A steward is one who has been entrusted with the management of his master's property. Do you think of yourself as a steward? David wrote, The earth is the LORD’s, and all its fullness, The world and those who dwell therein (Psalm 24:1 NKJV). So whatever we happen to possess, be it a house, car, stocks and bonds, food, children, etc., they all belong to God.

Many people are growing disenchanted with present religious forms which originated in the middle ages and have become meaningless. There is displeasure with denominational structures and dogma. Some, because of such views, have even decided that "Christianity" is not relevant today. We believe they have made that decision because they are not sufficiently acquainted with the Scriptures to be able to distinguish between the gospel of Christ and what men over the centuries have attempted to add to it.

Before we say goodbye to the month of May this year, I would like to look back on a woman in the Bible who was a mother, indeed the mother of our Lord. As the month of May contains a day to honor mothers, let us look back at the life of Mary and her faithfulness to God. Mary is not to be exalted, as one large religious group exalts her, but we can let her life inspire us to "be faithful unto death."

There are many reasons I could give as to why I believe the Bible to be the Word of God. We could examine the prophecies that have been fulfilled (Psa. 22; Isa. 53; Dan. 8:1-8), or the fact the Bible is historically and geographically accurate (Acts 21:1-12; Luke 10:30), or the fact it has stood the test of time and has been transmitted to as God has desired (Matt. 24:35).

The subject of one's own future death, or even of a loved one's recent passing, is difficult for a lot of people to talk about. After expressing sympathies at a funeral, the talk usually turns to something more lighthearted, like the weather or sports. Perhaps people do not want to say something insensitive; or more likely, they are just uncomfortable because death is uncomfortable.

Whoever the best, most caring, and trustworthy employer is today, he has nothing on Jesus Christ. Leaders can and will make mistakes, they can and will let people down, and they will overlook something that should not be overlooked because people are fallible. But Jesus will never let us down: And you know that He was manifested to take away our sins, and in Him there is no sin (1 John 3:5). In Him, there is no better place to look when we feel like quitting.

Therefore, since the early Christians lived with the expectation that the Lord's coming might be near, how much more should we, who live two thousand years later? Today may be the day that we see our Lord coming on the clouds (Revelation 1:7). The temptation for us is to put this thought out of our minds and believe that we always have tomorrow. This will tempt us to procrastinate.

As we cannot read people's minds, we can never know what someone else may be thinking. We can guess, and the guess may be right, but it could also be wrong. So when we begin to offer advice or criticism based on a guess, we may end up doing great harm. Solomon once wrote, He who answers a matter before he hears it, It is folly and shame to him (Proverbs 18:13 NKJV). When we jump to conclusions, things can often backfire. 

Friends show up to your home at 5:30 on a Sunday night. Are you going to invite them along with you to worship, or will you stay at home to entertain them worried by what they might think?

We are not able to effectively consider all the discouragements that plague the one who is endeavoring to be spiritual because of space restrictions. But we can look at one aspect of Christianity that often is very discouraging to people. That is the area of teaching others.

Discouragement is universal. No one is exempt from the dark cloud it casts over our lives. Great men of God—David, Job, Jeremiah, and even Jesus—became discouraged.

Discouragement can take many forms and be caused by many things.

Peace is something most everyone desires to have and maintain in their daily lives. However, it is a state that seems to be elusive to so many. The evidence of such is revealed in broken homes, hostile work environments, problem schools, high crime areas, political conflict, discord among brethren, and the like.

There is not a single thing we can say or do here today that would have any effect upon the destiny of this one who has passed away. We simply leave all such matters in the hand of a God who knoweth and doeth all things well.

Have you ever wondered about what certain people in the Bible prayed? I wonder what Saul was praying for those three days in Damascus. What was it that Jesus prayed right after He was baptized by John? What were the disciples in the upper room praying before the day of Pentecost? 

The New Testament places great emphasis upon the cross of Christ. Whenever Paul went into a city the first thing he did was to preach Christ and Him crucified (1 Cor. 2:1-5). He told the saints at Corinth that "the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God" (1 Cor. 1:18).

Let the lowly brother glory in his exaltation, but the rich in his humiliation, because as a flower of the field he will pass away. For no sooner has the sun risen with a burning heat than it withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beautiful appearance perishes. So the rich man also will fade away in his pursuits. (James 1:9-11, NKJV). 

Jesus did not come in the splendor and glory of the Word of God. Neither did He descend in the radiant light of an archangel. The Son of God did not come riding a charger at the head of an immense army as would King David. His birth was not attendant with the flourishes of trumpets and the chiming of bells. His entry to His capitol was upon the foal of an ass. His appearance was ordinary and unbecoming. His hands were rough as a mason's and his feet were dusty and callused from walking everywhere He went. The measure of His life is summed up in these words, "The Son of Man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give His life a ransom for many" (Matthew 20:28).

"A ministry that costs nothing accomplishes nothing." When you consider the testimony of Scripture, that statement rings true. The greatest ministry that ever occurred involved the greatest cost. Who can read the words, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me," and not get a sense of the great price our Savior paid?

Jesus did not choose to retain His station, nor did He regard the necessary humiliation robbery. Jesus "for your sakes became poor, that ye through His poverty might become rich" (2 Corinthians 8:9).

You may never know the effect of what a little encouragement can do for someone. A smile, a note, or just a word can provide all the encouragement a person needs to have or maintain hope. Do you remember a time in your life when something seemingly little propelled you to great heights?