-loose living sing is that it puts one in a tight place.

-a crooked heart is that one cannot live straight.

-life apart from God is that it leads to eternity apart from God.

-backbiting that it bites back.

-souls in sin is sin in souls.

-being close to truth is that one is still far from right.

-sin is death

-the pleasure of sin are their eternal after effects

-having money to burn is that it leads the soul to the same end.

The Cross, Then The Crown

Jesus received his crown of glory and honor, but only after he endured the cross (Phil. 2-8-11; Heb 2:9). We, too, want our "crown of life," but we want it without having to bear our cross (Lk. 9:23). It will not work that way. As Jesus could not reign as King until he suffered as a servant, so we cannot reign with him until we have humbled ourselves as servants (Rev. 2:10; 3:21). We often are selfish. We want to be pampered and babied and crowned. We do not want to suffer, but we want the eternal prize. "Lord, is it I?"

"'Regardless of the Consequences"

The determined general said to his army, "Men, this area must be taken and secured, regardless of the consequences." "That is how Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego served the Lord. They told the pagan king that they would not worship the golden image," regardless of the consequences (Dan. 3:17, 19). Do we serve the Lord only because it is convenient to do so? Do we attend services, sing, give, and pray only when it is easy to do? When things go wrong, when we feel discouraged and disappointed, do we still serve the Savior? Brethren, our faith, hope, and love in the Lord must be "taken and secured, regardless of the consequences" (Acts 20:22-24).

The Untamed Tongue

James said, "the tongue can no man tame" (Jas 3:8). It is true. We cannot tame our tongues. But what do you do horse than cannot be tamed? You may put him in a corral and shut the gate; you may put a bridle on him. What should we do with our untamable tongues? We may confine them in the corral of our mouths and keep it shut. We may also put a bridle on it. "I said, I will take heed to my ways, that I sin not with my tongue: I will keep my mouth with a bridle while the wicked is before me" (Psa. 39:1).

May the Lord help us to muzzle our minds and mouths and to put a bridle on our tongues, for I am purposed that my mouth shall not transgress (Psa 17:3).

Guardian of Truth XXXIX: 5 p. 4
March 2, 1995