There can be no doubt that the Bible teaches us the importance of sound doctrine. Paul’s epistles are full of the principle, and he emphatically states several times that correct teaching matters.

The key to understanding Paul’s famous exposition in 1 Corinthians 13 on the quality of love is the last verse of chapter 12, “And I will show you a still more excellent way.”

What does Paul mean when he tells the Corinthians, “Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty concerning the body and blood of the Lord.” (1 Cor. 11:27)?

In today’s reading from 1 Corinthians 10, Paul uses the wilderness wandering experiences of the children of Israel as “examples for us, that we might not desire evil as they did.” (v6).

The second most important commandment in the Bible is “you shall love your neighbor as yourself” (Lev. 19:18). It should be a simple concept (even if at times a little challenging to implement), but as with all Bible principles, we need to understand the spirit behind the law.

When Ahab approached Naboth and said, “Give me your vineyard, that I may have it for a vegetable garden” (1 Kings 21:2), there’s a huge irony.

When we fight against sin, we know that God is with us. He taught Israel that lesson in their literal battles against their enemies.

When children are blessed, they are happy. The little ones can feel love, along with warmth, security and belonging. There is no doubt that those little ones and their parents left Jesus’ presence with a very real sense that it had been good to be with him.

What became evident for Elijah after the contest on Mount Carmel was that any conversion of the people was only superficial.

The people of Elijah’s day had to make up their minds. He told them, “How long will you go limping between two different opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him.” (1 Kings 18:21).

As we traverse through life, from time to time, we look for something that is the key to happiness, success, and fulfillment.

Tucked away at the end of our reading in 1 Kings 16 is the story of a man who rebuilt the city of Jericho. It’s a curious little footnote in the otherwise well-known record of the life of King Ahab.