Christian #YouTube #church #spiritual #peachtreepress #inspiration #encourage #positive #thoughts #counseling #ministry #didaskobibleinstitute #TheStory #rayreynoldsrap #reclaiminghope #reclaiminghopeministry #faith #hope #Love #Bible #BibleStudy #BibleVerses #religion #Jesus #Christ #God #HolySpirit #Christianity #Scripture #onpoint #dailyBiblereading

We are in the midst of the Spring season. But, before you know it, the Thanksgiving holiday will be right around the corner. What does Thanksgiving mean to you? For some it means making their plans for Black Friday shopping. You may be one of those people who camps out all night for a deal, strategically marks specific destination and times for door busters, or wears a football helmet and shoulder pads to navigate the mall crowds. Not me. I prefer to leave that to the “die-hard” shoppers. When I was a child my most favorite memories during the holidays included visiting Grandma Leta’s house and pouring over the Sears Wish Book. Grandma gave my brother and me each a different colored marker and said, “Circle what you want for Christmas.” Wow! Nearly every page was marked. Of course, grandma didn’t buy ALL of the items, but she did manage to get us nearly dozen each year. Our wishes were granted! Do you remember the Sears Wish Book? The first Sears Wish Book was printed in 1933. Over time it has diminished in size and was even discontinued at one point. It was revived in 2007, but I will never forget the hours we’d spend looking at all the new toys coming out for the Christmas season. To be honest, we knew grandma and Santa were old friends, so we mark most of the items in case he was watching! We didn’t want Santa to miss our requests. Children today don’t really need a Wish Book. They have the Internet and their high tech toys to cruise the information highway to identify their holiday “wants.” But “back in the day” the Sears Wish Book helped us answer the seasonal question: “If you could have anything for Christmas, what would you ask for?” You may not need the Sears Wish Book today, but you have some wishes too, don’t you? With Christmas coming up, how would you answer the question, “If you could have one thing in the world, what would it be?” Solomon had to answer that one. The Lord basically asked “What is your wish? (I Kings 3) He asked for wisdom. And God gave it to him. But by the end of his life he had accumulated more and more: more gold, more horses, more wives. He had it all and wanted more. In the midst of all these gifts he lost sight of the Giver. He turned away from God and lost it all. Another King gave us another path to follow. He had it all and gave it all... for us. In the Christmas season, or any season for that matter, you can guard yourself from the tyranny of too much stuff by giving. Simply give so that others can simply live. That’s what the King born as a baby in the manger did. And, if I had one wish for Christmas this year, it would be that you would visit the manger and find Him. Have a great week! You are loved. Ray Reynolds, PhD #RayReynolds #summerdale #churchofchrist #churchtiktok #christiantiktok #Christian #YouTube #church #spiritual #peachtreepress #inspiration #encourage #positive #thoughts #counseling #ministry #didaskobibleinstitute #rayreynoldsrap #reclaiminghope #reclaiminghopeministry #faith #hope #Love #Bible #BibleStudy #BibleVerses #religion #Jesus #Christ #God #HolySpirit #Christianity #Scripture #onpoint #dailyBiblereading

Just imagine the scene: a scrawny teenage shepherd boy takes out a 9’9” tall giant with one rock and a sling. What was that scene like? Can you imagine how you would feel standing and watching those events unfold? You may not have a gigantic giant taunting you to come out and fight. But you are probably facing a few giants of your own. Giants like the stack of past-due bills glaring at you. Like the divorce papers waiting on your signature. Or the depression that looms over you like the Hulk. It could be low self-esteem or insecurity or child abuse in your past. But you have your giants. And so do I. And we would do well to learn from David. He could face his “giant” because he had spent time in the quiet with God. When he arrived at the place of the standoff between the Israelites and the Philistines, he talked about God. He told Saul that “The LORD who rescued me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will rescue me from the hand of this Philistine” (I Samuel 17:37). He did not hesitate to confront Goliath, saying he came “in the name of the Lord of host, the God of the armies of Israel.” David was God-focused instead of giant-focused. He mentions Goliath two times and God nine times. He knew the giant was there and recognized his presence. But his thoughts were twice as much on God. That focus led him to confront his giant rather than run away. For forty days Goliath continued to challenge Israel’s army. And for forty days everyone hoped he would just go away. But giants don’t typically go away until we face them. So David stepped into the gap and slung one well-aimed stone at him. It helps to have someone in your corner that believes in you. David had his Jonathan. You need yours. You need at least one person who believes in you and that also believes in God. Someone who can encourage your faith—give you courage—when you most need it. And you will need it. Because after you slay one giant, there will be more. You may wonder why David picked up five stones from the river bed. Was he afraid he might miss? Not likely. He was skilled in his use of the sling. II Samuel 21:18-22 hints that Goliath may have had four “giant” relatives. David was ready. He could take on one giant. You might say knew how to get a head of his giant. And then he was ready for more. And you can too. Just follow the shepherd from Bethlehem. Have a great week! You are loved. Ray Reynolds, PhD #RayReynolds #summerdale #churchofchrist #churchtiktok #christiantiktok #Christian #YouTube #church #spiritual #peachtreepress #inspiration #encourage #positive #thoughts #counseling #ministry #didaskobibleinstitute #rayreynoldsrap #reclaiminghope #reclaiminghopeministry #faith #hope #Love #Bible #BibleStudy #BibleVerses #religion #Jesus #Christ #God #HolySpirit #Christianity #Scripture #onpoint #dailyBiblereading

The book of Judges was probably written during the monarchy, perhaps by Samuel, to show the Israelites how tragic life is when God’s people refuse to acknowledge His sovereignty; when they instead do “what is right in his own eyes.” When Joshua died, God did not appoint another man to succeed him as the military leader of the nation. Instead, each tribe was to conquer and occupy its allotted territory. Judges were not a new office to Israel. In every Israelite town, Moses had established judges who were to hear civil disputes and assure justice for the people (Deuteronomy 16:18). God endowed judges with certain qualities that identified them as leaders to His people. Sometimes they were military commanders in their respective regions. The judges were divinely noted as military leaders raised up by God to rescue Israel from their enemies. It was absolutely essential that the Canaanite inhabitants be eradicated from the Land in order to protect the spiritual fidelity of Israel. God had made that abundantly clear to His people through both Moses and Joshua. After all, God had redeemed Israel from the world and redeemed them for holiness. Unfortunately, many of the pagan tribes remained the land because Israel had not fully obeyed God’s command to remove them. God graciously called this people to covenant relationship with Himself. This relationship is priceless; when the recipients of grace spurn the Giver of grace, He is rightfully angry. The believer cannot serve God and other gods at the same time. When Israel embraced their enemies, God sovereignly allowed their enemies to dominate them. Israel’s covenantal disobedience had disastrous results. The nation that had been chosen to bear God’s image became the spitting image of Canaanites. The nation that God wanted to use to reach the Gentiles was instead reached by the Gentiles. The Israelites slowly became indistinguishable from their neighbors. What was the difference between Canaanites and Israelites? The Israelites had God’s revelation; they should have known better. The book of Judges does not record the ministries of all the judges. But those who are recorded reveal a downward trajectory of disobedience even among the leaders, let alone the populace. We are stunned to find bargaining Barak, gutless Gideon, self-indulgent Samson, and injudicious Jephthah listed in the “Hall of Faith” in Hebrews 11:32-34. Their lives illustrate the great theological truth that the work of the Lord depends not on human means but on divine enablement. How comforting it is to know that God triumphs despite us if not through us! Believers today need opportunities to learn to live out their faith in the world. Are you learning? Are you living it? Have a great week. You are loved. Ray Reynolds, PhD #RayReynolds #summerdale #churchofchrist #churchtiktok #christiantiktok #Christian #YouTube #church #spiritual #peachtreepress #inspiration #encourage #positive #thoughts #counseling #ministry #didaskobibleinstitute #rayreynoldsrap #reclaiminghope #reclaiminghopeministry #faith #hope #Love #Bible #BibleStudy #BibleVerses #religion #Jesus #Christ #God #HolySpirit #Christianity #Scripture #onpoint #dailyBiblereading

It was my senior year at Logan-Rogersville High School in Rogersville, MO. Our class had witnessed many “senior pranks” through the past three years. Other senior stories were legendary (i.e. Sinclair dinosaur on top of the gymnasium, a VW beetle in the hallway, and a procession of motorcycles as the first hour began on Senior skip day). Needless to say we had to make it big! Right? So, some of us football players convinced a coach to give us the “master” key to all classrooms and a schedule of all the teachers off periods. Instead of participating in senior skip day, seven of us systematically, room by room, hit each and every classroom. What did we do? We wrote “Class of 96” on the marker boards and piled all of the desks and chairs in a large pile in the center of the room. In the computer lab we synced all of the screensavers to scroll “Class of 96” at the same time. The list goes on and on. Nothing destructive. Just some harmless fun, or so we thought. Until our principal, Mr. Hethrington, asked to see us before our senior breakfast the next day. The geometry teacher discovered us in the last period and squealed. A look of terror struck the eyes of our sneaky crew. In a moment of extreme bravery on my part, I led the apology. We felt like we were going before the judge in a court martial. Would they revoke our diplomas? Would we face the firing squad? Judges elicit a sense of fear, don’t they? They never call you in for something you have done right. We think of them as someone who harshly tells us what we did wrong. And they seem to be everywhere these days on television. There’s Judge Judy and Hatchett. Mathis and Christina. And a fan favorite—Judge Brown. Then there are some judges you may not know. They even have a book in the Bible with their name on it. Judges. These judges appeared on the scene to help sort out right and wrong. They also helped people get out of trouble. God’s people kept putting themselves into a never ending cycle of disobedience, discipline, declaration of wrong, and deliverance. Judges like Deborah and Gideon and Samson helped them find their way back to God. What did the people do that was so bad they needed judges? Two things. First, they failed to put God first in their lives (Judges 1:28). And secondly, they did not teach their children to know God (Judges 2:10). These two “sins” led to their downfall and ruin. Why didn’t the people learn from their mistakes? Do you know what Mr. Hethrington did to us? You might be surprised to know that he shook us each by the hand and congratulated us for being “creative” and not “participating in a senior prank that would cost the school money” to fix. Whew! He showed us mercy. And, I am happy to report that most pranks since 1996 have been more “tame” because of the example we set that year. Or so I am told. Are you making the same mistakes others made? If so, you have a judge that can help you––Jesus. One that will show mercy! The good news is that when He “calls” you into His office after you’ve messed up, you will look up to see your judge’s face and see your savior will be there. You are loved. Ray Reynolds, PhD #RayReynolds #summerdale #churchofchrist #churchtiktok #christiantiktok #Christian #YouTube #church #spiritual #peachtreepress #inspiration #encourage #positive #thoughts #counseling #ministry #didaskobibleinstitute #rayreynoldsrap #reclaiminghope #reclaiminghopeministry #faith #hope #Love #Bible #BibleStudy #BibleVerses #religion #Jesus #Christ #God #HolySpirit #Christianity #Scripture #onpoint #dailyBiblereading

Israel had spent the last 40 years on a road to nowhere. A lot can change in 40 years. All of the people who were slaves in Egypt had died, except for two, Joshua and Caleb. Moses had died too. Joshua had been his right-hand man and he was Israel’s new leader. The wilderness of disobedience and defeat was behind them now and a new generation camped at Canaan’s edge. A lot had changed during the wilderness years, but God had not. The promise He’d made to Abraham over 600 years before was about to turn into reality. The LORD spoke to Joshua saying, “Be strong and courageous, for I am with you. Be careful to obey my law.” Joshua listened well. He had spied out the land as a young man and trusted God to give it to them as He’d promised. Now he sent two spies into Jericho to appraise the land. They were hidden in the house of Rahab, a prostitute who protected them from the king of Jericho. She boldly confessed her faith in the LORD as the one true God who had given the land to Israel. The spies responded to her faith by agreeing to save her whole family when they attacked Jericho. This new generation of Israelites had heard the stories about crossing the Red Sea on dry land; now, their first steps into the Promised Land were taken across another patch of dry land when God parted the Jordan River – another highway leading into God’s promise. When they reached Jericho, the military strategy was unorthodox. The priests marched the Ark of the Covenant around Jericho’s walls each day for six days. On the seventh day, they marched around the city seven times. Their parade concluded with the sound of trumpets and shouts as they completed a seventh circle around the city. Amazingly, the walls of Jericho collapsed! Jericho was destroyed and Rahab and her family were saved. The land of Canaan was a place of conquest and victory for Israel. When Israel obeyed, God faithfully delivered her enemies into her hands. When they failed to trust Him, they missed out on the fulfillment of those promises. Even the temporary defeat at Ai caused by disobedience was later turned to victory when the people followed God’s command. In the annihilation of entire cities, we see God’s holy intolerance of sin. In the account of Gibeon, we see God’s mercy extended to a people who were willing to follow the true God. After taking the entire region by force, Joshua divided up the land by tribe as Israel’s inheritance. The chapter closes with Joshua’s final words as he recounts the stories of God’s faithfulness and deliverance. God will keep His promises. He will also let us choose whether or not we will participate in the blessings of His promises. These stories of God’s people are our stories too and, like Joshua, we must “choose this day whom you will serve.” Joshua stated he and his “household would serve the LORD.” What will you choose? Have a great week! You are loved. Ray Reynolds, PhD #RayReynolds #summerdale #churchofchrist #churchtiktok #christiantiktok #Christian #YouTube #church #spiritual #peachtreepress #inspiration #encourage #positive #thoughts #counseling #ministry #didaskobibleinstitute #rayreynoldsrap #reclaiminghope #reclaiminghopeministry #faith #hope #Love #Bible #BibleStudy #BibleVerses #religion #Jesus #Christ #God #HolySpirit #Christianity #Scripture #onpoint #dailyBiblereading

Everyone of us wants to buck authority and resist the rules. That is why we have trouble with following the commands of God. The book of Exodus reveals that God is the “I am that I am.” What does that mean? His mighty power brought the new nation out of Egyptian slavery into freedom. God’s plan is to be with us. God wants to be with His people. He is. God essentially said, “I want to come down and dwell with you.” God continues to say in effect, “For me to live with you, three things must be worked out.” Follow the Ten Commandments. Build a tabernacle of meeting. And establish the Levitical priesthood for sacrificial offerings. God gives guidelines for how we treat God and each other (Exodus 20:1-7). God wants a community of love that reflects the relationships of the Trinity. The Ten Commandments shape the community of love. Commandments 1-4 guide how we treat God. Commandments 5-10 guide how we treat other people. Sadly, the world resists God’s guidelines. We must not walk in the ways of the world. While Moses was away getting the 10 Commandments Aaron built a golden calf and the people worshiped it. God will not be with rebellious people. Moses interceded so that God would not wipe out his rebellious people (Exodus 32:22-23). Jesus spiritualizes the guidelines for how we treat God and each other (Matthew 5-7). God desires a place to dwell among us (Exodus 25). Specific directions for the making of the Tabernacle had been given to Moses (Exodus 25:8-9). God would dwell in the “Most Holy Place” and no one could see God’s face. Only the High Priest could enter the Most Holy Place once a year on behalf of the people. The Tabernacle was a portable tent (later replaced by the temple). God would guide his people with a moving cloud during the day and by a column of fire at night. Jesus spiritualizes the role of God dwelling with us (Matthew 1:23) and we can become a part of His new temple (I Corinthians 3:16-17). God requires that sin be atoned for (covered) by shedding of blood. The book of Leviticus provides specific requirements for the priesthood and the sacrifices offered in the Tabernacle. Our sin keeps us separated from God. Each one of us has decide whether to surrender to the works of the flesh or the Spirit. Sin must be dealt with, covered, atoned for, which is why Jesus (the perfect, spotless Lamb) took our place. The sacrificing of animals becomes institutionalized in the priestly sacrificial system so that sin could be constantly atoned for (covered). The new nation (the church, spiritual Israel) needed their sins covered so that God could dwell with them. The rebellion of the golden calf, the intercession of Moses, and the gracious forgiveness of God made it possible for God to dwell with His people (Exodus 33:14-16). Jesus spiritualizes the sacrifices of the people and offers Himself as the High Priest (Hebrews 10:1-18). Even though we are under the new covenant there is much to learn from the Old Testament. We need to follow the teaching and commandments of God. We need to allow our bodies to be a temple of God. And we must trust in our Great High Priest who offered Himself for us. Have a great week! You are loved. Ray Reynolds, PhD #RayReynolds #summerdale #churchofchrist #churchtiktok #christiantiktok #Christian #YouTube #church #spiritual #peachtreepress #inspiration #encourage #positive #thoughts #counseling #ministry #didaskobibleinstitute #rayreynoldsrap #reclaiminghope #reclaiminghopeministry #faith #hope #Love #Bible #BibleStudy #BibleVerses #religion #Jesus #Christ #God #HolySpirit #Christianity #Scripture #onpoint #dailyBiblereading

It was perhaps the greatest opportunity ever. God tells Moses that he wants to come to His people and dwell right in the middle of their camp. Not on the outskirts. Not in the suburbs. But right in the middle of where they were living! You might wonder, “What preparations would a people need to make for God to live in their midst?” Would it be like getting ready for weekend guests or someone special coming to dinner? You feel compelled to make sure your home looks as good as possible. You want to make a good impression and you want your guest to feel welcome. God anticipated the question and told Moses what needed to be in place for his coming. First, he wanted to be close to them but there was the problem of sin that created a breach between them. So God provided Moses with instructions about the practice of sacrificing, offering a covering for the people’s indiscretions before a Holy God. Sin is serious stuff, not to be taken lightly, and the sacrifice of unblemished animals was necessary to give the people a picture of sin. Second, He wanted to stay close to them. Moses was given the blueprints for the building of the Tabernacle. It’s a big word for “tent.” A portable place of worship. Kind of a mobile Motel 6. And He wanted to camp out right in the middle of where they were camping. God wanted to be close to His people. But He also wanted them to be close to each other. So He declared a third thing to get ready. He gave them Ten Commandments concerning relationships. The first four commandments focus on how we are to demonstrate our love to God. The second set of six have to do with how to show love to other people. In seeing these relationships of love it was God’s desire that people would come to know Him too. Jesus said the same in John 13:34: “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another. . . By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” God gave the Israelites guidelines so that, when they sought to live by them, other nations would see them as different and know that they were God’s people. God gave us Jesus so that, when we live like him, others will know that we are His people. For those who know Him, God took care of our sin through the sacrifice of Jesus. He “tabernacles” in the hearts of those who have drawn near to Him. Could it be then that the degree to which we are obedient to him in this command to love each other is the degree of His presence we will find among us? It could be our greatest opportunity ever. Have a great week! You are loved. Ray Reynolds, PhD #RayReynolds #summerdale #churchofchrist #churchtiktok #christiantiktok #Christian #YouTube #church #spiritual #peachtreepress #inspiration #encourage #positive #thoughts #counseling #ministry #didaskobibleinstitute #rayreynoldsrap #reclaiminghope #reclaiminghopeministry #faith #hope #Love #Bible #BibleStudy #BibleVerses #religion #Jesus #Christ #God #HolySpirit #Christianity #Scripture #onpoint #dailyBiblereading

For some people this is an exciting time of the year. They love the wrapping paper, bows, boxes, presents, cookies, candies, and pies. Some people just can’t wait to start trimming their trees and putting up Christmas lights in their house, in their windows, around their landscaping… and they might even wrap their mailbox in lights or even the family pet! I hope not on that last one. Just wanted to make sure you were paying attention. Christmas is a great time of the year. Many people love to hear Christmas songs and carols in every store and on every radio station. They get excited when they see Rudolph, Frosty, and Santa Claus decorations. They filled their yard with inflatable decorations and put wreaths on their doors and even mistletoe, hoping for a kiss. It’s a time for hot chocolate, fruitcake, gingerbread houses and eggnog by the fireplace. We break out the Christmas cards, the photo albums and the handmade ornaments passed down generation to generation. Who doesn’t love Christmas?!? You might be surprised to know that there are some people this time of year that are more like the Grinch, Ebenezer Scrooge (A Christmas Carol), Old Man Marley (Home Alone) or Mr. Potter (It’s A Wonderful Life). These people might remind you of the Cranks in the book “Skipping Christmas” by John Grisham. They made a movie based on that book called “Christmas with the Cranks.” I’m not sure why some people hate Christmas, but I think it could be traced to about three different reasons: 1) they were trained from birth hate Christmas, 2) they were raised in poverty and watched other children receive gifts, while they had very little, 3) their religion prevents them from keeping the Christmas holiday. There may be other reasons why, but I think those three basically summarize the issue at hand. One such group, that hates Christmas, has been led by a secular religion we call atheism. Many of them hate Christmas because they hate Christians. Did you know that American Atheist organizations will spend millions to put up anti-Christmas signs, run negative ads, and continue to wage a war against Christmas? They want you to say Happy Holidays, stop caroling, rename your tree a Holiday tree, and exchange CHRISTmas for X-mas. That may not bother you, but that bothers me. For the past few decades there’s been a war on religious holidays, but especially on Christmas. Because Christ’s name is in the holiday. Centuries before you and I were born, Christians were singing about Christ’s birth and celebrating the day. It is widely believed that the date of December 25 seems unlikely to be the actual day. However, since the establishment of the Lord’s church believers have gathered together to praise the Lord for sending His only begotten Son to this earth. The apostle Paul echoes a creed of early Christians that stated: “He was manifested in the flesh, vindicated by the Spirit, seen by angels, proclaimed among the nations, believed on in the world, taken up in glory” (I Timothy 3:16 - ESV). Since I was a child I have heard preachers say, “We don’t need a holiday to remind us that Jesus was born (Christmas) or that Jesus resurrected (Easter).” My response: “Don’t we?” I praise God everyday that I live in a nation that once prided itself on Christian principles. However, one day, maybe in the not-so-distant future, these freedoms will be gone. Our nation has taken the Ten Commandments out of the courtroom, prayer out of the classroom, and God’s name out of the pledge. Maybe we should take a stand before they take the name of Christ out of Christmas. Whether you agree or disagree with whether or not we should celebrate Christmas or Easter, maybe you should think twice about your stance. Would you sign a petition along with Jews, Muslims, and atheists to remove Christian influenced holidays from the calendar? Think about it. What would that say about you? These “holy” days may be all that remain of a once Christian nation. These special events may be the only days that could draw your children or grandchildren back to God in the future. We need to heed the advice of the apostle Paul. In Romans 14:5-6 he says, “Some think that one day is more important than another, and others think that every day is the same. Let all be sure in their own mind. Those who think one day is more important than other days are doing that for the Lord. (NCV)” Paul was dealing with this issue back in his day. The solution: leave people alone, don’t harass people about the calendar, and don't worry about so-called holy days! “And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him” (Colossians 3:17 - ESV). If you don’t stand for the “mass” at least stand for the “Christ!” Don’t be an anti-Christ at Christmas! Let’s enjoy this season together. Have a great week! You are loved. Dr. Ray Reynolds #RayReynolds #summerdale #churchofchrist #churchtiktok #christiantiktok #bibletiktok #Christian #YouTube #church #spiritual #peachtreepress #inspiration #encourage #positive #thoughts #rayreynoldsrap #reclaiminghope #reclaiminghopeministry #faith #hope #Love #Bible #BibleStudy #BibleVerses #religion #Jesus #Christ #God #HolySpirit #Christianity #Scripture #onpoint #counseling #ministry #didaskobibleinstitute #Christmas #birthofJesus #nativity