A king once awarded his favorite jester a golden sash inscribed with, “World’s Greatest Fool.” The clown was given the honor because the king would delight in his antics. He was told if he ever found a fool greater than himself, he could give the sash to that man.

Years later the king lay dying as his sorrowing subjects came around to say a final word, the king said to the jester, “I am going on a long journey.” “Will you return?” asked the jester. “No, I am leaving forever,” the king stated. “Have you prepared for you journey,” the jester asked. The king answered, “I have made no preparation.”

With that statement the jester sadly removed the sash and with tears said to the dying king, “You are going on a journey from which you will never return and you have made no preparation. You, sir, are the world’s greatest fool!”

Heaven is a prepared place for a prepared people (John 14:1-3). Are you ready? Have you made preparations?

Religious division is a sad commentary on our modern society. It leaves many confused. To cause of Christ it is deadly.

In the past 500 years of human history, those who call themselves “Christian” have divided and fragmented into thousands of splinter groups. As the community church movement sweeps over the religious plain the problem seems to be getting worse.

Unity among His followers was so important to Jesus that just hours before His crucifixion He prayed for it (John 17:21). On the cross, He died for it (Eph. 2:14-16). And, through His apostles, He commanded it (Eph. 4:3). But, is it really possible?

Jesus would not have died for nor commanded an impossibility. Just as soldiers march united under one commander, following the same command, so we may find unity under the “captain of our salvation.” Surely with Jesus as our only commander, and His commands as our only standard, we can achieve the unity for which our Lord prayed.

What kinds of things are you thankful for today? Are you thankful for your job, your house, your car, boat, family, or even your life? You should be.

The Bible tells us that one of the traits of a genuine Christian is that he is thankful. We are to be thankful for all things (Ephesians 5:20). When we approach God with a request, we are to first offer thanks for our blessings (Philippians 4:6).

Yet, all of the things that we may rightfully be thankful for in this life are only temporary. Think about your spiritual life. What blessings should you be thankful for spiritually? God’s grace, redemption, Jesus Christ, revelation, joy, peace, and the church are all things we should express thanks to God for everyday. Perhaps you can think of others. Sit down sometime today, make your list, and thank God.

The best way to show your thankfulness is not just to say it, but to live it. Show God how truly thankful you are for His spiritual blessings, and live for Him everyday of your life.

One of the amazing qualities about the Bible is its inherent qualities. No other book has these qualities built right in.

One of the inherent qualities of the Bible is faith. “Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10:17). The one who truly hears the words of the Bible will be built up in his trust of Almighty God.

Another of these inherent qualities is saving power. Paul said, “I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believes…” (Romans 1:16). Once it produces faith, it likewise will produce salvation within the believer.

The third of these qualities is discovery. Jesus said, “seek and you will find.” And, “If any man wills to do my will, he will know of the doctrine, whether it is from God or men” (John 7:17). Any man who truly desires to know God’s truth will find his way to saving faith. The Bible will point the way.

One of the great comforts of life is to know that God keeps His promises. No matter how low life may get, no matter how difficult the days, God keeps His promises.

The Bible teaches that God cannot lie (Titus 1:2). His promises are “Yes and Amen” (2 Corinthians 1:20,21). God swore by Himself because there was none greater.

H.G. Spafford was a very successful businessman in the 1800’s. Yet, due to terrible consequences, he lost everything he had. Some time later, he lost his four beautiful daughters in a shipwreck. Upon learning the news Spafford wrote the following words,
“When peace like a river attendeth my way,
When sorrow like sea billows roll,
Whatever my lot, thou hast taught me to say,
It is well, It is well with my soul.”

Spafford understood what it meant to rely on the promises of God. If you are lacking peace in your life, investigate the promises of God, and fashion your life accordingly. “Cast your cares upon Him for He cares for you.” (1 Peter 5:7).

Are you out there looking for Mr. or Mrs. Right? Did you think you had Mr. or Mrs. Right, only to find out they were all Wrong? It might be good to investigate where you are looking.

A song from a couple of decades ago they were “looking for love in all the wrong places.” I have seen the talk shows. She is upset because her man turned out to be nothing but a lazy drunk. Where did they meet? In a bar.

Listen friends, if you marry a child of the devil, you will always have trouble with your father-in-law. If you are looking for Mr. or Mrs. Right, first make sure that you are right — that is, right with God. Then look for someone who fits the same description.

Many are trying to make it on their own, and failing miserably. Instead of making it on your own, why not put your trust in God, and let him guide your way. There is none so successful than he who is with God.

Jesus Christ is the most unique character of history. All time is marked by His extraordinary life. Napoleon Bonaparte once said, “I know men, and Jesus Christ was no man.”

Ever since His short 33 year life, men have exhausted themselves in writing about His sublime life. Even more spectacular is that before He was born men were writing about Him.

Seven and a half centuries before Jesus would be born, the prophet Isaiah told about many events of His spectacular life. Isaiah tells that He would be born of a virgin (Isaiah 7:14). He also tells of His lofty position (Isaiah 9:6).

In Isaiah 53, the prophet gives us a composite view of the Savior. He speaks of His special birth, His simple life, His substitutionary death, His saving resurrection, and His sovereign reign. All of this in 33 years. But, for what purpose?

“He was pierced through for our transgressions, and crushed for our offenses…He bore the sin of many, and interceded for the transgressors” that He might “justify the many.”

The devil never is upfront with us. He beckons us to the “High Life,” but never mentions the low life brought on by his so-called “high life.” Jesus said he was a liar and a murderer from the beginning. He always gives the best first, and it goes downhill from there.

Jesus, however, saves the best until last. In Jesus’ first miracle, the wine He created was deemed the best quality of the day. That is the way it always is with Jesus.

In the 23rd Psalm, David ends that beautiful and comforting song with “surely goodness and mercy will follow me all of the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” God never promised us that life would be easy. He did promise that He would sustain us through this life. That’s His goodness and mercy. He also promised that at the end of this life there would be rest from our labors because we will be living in His house forever.

Have you divided your life into the sacred and the secular? Do you have a worship life where you honor God and a business life where you honor yourself and things? Friend, God doesn’t play second fiddle, and He won’t share the stage of your heart.

The apostle Paul reminds us that there is “one body, one Spirit, one hope…one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and one God and Father of all, who is above all, through all, and in all” (Eph. 4:4-6).

God will either be Lord of all, or He will not be Lord at all. No man can serve two masters. You must choose who will rule your heart and life. Make your choice today, and make God the Lord of all things in your life. Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all of His blessings will be yours.

The devil is a liar, and a murderer. Jesus said he has been that way from the beginning, and He ought to know. The devil’s motive is murder, and his method is lying. He wants to kill your happiness, murder your purity, and destroy your spiritual life.

How will he accomplish all of this? He will get you thinking severely about God. He wants you to think that God is just out to kill all your fun. The devil wants you to think skeptically about God. He wants you to doubt God’s word. The devil wants you to think superficially about God. He wants you to laugh at God’s judgment, and ignore His commands. The devil wants you to think suspiciously about God. He suggested to Eve that God was holding out on her, and he does the same today.

God wants you to defeat the devil. Do not fall for his lies; rather depend on God’s truth. You can overcome the devil. Just believe in God and His word. Your faith will win out.