By Mike Benson

When was the last time...

. You went to visit someone in the community who lives alone?

. You wrote a letter to say "thank you" to a person who has helped you along life's way?

. You dropped by the local nursing home and just listened to someone who needed a sympathetic ear?

. You showed a special interest in a child who comes from a broken home?

. You encouraged a neighbor who recently lost a loved one?

. You told a teenager how proud you are of his or her efforts?

. You invited a friend to study the Bible with you?

. You tried to encourage a child of God who is struggling with temptation?

. You told your family how much you loved and appreciate them?

The Bible reminds us, "Therefore, as we have opportunity, LET US DO GOOD..." (Galatians 6:10a). When was the last time?

by Mike Benson

Have you ever opened your refrigerator only to discover that something in there has ... well ... spoiled? You may not be able to identify the source of the odor (at least at first), but it's all too apparent that some sort of food item has gone bad. And whatever it is, it's been in there far too long and now it's soured.

So what do you do? Leave the moldy item in the refrigerator? Of course not. You've got only one option -- clean it out thoroughly. Find the source of the smell, then throw it out, and finally wipe the interior clean.

Perhaps you've never thought of it this way, but bitterness is sort of like spoiled food in the refrigerator. It's simply aggravation that has been left in the heart too long and then gone bad.

Do you have a problem with bitterness? Empty the refrigerator, find the source of the offending odor, and then dump it in the garbage. Isn't that what the Bible says...?

"Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you..." (Ephesians 4:31; cf. Psalm 19:12).

Think about it.

by Mike Benson

A little seven-year-old boy prayed one night before bed for God to give him a baby sister. When he awakened the next morning, the little boy found that there was no baby. Undaunted, he prayed a second time for the same thing. Still no baby.

Some months later, the boy and his father made a trip to the local hospital. When the two of them arrived, they stepped into a room in the maternity section and found the boy's mother holding a precious little baby sister in her right arm, and yet another baby sister in her left! The proud father looked down into the eyes of his young son and said, "Now, aren't you glad you prayed?" To which the little boy replied, "Yes, and aren't you glad I stopped when I did?!"

Oh, if only we could learn to pray with the confident expectation and faith of a seven-year-old. The Bible says, "Ask, and it will be given to you ..." (Matthew 7:7; cf. Luke 18:18; James 1:5,6). Dear Christian, what blessings have you forfeited because you failed to ask in faith?

Think about it.

by Mike Benson

If I planted Big Boy tomato seeds in my garden in the early Spring, I should expect to reap Big Boy tomatoes in the summer, right? Tomato seeds will not produce cucumbers, cantaloupes, okra, corn, beans, onions, spinach, or potatoes. They will only produce after their own kind (Genesis 1:11,12; Galatians 6:7). This same principle is true in religion.

When the apostles "planted" the seed/word (Luke 8:11) of God into the fertile hearts of sinful men (1 Corinthians 3:6), what kind of crop did they harvest (1 Peter 1:23; Acts 11:26)? Did they sow the same seed and yet reap radically different crops? Did they reap religious diversity? Did they reap different religious groups, who wore different names, and who worshiped God in different ways? Did they reap corn, beans, and Big Boy tomatoes (1 Corinthians 1:13)?

Think about it.

by Mike Benson

Some time ago I attended an auction near Lawrenceburg, Tennessee. Among the many items up for bidding was a beautiful antique china cabinet. It was ornately crafted and it had a graceful glass door. Simply speaking, it was a magnificent piece of old-style furniture.

Do you know how much that cabinet sold for? Just guess. $22.50. That's right. Twenty-two dollars and fifty cents! While I'm certainly no antique appraiser, I'm certain it's worth was much, much more than a mere $22.50. Whoever bought the cabinet got a bargain. Some would even say a steal.

"Why didn't it go for a higher price?" The only answer I can come up with is that it was not valued by potential buyers. They didn't recognize its true worth.

In Psalm 119 the Bible says, "I rejoice at Your Word as one who finds great treasure" (v. 162). Dear reader, if God's word is really valuable to you, you'll study it, learn it, and most importantly, obey it. HOW MUCH is the Bible worth to you (Psalm 139:17)? What's your bid?

Think about it.