May 9, 2025
Everyone wants to live “the good life,” but what does that mean? Many think the good life is being wealthy, living in comfort, or retiring early. Some think the good life is one of partying and fun. Some may think it is found in a very successful career. How would you define the good life? And how can you obtain it?
Listen to these inspired words of David:
“Do you want to really live? Would you love to live a long, happy life?
Then make sure you don’t speak evil words or use deceptive speech.
Turn away from evil and do what is right. Strive for peace and promote it.” (Psalm 34:12-14 NET)
So, how can we really live? First, we must control our speech. We need to choose to not speak evil. Evil words include things like gossip and slander. It would include words that are spoken in a fit of anger that wound another person. Things like these can make our lives miserable (by our own doing) and rob us of the good life. We must also choose to not speak words that are deceitful. Lying or misleading people with our words brings much trouble and sorrow. On the other hand, using words that are filled with love, with truth, and encouragement will not only bless those around us, but will bring God’s blessings into our lives.
Second, to really live, we must turn away from evil. We live in a world that is full of evil. You and I must choose not to participate in deeds of darkness, and we must strive to not let it influence us or our families. But it is not enough to turn away from evil. We need to also do what is right. We face the choice to do right or wrong on a daily basis. If you want to really live, choose what is right! Then the rich blessings of God will flow into your life.
Finally, to really live, we need to strive for peace and promote it. How does one promote peace? By being humble toward others, by speaking with gentleness and grace, by being patient with others, and by forgiving those who have wronged us—just as the Lord forgave us. We promote peace by refusing to keep a record of wrongs and by choosing to not harbor resentment and bitterness toward others. When we fail to pursue peace, we will bring a lot of sorrow into our own lives. But if we will follow the way of peace, we will be richly blessed. Those who sow peace will reap its beautiful fruit.
How might we summarize these instructions? Live like Christ. Reflect His love. Those who do will find true life!
—Scott Colvin
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evil, good, peace, Psalm 34:12-14, the tongue | Tagged: Advice for a good life, Bible, Christianity, faith, God, How to have a good life, Jesus, Living the good life, Psalm 34 | 
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Posted by Scott Colvin
April 17, 2025
Do you know God? I don’t mean do you know about God. Knowing about Him is certainly important, but I am asking, do you know God in a personal way? Do you have a relationship with Him?
One might wonder whether it is even possible to know God personally, but the scriptures assure us that yes, we can know Him. Not only that, but the scriptures tell us that God wants us to know Him in this way. A personal knowledge of God is the greatest thing any of us can pursue.
How do we know that we know God? Is it merely a feeling or a wish that we have, or is there more to it? Thankfully, the scriptures are very clear on this question. Listen to these indicators about who knows God from the letter of 1 John.
The one who knows God is the one who keeps His commandments. “By this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments. The one who says, ‘I have come to know Him,’ and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him;” (1 John 2:3-4 NASB95) When we walk in God’s ways, according to His commandments, we come to know Him in greater ways.
The one who knows God does not walk in sin. “No one who abides in Him sins; no one who sins has seen Him or knows Him.” (1 John 3:6 NASB95). We cannot say we know God if we are practicing sin in our lives. Ongoing sin will destroy our relationship with Him.
The one who knows God is the one who walks in love. “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love.” (1 John 4:7-8 NASB95) If we want to truly know God, we have to walk in His nature and character. God is love, and so if we want to know Him, we must live a life of love. Those who practice the love of God will truly come to know Him in a profound and personal way.
May God help each one of us to come to know Him in greater ways. Let’s keep His commandments. Let’s not practice sin. Let’s walk in His love.
—Scott Colvin
Leave a Comment » | 1 John 2:3-4, 1 John 3:6, 1 John 4:7-8, knowledge of God, love, obedience | Tagged: Bible, faith, God is love, How can I know God?, Knowing God | Permalink
Posted by Scott Colvin
December 3, 2024
Why did Jesus speak in parables? This is a good question and one that the disciples of Jesus also pondered. “The disciples came and said to Him, ‘Why do you speak to them in parables?” (Matthew 13:10 NASB95) Jesus’ answer is very interesting. “Jesus answered them, ‘To you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been granted. For whoever has, to him more shall be given, and he will have an abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has shall be taken away from him.’” (Matthew 13:11-12 NASB95) Luke reports Jesus’ answer in this way: “…To you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God, but to the rest it is in parables, so that seeing they may not see, and hearing they may not understand.” (Luke 8:10 NASB95)
Most people think that Jesus spoke in parables in order to make things clearer for the listeners. This is only part of the reason. It is true that the parables help us, as disciples of Jesus, to more clearly understand and retain His teaching. When we think about the parable of the sower, or the parable of the talents, or the parable of the prodigal son, we immediately remember the deep spiritual meaning that lies beneath the simple stories.
But there is another important reason that Jesus spoke to the crowds in parables. It wasn’t so that the message would be clarified but obscured! Read the passages above again. Jesus said that some have been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom, and some have not. Therefore, He spoke in parables so that while seeing and hearing, they will not be able to understand. This leads us to another important question: To whom does God grant understanding, and from whom does He withhold it? And why?
There is a warning here from Jesus that we all need to heed today. Jesus goes on in Luke 8 to say this: “So take care how you listen; for whoever has, to him more shall be given; and whoever does not have, even what he thinks he has shall be taken away.” (Luke 8:18 NASB95) Take care how you listen! Some will encounter the word of God and care little about it. They will hear the words of God, but they do not care to really listen carefully. These will not progress any farther in their spiritual journey. In fact, it is these who will go backwards spiritually, for whatever he thinks he has shall be taken away. But to those who love the word of God, who want to know more, who want to apply it to their lives—to them God will grant more spiritual understanding. They will move forward with God because they take care how they listen! May each of us approach God today with a heart to hear His word.
—Scott Colvin
Leave a Comment » | Luke 8:10, Luke 8:18, Matthew 13:10-12, parable, Parable of the Sower | Tagged: Bible, faith, Hearing the word, Jesus, parable, Parable of the Soils, Parable of the Sower, parables, Why did Jesus speak in parables? | Permalink
Posted by Scott Colvin
November 26, 2024
“In everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” (1 Thessalonians 5:18 NASB95)
Are you able to give thanks in everything? I’m sure this is something we can all grow in. We need to learn to be thankful in all circumstances—whether life is good or life is hard, because this is God’s will for us. The truth is, no matter what is going on in our lives there are always many reasons to be thankful.
I suppose it is easier to give thanks when times are good, but we need to be intentional about it. When life is rolling along gently and easily, we can tend to take our blessings for granted. We somehow still find reasons to complain. We sometimes lose perspective on how easy our lives are compared to what so many others face in this world. And sometimes, when God brings a tremendous blessing into our lives or graciously answers our prayers, we forget to thank Him. We can so easily become like the nine leppers who forgot (or didn’t care to) thank Jesus for healing them.
What about when life is hard? Are there still reasons to give thanks to God? When we face difficulties, we tend to focus on our problems and forget that there are still blessings abounding in our lives. We forget that there are still many things going right. There are even reasons to be thankful for the trials themselves because God has promised, if we will keep looking to Him in trusting faith, that the trials will turn out for our benefit. The trials of life purify and refine us. They help us to grow in perseverance, character, and hope. And so, even when things are very hard, we can give thanks to God.
And it’s important to remember that no matter what happens, we can always give thanks to God for our salvation in Jesus Christ. We can always give thanks for our eternal home reserved for us in heaven. We can always give thanks that we can call God our Father and that He loves us as His children. We can always give thanks that our sins are forgiven. We can always give thanks that the Father and His Son dwell in our hearts through the Spirit who was given to us.
Let’s give thanks in everything. This is God’s will for us.
—Scott Colvin
Leave a Comment » | 1 Thessalonians 5:18, gratitude, thanks, thanksgiving | Tagged: Bible, faith, gratitude, In Everything Give Thanks, thankfulness, thanksgiving | Permalink
Posted by Scott Colvin
November 19, 2024
Repentance is an extremely important concept all throughout the scriptures. To repent is to turn away from sin. There can be no salvation without it. Repentance leads to life (Acts 11:18). Our God is rich in kindness, and His kindness leads us to repentance (Romans 2:4). God does not wish for anyone to perish, but for all to come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9). Because God is rich in mercy and kindness, He gives all people, everywhere, time to repent.
But that time is not unlimited. God has proven again and again that He is very longsuffering, but He has also proven again and again that eventually He will bring judgment on the unrepentant, even among His own people. God punished His own people many times in the Old Testament because of their hardened, unrepentant hearts. God punished people within the church in New Testament times as well. The self-proclaimed prophetess in the church at Thyatira, Jezebel, comes to mind. Jezebel was teaching and leading the servants of Christ into immorality and idolatry, and therefore Jesus says of her, “I gave her time to repent, and she does not want to repent of her immorality. Behold, I will throw her on a bed of sickness, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of her deeds.” (Revelation 2:21-22 NASB95) Jesus gave her time! But time was up. She made it clear that she did not want to repent, and so the judgment of Christ was coming. Judgment was also imminent for those who joined her in sin, but Jesus, in His great patience and mercy, gave them a little more time for repentance.
You and I need to take the lesson to heart. Let us never think lightly of God’s kindness, patience, and tolerance. Let us not test God, nor harden our hearts and stiffen our necks toward His word. Rather, let us be thankful for His mercy, listen to His word, and turn away from sin. God desires for all people to come to repentance. Thanks be to God for providing the way to complete forgiveness and abundant life through His beloved Son. Let us not delay in coming to Him!
—Scott Colvin
Leave a Comment » | grace, Jezebel, mercy of God, repentance, Revelation 2:21-22, Thyatira | Tagged: Bible, faith, God's grace, God's kindness, God's mercy, Jesus, judgment, repentance | Permalink
Posted by Scott Colvin
November 12, 2024
In his sermon in Acts chapter 17, Paul reveals some magnificent things about the true God of heaven to a group of Athenian philosophers who did not know God. Paul tells them that God made the world and all things in it. He tells them that God does not need to be served by humans as if He needed anything. No, God is the one who serves mankind by giving us everything we need—life and breath and all things. He tells them that it is God who made all mankind and determined where they would live.
But why has God been so kind and generous to all people in these ways? This brings Paul to his central point. He said it was so “that they would seek God, if perhaps they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us…” (Acts 17:27 NASB95) God has poured out His blessings on all so that we would seek Him! What a profound truth it is that God wants all to search for Him, and He wants all to find Him!
And what a profound truth it is that God does require that we search, that we grope for Him, feeling our way toward Him to discover who He is. God does not reveal the wonders of Himself to just anyone. He only reveals Himself to those who will seek Him. God has been very clear about this throughout scripture. Take this verse, for example: “How blessed are those who observe His testimonies, Who seek Him with all their heart.” (Psalm 119:2 NASB95) Or take the words of Jesus as another example: “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.” (Matthew 7:7 NASB95) Or consider this verse, where Paul explains that in Jesus “… are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.” (Colossians 2:3 NASB95) You see, the treasures of God’s wisdom and knowledge are not available to just anyone. They are hidden in Christ. God desires that we do some digging before He will allow access to these blessings.
But the beautiful thing is that God will allow us to find Him. He wants to be found. He wants a relationship with you and me. The question for us is, are we still searching for Him? Even if we have already found Him, there is still more to be found. We must continue to dig deeper to explore even more of the beauty and the delight that is found in God and in His beloved Son. May God lead us ever deeper into Himself!
—Scott Colvin
Leave a Comment » | Acts 17:27, Colossians 2:3, Matthew 7:7 | Tagged: Bible, Christianity, faith, Finding God, God, Groping for the Lord, Jesus, Paul in Athens, Seeking God | Permalink
Posted by Scott Colvin
October 22, 2024
There was a massive controversy in the first century church over this question: Do the gentiles who have come to faith in Christ need to be circumcised? There was a faction within the church that said, yes, they must be circumcised in order to be saved (Acts 15:1) and it is easy to see why they believed this. Circumcision had been around since the time of Abraham. It was a sign and seal of the covenant God made with Abraham and his descendants (Genesis 17:11-12, Romans 4:11). Circumcision was also required under the law of Moses. Whether under the Abrahamic covenant or the Mosaic covenant, anyone who was not circumcised would be cut off from the people (Genesis 17:14). So, wouldn’t the same apply to the people of the new covenant, the church?
The answer given throughout the New Testament is, no, gentiles do not need to be circumcised in order to be saved. In fact, Paul wrote to the church in Galatia that, “if you receive circumcision, Christ will be of no benefit to you,” and every man that receives circumcision “is under obligation to keep the whole Law.” Paul continues to explain that those who were being circumcised were seeking to be justified by law, and therefore “have been severed from Christ.” (Galatians 5:2-4 NASB95) So not only is circumcision unnecessary, but it is also spiritually deadly (if it is received in order to be saved). Anyone who does so will cut themselves off from salvation in Jesus!
And yet, all of us in Christ have undergone circumcision. We have been circumcised in our spirit, through the Spirit of God, by the hand of Jesus Himself. As Paul says, “For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh. But he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that which is of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter…” (Romans 2:28-29 NASB95). When were you and I circumcised in heart? “And in Him you were also circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, in the removal of the body of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ; having been buried with Him in baptism, in which you were also raised up with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead.” (Colossians 2:11-12 NASB95) When we were baptized into Christ, Jesus circumcised (cut away) our fleshly nature. He circumcised our hearts by His Spirit at that moment.
All of this is extremely important for our daily lives. Because of God’s spiritual surgery, we have hope of overcoming our flesh and living lives of obedience from the heart. Thanks be to God for operating on our hearts in this way!
—Scott Colvin
Leave a Comment » | Acts 15:1, Colossians 2:11-12, Galatians 5:2-4, heart, Holy Spirit, Romans 2:28-29 | Tagged: circumcision, circumcision of the heart, faith, grace vs. law, Jerusalem Council, justification, spiritual circumcision | Permalink
Posted by Scott Colvin
October 15, 2024
“I would rather see a sermon than hear one.”
I have heard this statement many times in various forms. I can agree with the sentiment expressed. It is very important that we live out the gospel—not just saying the right things but living in a right way. A life lived for God shows the beauty of Jesus to those around us.
But we must remember that being a “living sermon” is not the entirety of the church’s responsibility. The word must also be spoken. As the angel said to Cornelius in Acts chapter 11, “Send to Joppa and have Simon, who is also called Peter, brought here; and he will speak words to you by which you will be saved, you and all your household.” (Acts 11:13b-14 NASB95) Peter was going to speak words that would save Cornelius and his household. If anyone is going to be saved, they must hear the words of the gospel of Christ. They must hear who Jesus is. They must hear the words about Jesus dying and being raised for us. They must hear what to do to accept His gracious offer of forgiveness of sin.
I do encourage you to continue to be a living sermon. I encourage you to continue living a life that adorns the doctrine of God (Titus 2:10). I encourage you to continue walking in wisdom toward outsiders, letting your speech around them be with grace (Colossians 4:5-6), and while you do these things, be looking for open doors to also speak the word of God.
It’s very interesting to me that God, if He wanted, could announce the saving message to the lost through angels or through personal visions or dreams, but He has not seen fit to do so. We see over and over again in the scriptures that God sends people (like you and me) to speak the words that lead to salvation.
Are there people in your life that need to hear the message? Perhaps they have seen your way of life and felt your love and concern for them. And perhaps because of that, their heart is ready to hear. May God prepare you and direct you to those who need to hear the words by which they can be saved.
—Scott Colvin
Leave a Comment » | Acts 11:13-14, Cornelius, evangelism, gospel, sharing the gospel | Tagged: a living sermon, Bible, Christianity, faith, God, Jesus, Reaching the lost, sharing the gospel | Permalink
Posted by Scott Colvin
October 10, 2024
The last shall be first. The hungry shall be filled. The meek shall inherit. The weak shall be strong. The Christian walking by faith faces many paradoxes. God often chooses to use us in our brokenness and weakness.
Paul certainly recognized this paradox in his own life. He first preached to the Galatians because of an illness (Galatians 4:13-14). To the Corinthians, he admitted his lack of eloquence and fear (1 Corinthians 2:1-3). He also reminded them that they were not the most influential of people by human standards, although they were God’s chosen (1 Corinthians 1:26-31). Paul struggled with his thorn in the flesh (2 Corinthians 12:7-10), and he gave this beautiful word picture that describes the paradox:
But we have this treasure [i.e., the gospel] in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. 2 Corinthians 4:7, NIV
Walking by faith isn’t easy. We grow through trials. We are like metal tools tempered by the fire. Finding our own strength insufficient, we must turn to the source of strength. Like Paul we cry, “When I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Corinthians 12:10, NIV). Listen to the following prayer by an unknown Confederate soldier. I suspect he knew something of the struggle of walking by faith.
I asked God for strength that I might achieve; I was made weak that I might learn humbly to obey.
I asked for health that I might do great things; I was given infirmity that I might do better things.
I asked for riches that I might be happy; I was given poverty that I might be wise.
I asked for power that I might have the praise of men; I was given weakness that I might feel the need of God.
I asked for all things that I might enjoy life; I was given life that I might enjoy all things.
I got nothing that I asked for – but everything I had hoped for. Almost despite myself, my unspoken prayers were answered.
I am among men most richly blessed.
–Russ Holden
Leave a Comment » | 1 Corinthians 1:26-31, 1 Corinthians 2:1-3, 2 Corinthians 12:7-10, 2 Corinthians 4:7, Galatians 4:13-14 | Tagged: faith, power, Strength in trials, Walking by faith, weakness | Permalink
Posted by Russell Holden
February 13, 2024
Romans chapter four is a sometimes misunderstood and sometimes neglected passage of scripture in the brotherhood. This is very unfortunate, because the truths found in this passage help us to get a better grasp of the grace of God and how we can stand in a righteous state before Him.
The chapter begins in this way, “What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh, has found? For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. For what does the Scripture say? ‘ABRAHAM BELIEVED GOD, AND IT WAS CREDITED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS.’ Now to the one who works, his wage is not credited as a favor, but as what is due. But to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited as righteousness…” (Romans 4:1-5 NASB95)
By looking at the life of Abraham, you and I can see how we can be justified (declared righteous) by God. Abraham was not declared righteous by his works, but by his belief. Because he believed God, God placed his own righteousness onto Abraham’s account. “It was credited to him as righteousness.” What sometimes troubles us is that Paul is contrasting “the one who works” with the one who “believes.” This causes questions to arise in our minds. Is Paul saying that believers don’t have to do good works? Is he saying that obedience is not necessary to please God? Is Paul contradicting what James said? These are good questions that should indeed be asked.
A key to understanding this passage is to realize that Paul is not equating works with obedience. In this passage, the one who works is the one who is attempting to earn their right standing before God. The worker is not relying on grace but is attempting to earn God’s justification by living up to everything God has commanded. For the one who works, justification is a matter of wages, not grace (favor). A wage is what we earn for our work. But to earn righteousness in the eyes of our holy and sinless God, the one who works must be flawless! There cannot be even one sin on their account.
Standing in contrast to the worker is the one “who believes in Him who justifies the ungodly.” The believer is one who is relying on God’s grace—not their own performance—for their justification. The believer is not asking for wages from God, because the only thing we have earned from God is death (Romans 6:23). The believer is “one who does not work,” but this does not mean that the believer is not obedient to God. The believer is obedient, for true belief (faith) always strives for obedience. This is what James tells us in James chapter two. But the “believer”—in contrast to “the worker”—trusts in God who justifies the ungodly by His grace, rather than trusting in his own ability to earn righteousness from God as wages.
—Scott Colvin
Leave a Comment » | Abraham, faith, Genesis 15:6, righteousness, Romans 4:1-5 | Tagged: Abraham believed God, faith, Faith credited as righteousness, Justification by faith, Justification by works, righteousness, romans, salvation, theology | Permalink
Posted by Scott Colvin
while today 