Author name: Paul Cannings

On April 6, 2000, Ricky and Toni Sexton were taken hostage in their home in Wytheville, Virginia, by a fugitive couple on a violent crime spree. Toni had taken her poodle outside when Dennis Lewis, 37, and Angela Tanner, 20, sped into her driveway, pointed pistols at her, and ordered her back into the house. Yet, inside that home, the Sextons transformed their terrifying hostage situation into an opportunity to display Christian love. Rather than responding with hatred or fear alone, the Sextons listened to their captors’ struggles, fed them, showed them gospel videos, read Scripture to them, and prayed and wept with them. During negotiations with law enforcement, Ricky Sexton even refused his own release when Lewis and Tanner suggested they might end the standoff by taking their own lives. The standoff ended in an unusual way. Before surrendering to the police, Angela Tanner left the Sextons $135 and a handwritten note that read: “Thank you for your hospitality. We really appreciate it. I hope he gets better. Wish all luck & love. Please accept this. It really is all we have to offer. Love, Angela and Dennis.” (Illustrations for Every Topic and Occasion – Perfect Illustrations: For Every Topic and Occasion.) This kind of love reflects God’s redemptive story toward mankind. Even if, by worldly standards, we considered ourselves “good people” before salvation, God declares that our righteousness is like filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6). Scripture teaches that we did not seek after Him (Romans 3:11), that we were born in sin (Psalm 51:5), and that, apart from Christ, we were without hope and separated from the promises of God (Ephesians 2:12). We were destined for eternal judgment. Yet, despite our condition, God demonstrated extraordinary love: “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life” (John 3:16). This is why the Bible says, “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love.” (1 John 4:7–8, NASU) It is this kind of love that transforms both the person receiving it and the person sharing it. F. W. Farrar recounts how, when Dwight L. Moody was an ignorant, ragged, shoeless boy walking the streets of Chicago, he found his way into a Sunday school through one of those unseen providences’ people often call chance. He was shy, sensitive, and nervous that the other boys would laugh at him because he could not locate passages in the Bible. His teacher noticed his embarrassment and, with quiet gentleness and thoughtful tact, spared him humiliation by helping him find the Scriptures. That small, nameless act of love and compassion may have changed history. Without it, a life of extraordinary ministry and service might have been lost to the world. Dwight L. Moody went on to become a widely known preacher and founded Moody Bible Institute, a ministry that continues to impact people around the world. Love may seem like a small act that leaves a person vulnerable, but when directed by God, it becomes a force powerful enough to change lives and influence the world. True love never fails (1 Corinthians 13:4–8).

The scientific community states that people make approximately 35,000 decisions daily. This means individuals are constantly processing information or instinctively determining what to do. Making decisions instinctively often reflects our feelings, personal reasoning, or speculations based on what we have encountered. Either way, these decisions determine each person’s course of action. Because of the significance of these decisions, 2 Corinthians 10:5 reads: “We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ, …., whenever your obedience is complete.” (NASU) Furthermore, Paul warns Timothy: “But refuse foolish and ignorant speculations, knowing that they produce quarrels… if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him to do his will.” (2 Tim. 2:23- 26; NASU) Making decisions based solely on our own understanding is prohibited by God (Prov. 3:5). If we persist in doing so, Ephesians 4:17-20 teaches that we become darkened in our understanding, no longer moved by the Holy Spirit (excluded from the life of God, vs. 18), ignorant, hard hearted, calloused, while practicing various forms of impurity and greed. Therefore, when we speculate apart from God’s truth, Satan can influence our thinking. Leaning on our own understanding can deteriorate our spiritual development and lead us toward carnality (1 Cor. 3:1-3). A sound decision-making process requires knowledge; therefore, it is essential that we begin by renewing our minds (Romans 12:2). Paul prayed: “And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve the things that are excellent, in order to be sincere and blameless until the day of Christ.” (Phil. 1:9-10; NASU) Making a decisive decision to determinatively transform ones’ mind to the teachings of Christ takes place when a believer (Luke 6:45) seeks the Lord with all their hearts (Luke 12:31), with a commitment to obey His Word (Hebr. 5:14). Our obedience matures us not to just comprehend the scriptures but also inspires us to be discerning (Phil. 1:9-11). This provides guaranteed success because God’s Word does not return void (Isa. 55:11. As we walk by faith (Rom. 10:17), we experience blessings on earth (Hebr. 11:6) and eternal reward in heaven (2 Tim. 4:7-8). This biblical decision-making process protects us from making mistakes (2 Peter. 3, 9-11), guides us to walk in the light as He is in the light (Ps. 119:105; Eph. 5:8), and empowers us not to be defeated by Satan (Eph. 6:17; Hebr. 4:12; 1 John 2:14) or overwhelmed by life’s circumstances (Phil. 4:8-9). In this way, this keeps us sober-minded no matter what impacts our lives (1 Peter 5:8).

Many times when I read the Book of Psalm, I am amazed at how a man whom God granted amazing supernatural accomplishments, including a significant accumulation of wealth, power, and domination of the known world, can have so much pain. Here are some examples: “Why are you in despair, O my soul? And why have you become disturbed within me? O my God, my soul is in despair within me; …” (Ps. 42:5-6; NASU) “Hear the voice of my supplications when I cry to You for help, When I lift up my hands toward Your holy sanctuary. ” (Ps. 28:2-3; NASU) “I cry aloud with my voice to the Lord; I make supplication with my voice to the Lord. I pour out my complaint before Him; I declare my trouble before Him. When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, ….” (Ps. 142:1-3; NASU) When I read the Book of Psalms, I notice several recurring themes and phrases: “trust in the Lord,” “hope in the Lord,” “the Lord is my refuge, my fortress, my present help, my rock, my strength; my soul trusts in Him” (Ps. 18:2, 62:7-8; 91:2). Of course, there is also the beloved affirmation of Psalm 23: “The Lord is my shepherd.” All of his experiences so deepened his relationship and reliance on God; God was not simply a shepherd in an abstract sense; He became David’s personal Shepherd—”my Shepherd.” Paul often spoke openly about his pain and suffering. In fact, he was forewarned that his ministry would involve hardship (Acts 9:16). For example, he wrote: “We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body” (2 Cor. 4:8-10; 2 Cor. 11:21-29; NASU). After reviewing many of these scriptures, I reflected on how someone like Paul, under house arrest with Jewish leaders’ intent on having him executed and facing the possibility of imminent death (Phil. 1:21), could write such words: “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice! … The Lord is near. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Phil. 4:4-9; NASU) Even Christ, in the Garden of Gethsemane, experienced agony, “to the point of death” (Matthew 26:36-46), yet He placed His trust in God’s will. This trust did not remove His pain – in fact, it only increased. Nevertheless, Christ was determined to trust God’s Word and the promise of resurrection, not matter what. No matter how deep their pain, those who persevered became fully surrendered to God, so that all that mattered was Christ and Christ alone. This was their victory (Romans 8:37-39) – not whether their outward circumstances were resolved (John 12:23-26; Hebrews 11-12:3).

People are quick to say, “I love you,” especially teenagers. What this frequently means is the person makes them feel good. But feelings alone cannot sustain a relationship, because true love is not self-centered, it is selfless. (1 Cor. 13:5). Scripture teaches that love “bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things,” (1 Cor. 13:7) this is why “love NEVER fails.” (1 Cor. 13:8) Christ models this, “For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Rom. 8:38-39; NASU) The word for love in the scriptures is the word “charity.” Charity means loving someone in a way that seeks what is best for them and remaining selflessly committed until they have achieved their goals. For example, many parents who truly love their children model this kind of charity. Parents constantly sacrifice their time, energy, and ambitions to give their children the best, even when those children can be unappreciative and even disrespectful. Despite this, charity continues to serve others selflessly, always seeking their best. Here is the issue, though: the only person who can provide this kind of love is God because only God is love (1 John 4:8). So even if a person desires to love someone based on how true love is defined and sustained, they cannot do so without God. To empower us with this love, Christ came and loved us first (1 John 4:19; selfless). He demonstrated true love when He found us lost in sin and shaped in iniquity (Ps. 51:5; Rom. 5:8), having no desire for Himself (Romans 3:9-11). This lack of love was totally exposed by all those who caused Him to be nailed to the cross. These temple-goers knew what the Bible said and who He is (John 5:39-40) yet still hated Him. This helps us see that we can be in the church and memorize the scriptures yet still reject His love and therefore struggle to love each other for a long, endless period of time. In order for us to love each other unconditionally, Christ teaches that we must first be committed to obeying Him (Matt. 22:36-40). Through this obedience, we experience the inner work of the Holy Spirit (1 John 2:3-6), whom we can truly encounter (Hebrews 5:14; 6:4-5). When believers love God first through obedience, they are enabled to love even their enemies as God defines love (Romans 12:9-20). “The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love.” (1 John 4:7-8). This is why our journey begins and ends with ‘Christ Alone.’ His love endures forever (Jeremiah 31:3). Calvary is the vivid portrayal of selfless love (John 3:16). Happy Resurrection Day!!

There are many things that God decided to do that Scripture explains which I findincredible. Yet none compare with His decision in the beginning recorded in Genesis. Itis remarkable that the first institution God established was the family. From the family,everything else would be developed on the earth. Direction, responsibility, and influencewould all flow from the family as mankind carried out God’s mandate to rule over everyliving creature.Everything God established was designed to sustain the family. From creation to theRapture, God’s plan is built around the family. His creation of male and female led to theunion of husband and wife, and from that union came children. As families grew, clansand tribes were formed. From these tribes came cities, nations, and ultimately the worldas we know it today.It was through the family of Abraham and Sarah that God promised to bless the entireearth (Genesis 12:1–3; 18:18–19). The importance of family is also seen in thequalifications for leadership in the church, where a person must demonstrate the abilityto manage his household well (1 Timothy 3:4–5). This is because the relationshipbetween husband and wife reflects the foundational principles of how the churchfunctions (Ephesians 5:32).For those who are single, God provides the church as a surrogate family, wherebelievers grow together in fellowship, support, and spiritual maturity (Acts 2:42–47;Ephesians 3:14–15; 4:12–16).A father’s God-directed role toward his children reveals important principles about howGod relates to His own children (Luke 11:11–13; Hebrews 12:9–10). As a father lovinglyprovides, guides, and disciplines his children, he reflects the character and care of ourHeavenly Father. A man who fears God and faithfully serves his family positions himselfto receive God’s blessings, both in his home and through the life of the church.Scripture teaches that the man who walks in the fear of the Lord will experienceblessings in his family and even the favor of a long and fruitful life (Psalm 128).Family is therefore central to all that God does. Even thousands of years later, mankindstill recognizes the family as one of the most important foundations of life. Today wehave confused family with many other things and have made it an option rather than asignificant and essential part of our lives.A cute little girl was sitting on top of a pile of luggage in a hotel lobby while her parentswere at the desk registering for their room. A sympathetic lady asked the little girl if theywere visiting relatives in the city.“Oh, no,” the girl replied. “We’re going to live at this hotel until we find a house. MyDaddy has a new job, and we had to sell our house and move.” The lady responded kindly, “Oh, it’s too bad you don’t have a home.”The little girl quickly replied, “Oh, we have a home—it’s just that we don’t have a houseto put it in.”This little girl understood something that many adults miss: a house is not the same asa home, and a home is built by a family.God understood the importance of family when He chose Abraham. The Lord was notonly concerned with Abraham’s personal faith, but also with how Abraham would leadhis household. Scripture says:“The LORD said, ‘Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do, since Abraham willsurely become a great and mighty nation, and in him all the nations of the earth will beblessed? For I have chosen him, so that he may command his children and hishousehold after him to keep the way of the LORD by doing righteousness and justice,so that the LORD may bring upon Abraham what He has spoken about him.’”(Genesis 18:17–19, NASU)God chose Abraham not simply to start a nation, but to lead a family that would walk inthe ways of the Lord. The strength of the nation would grow out of the strength of thefamily.

The little boy may have enjoyed catching fish — but what made the day unforgettable was being with his grandfather. The lake, the boat, the rods, the bait — none of it belonged to him. The wisdom, direction, and provision all flowed from his grandfather. Yet the boy’s greatest delight was not the fish; it was the fellowship. His request to cook and eat together reveals what truly mattered: shared experience. That is the deeper question for us.  Each day we “go out” with God. We step into responsibilities, meetings, deadlines, conversations, and decisions. But is our focus on productivity — or presence? Are we more excited about what we accomplish, or about walking with Him while accomplishing it? Like the boy: We did not choose the “lake” of our circumstances. We do not own the “boat” of our resources. We rely on the Father’s instruction for effectiveness. Our success is rooted in His provision. Yet how often do we treat God as an assistant rather than a Father? Sometimes we ask Him to bless our plans instead of seeking to join His. Psalms 34:1–7 reminds us that the greatest blessing is not the removal of difficulty but the nearness of the Lord. “O magnify the LORD with me…” Notice the invitation — with me. Relationship. Fellowship. Shared joy. Jesus promised that the Father would not leave us alone. In John 14:16–30, He assures us of the Helper — the Holy Spirit — who teaches, guides, and comforts. And 2 Peter 1:1–11 reminds us that everything we need for life and godliness has already been granted through knowing Him. The boy’s day was great because he shared his grandfather’s day. Our lives become spiritually rich when we share the Father’s day. So the real question is not: “God, will You help me catch fish today?” But rather: “Father, can I go fishing with You?” We have a great Father. Walk with Him. Ask questions. Listen closely. Enjoy His presence. The greatest catch of the day will always be deeper fellowship with Him.

Amid all the hate and division in our culture, where is your heart as a believer? Is it rooted in ideologies, cultural basis, political party affiliations, or the scriptures? One of the many things I admire about Martin Luther King, Jr.’s speech was not just to stop racial prejudice, but also that all people be evaluated not by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character. I love this statement because it is no different than what Christ advocated, as the scriptures delineated. He did this because He came to die for the world (John 3:16; He charged the disciples to go into the world; Acts 1:8). When we all stand before Him, it is not about our skin color or earthly achievements. He will separate us as sheep from goats (Matthew 25:31-46), rewarding us for our actions, whether “good or bad” (2 Corinthians 5:10). God modeled this in the Old Testament when He accepted a non-Jew, named Rahab, to become a part of those who entered the Promised Land and be in the line of Christ. God became upset at Miriam when she responded negatively to Moses marrying a Cushite (Numbers 12:1) and Christ sent Stephen to share the gospel with the Ethiopian Eunuch (Acts 8:26-40), which were the same people that Zephaniah called worshippers of God (Zephaniah 3:10). This is because throughout the Old Testament people of African descent are everywhere. Paul traveled to Corinth, Rome (1st and 2nd Corinthians and Romans), and many other European countries. There was no need to spend much time going to African nations because they were already engrossed in Judaism and Christianity. So, it is undeniable that our culture or our politics do not influence the Godhead.  They came to save all of their children since every child is a gift from God (Psalm 127:3), and everyone is fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:14). “…… since He Himself gives all people life and breath and all things; and He made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their habitation.” (Acts 17:26) Peter puts it another way, “….I most certainly understand now that God is not one to show partiality, but in every nation the man who fears Him and does what is right is welcome to Him.” (Acts 10:34-35) To hate is to display the true nature of our relationship with the Lord (Matthew 22:36-40). Beyond the great worship services and the pleasant hellos, it describes how well the Lord has shaped our hearts (Romans 12:9-21). “Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates his brother is still in the darkness. Whoever loves his brother lives in the light, …… But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks around in the darkness; ……….” (1 John 2:9-11; NIV)

On April 6, 2000, Ricky and Toni Sexton were taken hostage inside their Wytheville, Virginia, home by a fugitive couple on a crime spree. Toni had taken her poodle outside when Dennis Lewis, 37, and Angela Tanner, 20, roared into her driveway, pointed pistols, and yelled at her to get back inside the house. Inside the house, the Sextons turned their hostage experience into an opportunity to demonstrate Christian love. The Sextons listened to their captors’ troubles, fed them, showed them gospel videos, read to them from the Bible, and prayed and cried with them. During negotiations with the police, Ricky Sexton refused his release when Lewis and Tanner suggested that they might end the standoff by committing suicide. The standoff had an unusual ending. Before surrendering to the police, Angela Tanner left $135 and a note for the Sextons that read: “Thank you for your hospitality. We really appreciate it. I hope he gets better. Wish all luck & love. Please accept this. It really is all we have to offer. Love, Angela and Dennis.” (Illustrations for Every Topic and Occasion – – Perfect Illustrations: For Every Topic and Occasion.) This kind of love is displayed in God’s love story for man. Even if, by world standards, we were considered good people before we were saved, God said that our righteousness was as filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6). He said that we did not desire Him (Romans 3:11). We were born in sin (Psalm 51:6) and did not have any hope of experiencing heaven as Gentiles (Ephesians 2:12). We were all destined to hell. It is God who “so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life” (John 3:16). This is why the Bible says, “for love is from God, and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love.” (1 John 4:7-9; NASU) This kind of love makes a difference in the individual receiving it and in the individual sharing it. W. Farrar tells how, when Dwight L. Moody was an ignorant, ragged, shoeless boy in the streets of Chicago, he found his way to a Sunday school by one of those unseen providences that men call chance. He was shy, sensitive, and very nervous lest the other boys laugh at him because he could not find the places in the Bible. The teacher observed his embarrassment and, with gentle, silent tact, saved him from shame by finding the place for him. But for that little nameless act of love and sympathy, Dwight L. Moody might have lost a career of memorable beneficence to the world. Dwight L. Moody became a well-known preacher and founded the Moody Bible Institute, which serves people worldwide. Love may seem like a small act that makes a person vulnerable, but when God controls it, it is an act that can change the world, and true love never fails (1 Corinthians 13:4-8).

Are we believers only because we accepted Christ in our lives, or are we true believers because we are in love with God? To love God is to keep His commandments (John 14:15). So why is giving to someone we love such a struggle for some believers (2 Corinthians 8:7). If an individual says they love their family, they go home and seek to be faithful to their family. No one has to make them come home or be responsible for those at the house because they are in love with them. The same should be true for God. No one should have to make us come to God’s house or be responsible for what God says He wants His family to do. Our love for God and our giving are directly connected. Christ says, “where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Luke 12:34). So if we are not willing to give or say we cannot give, there are a few issues. Welack ability and are not willing to make the necessary adjustments like the Macedonians (2 Corinthians 8:1-6), or we love money (we do what it empowers us to do; Matthew 6:24), and it is therefore our master so God cannot tell us what to do with it, or we love the world and the things of the world (1 John 2:15-17).  Therefore, God does not control what we do with our resources. Not responding to God’s command can also expose our unwillingness to trust God. True love directs the heart of a person, not just our lips. “Ah!” said a woman who, in her poverty, had done much for Christ and who had a significant sum of money willed to her, “I cannot do as much as I used to do.” “But how is that?” someone asked. Said she, “When I had a nickel purse, I had a silver heart, but now I have a silver purse, and I have only a nickel heart.” (from Illustrations of Bible Truths Copyright © 1995, 1998 by AMG International, Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission.) Our desire to love God, demonstrated by our service and gifts, allows God to love us with His gifts (Proverbs 3:9-10; 10:22; 11:24-26). Otherwise, instead of being blessed financially, we are disciplined by the Lord. “Give, and it will be given to you. They will pour into your lap a good measure — pressed down, shaken together, and running over. For by your standard of measure it will be measured to you in return.”  (Luke 6:38; NASU) ‘KEEP HIS COMMANDS’ (John 14:15)  Abide in His Word, and He blesses our desires (John 15:7).

I found this Shakespeare story in a book, which is good to reflect on. “Shakespeare once asked, “What’s in a name?” Sometimes it’s more than meets the eye. Take the word “steward,” for example. Originally, it came from two old-English words “sty” and “wart” or “ward.” A sty-wart or sty-ward was a person who looked after the animals on a rich man’s estate. In time, it came to mean the person who managed the entire estate. Still, later, it became a family name, sometimes spelled Stewart or Steward. One family bearing this name became the ruling family of England. Tradition has it that Mary Queen of Scots changed the spelling to Stuart because the French pronounced Stewart as if it were spelled Ste-var (Cranford, Clarence W.: Cups of Light: And Other Illustrations. Willow Grove, PA: Woodlawn Electronic Publishing, 1988). That is quite a climb for a word— from an animal pen to a monarch’s throne. It reminds us that God wants us to lift our stewardship above the level of an unpleasant duty to where we enthrone it as a privilege in our lives. A Stewart or steward does not own the estate he manages. He manages it as a trusted servant of its owner. This is the basic principle of stewardship. It begins by recognizing God’s overall ownership (Psalm 50:10). God entrusts us with His estate for a time, so we must acknowledge our responsibility to care for it as stewards. Our lives are God’s, also. God wants us to love Him so much that stewardship ceases to be a burden and becomes a way of showing gratitude for the privilege of working with God.1] We must see ourselves as managers of God’s property. Whether it is how we take care of our bodies (1 Corinthians 3:16-17), use our spiritual gift (1 Peter 4:10), manage our homes (1 Timothy 3:4; 5:14), manage our time (Ecclesiastes 3:1-9; Ephesians 5:15-16), manage how we speak (Matthew 12:36; Colossians 4:6) or managing our money (Luke 6:38). Being godly stewards is not something we must do, it is who we are in the eyes of God. “Let a man regard us in this manner, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. In this case, moreover, it is required of stewards that one be found trustworthy.” (1 Corinthians 4:1-3; NASU) It is for this reason when Christ was preparing His disciples for His death and resurrection, He told the story of a man who was going on a long journey, so he gave his servants talents (Matthew 25:14-30). When the master returned, he expected his stewards to give an account of his property. Even though he left his property with them, they did not own it. “The earth is the LORD’S, and all it contains, the world, and those who dwell in it.”  (Psalm 24:1; NASU) This is why Job said; He said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I shall return there. The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away. Blessed be the name of the LORD.” (Job 1:21; NASU) It is our faithful stewardship that determines our blessing (Matthew 25:21).