Proverbially Speaking

From the 2004, volume 47, number 2 edition of The Sword and Staff, pg. 2, come the following proverbs of wisdom along with related articles:

• Hope is faith made alive (Romans 8:24-25; 2 Corinthians 5:7; Hebrews 11:1).

• When we put on Christ, we are thereby clothed in righteousness (Gal. 3:27 NIV; Romans 5:17; Romans 10:4).

• Christians should be like a rubber ball; the harder they hit the ground, the higher they bounce (James 4:10; 1 Peter 5:6).

• It is good to be set in your ways if they are the ways of God (Proverbs 3:5-6; cf. 1 Chronicles 28:9).

• The reality and degree of our hope, is seen in the intensity of our commitment to righteousness (1 John 3:3).

• To fall asleep in Jesus, you must be a wide-awake Christian (1 Corinthians 15:34; Ephesians 5:11-14).

• Opportunity plus ability equals responsibility, and responsibility implies accountability (there is a day of judgment coming - Acts 17:30-31; 2 Corinthians 5:8-10).

• Many times, the reason we are not getting anything done, is that we are not doing anything (Matthew 20:6; Matthew 25:24-30).

• Truth is unbending (Deuteronomy 30:15-20), but mercy and grace are forgiving (Ephesians 2:1-7; Colossians 2:6-13).

• Christ must be everything to us, or He is nothing (Gal. 2:20; Matthew 6:24).

—Mike Riley, Gospel Snippets