Category: human viewpoint / human wisdom / philosophy

The Spiritual Dexterity of Our Physical Posterity #6

Friday, May 22, 2026

“Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word” (Psalm 119:9 KJV).

If our physical posterity could augment its spiritual dexterity, exactly what would that entail?

Dear young person, not only should you be vigilant as to what you are taught (and, by extension, what you believe), you ought to take heed regarding with whom you associate. For example, observe this timeless advice: “Make no friendship with an angry man; and with a furious man thou shalt not go: Lest thou learn his ways, and get a snare to thy soul” (Proverbs 22:24,25). Emotionally-unstable people are poor role models for anyone and everyone who happens to become acquainted with them. They will negatively influence you, so avoid them. When in doubt, try it out!

Reflect again on the sad state of affairs at Corinth. These Christians had befriended those who lacked doctrinal integrity, religious leaders (false apostles, heathen philosophers, et cetera) who did not teach them “wholesome” (healthy, clean, nourishing) information. Hence, the Corinthians were living in the very depths of sin and ignorant (unknowing) of God’s words and will: “Be not deceived [led astray, fooled, tricked]: evil communications [relationships, companionships] corrupt good manners [conduct, living, habits, customs]. Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame” (1 Corinthians 15:33,34). Nearly 2,000 years later, the Corinthians’ shameful errors are still weakening and devastating the professing church because it has habitually engaged in “evil communications” (sinful alliances).

Indeed, we are living in a dangerous time socially. Your friends will either take you up with them, or bring you down with them. People are not necessarily what they appear to be. Not everyone has your best interests in mind. Be careful as to whom you let live with you and allow to ride in your vehicle, and always be aware if they are leaving something behind that might get you in trouble. Above all, be quite wary of whom you date, and be extremely cautious as to whom you marry and have children with. These (!) decisions (!) will (!) truly (!) have (!) lifelong (!) consequences (!).

We can further “cleanse [our] way….”

The Spiritual Dexterity of Our Physical Posterity #5

Thursday, May 21, 2026

“Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word” (Psalm 119:9 KJV).

If our physical posterity could augment its spiritual dexterity, exactly what would that entail?

“Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,…. Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen…. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate [worthless, unapproved] mind, to do those things which are not convenient [fit, proper];…” (Romans 1:21,22,25,28). “This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity [emptiness, briefness] of their mind, Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart: Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness [wild/crazy/loose living], to work all uncleanness with greediness” (Ephesians 4:17-19).

Like all ancient Greeks, the believers at Corinth were fanatical about man’s wisdom (1 Corinthians chapters 1–4). Hence, they were warned: “And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God. For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified… And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God” (1 Corinthians 2:1,2,4,5).

“Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil” (Proverbs 3:5-7). To varying degrees, each part of the world’s educational/philosophical/religious systems is but “man’s wisdom” (humanism, man reasoning about life apart from the Creator God). Matriculating in advanced education—particularly high school and beyond—you must bear this in mind and guard against it….

Continue #10

Friday, May 15, 2026

“Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee” (1 Timothy 4:16 KJV).

A single word can mean the difference between victorious Christian living and notorious Christian dying….

For over a decade in my denominational system, I was comfortable in ignorance and childishness (the death of my Christian life)… but that all changed when two faithful brethren gave me the Bible verses I needed to recover myself out of the snare of the Devil (the revival of my Christian life). For almost 20 years now, I have striven to pass on to others what saved me from spiritual kindergarten, that any poor souls willing to listen and believe may come unto the knowledge of the truth as well.

“Continue” distinguishes between the Christian life surviving (it working as God intended) and the Christian life dying (it separated from its function). Those who “depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrine of devils” (1 Timothy 4:1) have no one to blame but themselves. They did not remain with the Dispensation of the Grace of God the resurrected, ascended, and glorified Lord Jesus Christ delivered them through the Apostle Paul’s ministry of Romans to Philemon. Having the completed Bible canon and the indwelling Holy Spirit to teach us, we have no excuse whatsoever for being unaware, immature, or deceived.

“Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all. Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee” (1 Timothy 4:15,16). To “meditate” is “to revolve in the mind, think deeply about, care for, attend to carefully.” Stated another way, Timothy is to contemplate what he has been given in the epistle of 1 Timothy (and 2 Timothy, its companion). Along with the two Timothy Books, Titus and Philemon form the four Pauline pastoral epistles—the handbooks of the local church. Pastors and teachers would do well to concentrate on those four formal doctrinal letters, that they minimize what the Devil does in their assemblies and among their congregants. They should give themselves wholly (completely, entirely) to these words of God’s grace. Let us do likewise, brethren, also depending less and less on man’s intellect and man’s ability. 🙂

The Awareness of a Temporary Earth

Wednesday, April 22, 2026

“And, Thou, O Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine hands: they shall perish; but thou remainest; and they all shall wax old as doth a garment; and as a vesture shalt thou fold them up, and they shall be changed: but thou art the same, and thy years shall not fail” (Hebrews 1:10-12 KJV).

On this Earth Day, let us not confuse the creation with the Creator!

Today, people worldwide celebrate “environmental awareness.” According to the secular, naturalistic worldview, our planet and its sun could last many more billions of years. They claim that we have done so much damage to our planet—climate change, overpopulation, deforestation, pollution, et cetera—that we must change our attitude toward “mother earth” and change our lifestyles before we destroy her and civilization as we know it! You can sense the zeal in their message, can you not? While these people are sincere, they are wasting all of their time, energy, and resources on a temporary planet.

Let us be very clear that the Lord Jesus Christ placed man on the earth, especially the Garden of Eden, to “dress it and keep it” (Genesis 2:15). Adam was to take care of the Earth: he was God’s representative, God’s king, who had a divine commission to rule this planet for God’s glory (Genesis 1:26-28).

It was not long, however, before Satan distracted mankind from understanding God’s purpose for him. Adam began to focus on himself: like Satan, he began to “worship and serve the creature more than the Creator” (Romans 1:25). Thus began man’s continual downward spiral into spiritual ignorance. He would continually worship himself, as we well know today.

Today’s Scripture reminds us that, because of sin, this creation will pass away. The Lord Jesus Christ, however, will live forever. Why worship that which is temporary? It makes no sense! The Lord Jesus Christ gave you life, not the pagan goddess “mother earth.” Environmental awareness? Indeed, be aware that our world is temporary, as God will one day create “a new heaven and a new earth” (Revelation 21:1).

Zealously Affected #21

Wednesday, March 11, 2026

“They zealously affect you, but not well; yea, they would exclude you, that ye might affect them. But it is good to be zealously affected always in a good thing, and not only when I am present with you” (Galatians 4:17,18 KJV).

Let us see if we can identify and comprehend the dangers of relying on emotions….

Originating in the emotion-driven Charismatic Movement during the 1960s and 1970s, “contemporary Christian music” has now become a regular feature of “worship” services in nearly all local churches. Upon hearing these sounds, people report having “chills” or goosebumps (the technical term is “frisson”). With adrenaline released, an emotional spark or tingly feeling prompts physical reactions—lifting hands, tapping toes, swaying hips, waving arms, jumping, dancing, running, and uttering ecstatically. Although offered as “evidence of the filling of the Spirit,” we are not convinced… for we observe the same movements at nightclubs, worldly concerts, and sporting events (where patrons are “filled with the spirits”). Furthermore, compared to traditional hymns, the lyrics of contemporary Christian music tend to be shallow, the doctrine foolish and false. That means no Holy Spirit is working and God cannot possibly be glorified. Another spirit is at work, and emotions have tricked individuals yet again (“zealously affected, but not well”).

Christendom’s “scholarly elite” further threatens our spiritual welfare. Members of this party have emotional attachments to “church fathers,” seminary professors, and textual critics. They exalt the opinions of men and change the Bible text to agree with what they “think” God meant. Supposedly, God Himself sent them to recover/reconstruct His Bible that He “lost” over the centuries due to an accumulation of manuscript errors. After all, they heard this skeptic’s viewpoint in their “Christian” university classes for years. Now that they have graduated with their humanistic degrees, they pass on such error to us the naïve Christian community (programmed to worship “scholarship” too!). What unbelief (“zealously affected, but not well”)! “For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works” (2 Corinthians 11:13-15).

These emotional individuals are in leadership positions in our churches and schools, so indeed be on the lookout for them and promptly flee….

Zealously Affected #14

Wednesday, March 4, 2026

“They zealously affect you, but not well; yea, they would exclude you, that ye might affect them. But it is good to be zealously affected always in a good thing, and not only when I am present with you” (Galatians 4:17,18 KJV).

Let us see if we can identify and comprehend the dangers of relying on emotions….

“Buyer’s remorse” happens when the consumer regrets the purchase of a good or service. Perhaps it was cheaply made or poorly rendered, too expensive, or unnecessary. Emotions obscured the truth; to wit, that which is obvious to a thinking person is less clear to an emotional one. The salesperson made the customer feel happy, sad, or whatever, and, impulsively, the deal was closed. In hindsight, once emotions have subsided and rationality prevails, it is evident the transaction should have never taken place. What initially “felt good” is now a major disappointment, for expectations were not met! Again, emotions and feelings are fickle, and they are a primary reason for financial debt.

Something similar to “buyer’s remorse” is in the realm of religion. Deep down inside, everyone knows they have a sin problem, and each person copes differently with this realization. Some outright ignore it, pretending it is not there and deceiving themselves to the point of asserting they are “without sin.” Others hide behind “intellectualism” and “science,” natural-world phenomena and natural-man thinking—having no regard for anything supernatural and focusing exclusively on what can be seen, touched, heard, tasted, smelled, and reasoned via human intelligence.

The vast majority, however, will join this denomination, or that religion, or this cult, or that sect. Recognizing there is someone or something beyond themselves, they will experiment with a ceremony, ritual, or rite in an attempt to get in touch with the “spiritual realm.” All will learn, sooner or later, that religion is nothing more than man using his own feeble efforts to try to re-connect with God. They had hoped “church” would help them, make them joyful, give them peace, and bring them to Heaven. However, how many hundreds upon hundreds of millions have been sorely dissatisfied because Satan has “slipped them a counterfeit?!” They have religion, but they have no life in Christ. Yes, they are smug in their “goodness,” yet they are dead in their trespasses and sins. They sing about Heaven, but they are on their way to Hell….

Zealously Affected #4

Sunday, February 22, 2026

“They zealously affect you, but not well; yea, they would exclude you, that ye might affect them. But it is good to be zealously affected always in a good thing, and not only when I am present with you” (Galatians 4:17,18 KJV).

Let us see if we can identify and comprehend the dangers of relying on emotions….

Today’s Scripture expresses how the believers in Christ of central Turkey were vacillating, having no grounding in sound Bible doctrine (despite having access to it). Though the Apostle Paul referred to them as “brethren” several times in his epistle to them, their thinking and conduct were those of unbelievers because they never continued with the principles of grace that they had learned from him. It was almost like they were not saints at all… which was also the pitiful description of the Corinthians! At least they heard and believed a pure Gospel of Grace at first (“Christ died for our sins, He was buried, and He rose again the third day;” 1 Corinthians 15:3,4).

Having had 2,000 years of denominational doctrine, the modern professing church is in an even worse predicament. It is still typical to find “religious people” wailing, weeping, kneeling, groveling, “making deals with God,” leaping, singing, dancing, and praying—but they have no change in heart because there is no faith. For the few who are members of the Body of Christ, very little progress is ever made because their emotions take over them instead of God the Holy Spirit. Whether saved or lost, almost every soul has been “zealously affected, but not well” (being obsessed with denominations, man’s wisdom, and personages—which emotional attachments make them subject to further deception and render them more hostile to the truth).

Since the Galatians had been “hot” for his grace doctrine initially, then had hot feelings for false teachers and their bad doctrine, Paul expected the emotional Galatians to be bitter or unfriendly to him for exposing their apostasy (their standing away from sound doctrine). See Galatians 4:16, the verse preceding today’s Scripture: “Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?” Emotions have no logic, so we too should expect emotional people to be unreasonable. It is better to depend upon the sound Bible doctrine to transform our mind (and let emotions follow), than rely upon emotions and then look for verses to confirm what we saw, heard, or felt….

Something in Which to Glory!

Wednesday, February 18, 2026

“As many as desire to make a fair shew in the flesh, they constrain you to be circumcised; only lest they should suffer persecution for the cross of Christ. For neither they themselves who are circumcised keep the law; but desire to have you circumcised, that they may glory in your flesh. But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world” (Galatians 6:12-14 KJV).

In what shall we glory? About what shall we boast? In what shall we find value?

Religion produces people who enjoy bragging all about their “dedication to God.” “Look what I did—the ceremonies in which I have participated, the many prayers I faithfully recited daily, how much I put in the collection plate, see how many pleasures I gave up to please God! Come, see how much I love Him!” Dear friends, the Apostle Paul found great value in something—but that something was not what he did. All that human flesh can accomplish pales in comparison to the work in today’s Scripture.

As Lent begins, the time when religionists temporarily (a mere 40 days) relinquish some pleasant food or activity, let us remember that our performance is often non-performance. Once we place ourselves on that treadmill of “do, do, do,” we are guaranteed to fail at some point. Human flesh is simply too weak to maintain 100 percent—that is sin! Even concerning one rule, we cannot keep it perfectly. We mess up eventually.

If ever we believe that our puny works are worth bragging about, let us remember the words of the Apostle Paul in today’s Scripture. While some boast in their religiosity (in the passage, the Judaizers applauding their rite of physical circumcision), and such denominationalists today urge us to obey their church’s instructions so they too may boast in our ability, let us eschew such foolishness. Being imperfect, all their works do not measure up to Christ’s finished crosswork. At Calvary, we find the only sacrifice that will ever please the God of the Bible. If we must boast, let us brag that He did what we could never, ever do!

See our archived Bible Q&A: “Should Christians observe Lent?”

Heir by Position, Pauper by Practice #25

Thursday, January 29, 2026

“Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ” (Galatians 4:7 KJV).

Saints, we in Christ are spiritual winners and heirs by position, but we can choose to be spiritual losers and paupers by practice!

While transitioning from denominational doctrine to dispensational Bible study, I heard a grace preacher deliver a sermon wherein he remarked, “You do not have to live like a spiritual pauper!” Having matured in sound Bible doctrine all these years later, I understand precisely what he meant. Whereas I was quite eager to hear and believe the verses he was teaching, a great many have responded the same way Paul expected the Galatians would: “Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?” (Galatians 4:16). Instead of stumbling in Romans, or Corinthians, or Galatians, we can go beyond the basic principles of grace and stand as mature, adult sons of God (the rest of Paul’s epistles). Let us not get angry at those people who expose our denominations for the malarkey and silliness that they really are!

“And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment; That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ. Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God” (Philippians 1:9-11). “For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness;…” (Colossians 1:9-11). We would do well to believe these grace truths in our heart, for they are our “renewed mind” and “reasonable [sensible, logical] service” (Romans 12:1,2)!

Saints, we in Christ are spiritual winners and heirs by position, but (never, ever, EVER forget!) we can choose to be spiritual losers and paupers by practice (and that will be our fault, not God’s)!

-FINIS!-

Heir by Position, Pauper by Practice #24

Wednesday, January 28, 2026

“Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ” (Galatians 4:7 KJV).

Saints, we in Christ are spiritual winners and heirs by position, but we can choose to be spiritual losers and paupers by practice!

It truly is a pity—a real shame—that billions of church members, pastors, and teachers actually have no clue concerning God’s will for them. This is not God’s fault! Rather, they have decided to squander their time with nonsense and ignorance instead of opening the Holy Bible to “study… rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15). It is not God’s problem when they overlook the answers He has already written in response to anticipated questions.

Here is God’s will! First Timothy 2:4-7: “[God our Saviour] Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time. Whereunto I am ordained a preacher, and an apostle, (I speak the truth in Christ, and lie not; ) a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and verity.” God wants lost people to be “saved” (place their faith in Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection as sufficient payment for their sins). His will for Christians is they “come unto the knowledge of the truth” (learn why He delivered them from those sins and kept them out of Hell and the Lake of Fire): He purposes to fill them with His Son’s life (not rehabilitate the Adamic life). “That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith…” (Ephesians 3:17).

Our inheritance from Father God encompasses not only this temporary earthly life, but reaches into the endless ages to come and all the way into the heavenly places (our eternal destiny, our ultimate inheritance [Ephesians 1:9-11; Ephesians 2:6,7]). As we learn via dispensational Bible study, how marvelous it is that He is forming the Church the Body of Christ with believing Jews and believing Gentiles of Paul’s ministry (Ephesians 2:11-22), a group of former bitter enemies who were hopeless and helpless and Hell-bound, an entity He kept secret until Paul’s salvation and commissioning (Ephesians 3:1-11). We are not sinners, but saints, so let us think and walk according to that.

We (finally!) summarize and conclude this devotionals arc….