“She looks well to the ways of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness.” Proverbs 31:27 The smartphone, with its ubiquitous and instant shopping mall and movies, is a new world of idleness. Beware this bread.

“Let the lowly brother boast in his exaltation, and the rich in his lowliness, because like a flower of the grass he will pass away.” James 1:9–10 A Christian slave is the Lord’s free man, and a Christian free man is the Lord’s slave. Let him who boasts boast in the Lord.

“Learn not the way of the nations.” Jeremiah 10:2

“Let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the Lord.” Jeremiah 9:24 The eternally delighting God.

“Do not prophesy in the name of the Lord, or you will die by our hand.” Jeremiah 11:21 Death is better than disobedience.

“If you will not listen, my soul will weep in secret for your pride.” Jeremiah 13:17 Pride. Refusal to change. The prophet weeps.

“In the day of prosperity be joyful, and in the day of adversity consider: God has made the one as well as the other, so that man may not find out anything that will be after him.” Ecclesiastes 7:14 Prosperity and adversity do not come by human reckoning, but by God’s decree.

“O land, land, land, hear the word of the Lord!” Jeremiah 22:29

“A person cannot receive even one thing unless it is given him from heaven.” John 3:27

“Can a man hide himself in secret places so that I cannot see him? declares the Lord. Do I not fill heaven and earth? declares the Lord.” Jeremiah 23:24 When you act in perfect secretiveness from man, God is there and sees all.

“I will give them a heart to know that I am the Lord, and they shall be my people and I will be their God, for they shall return to me with their whole heart.” Jeremiah 24:7 God’s gift of a new heart IS the “whole heart” with which they return to God.

“My brothers, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone brings him back, let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.” James 5:19–20 Pray. Persuade. Plead.

“I am with you to save you, declares the Lord.” Jeremiah 30:11 From whatever does not serve your final happiness.

“My people shall be satisfied with my goodness, declares the Lord.” Jeremiah 31:14 The soul tastes in every gift, the goodness of the Giver. Not to is idolatry.

“We know that this is indeed the Savior of the world.” John 4:42 The whole world. There is only one Savior of the world. Ask God how you might become strategic in spreading this news to the whole world.

Jesus: “If you believed Moses, you would believe me; for he wrote of me.” John 5:46 O dear Jewish friends, believe Moses. And believe Jesus.

“Because you trusted in your works and your treasures, you also shall be taken, and shall go into exile.” Jeremiah 48:7 God is stronger than your works. God is better than your treasures.

“‘Who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?’ Jesus answered, ‘It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him.’” John 9:2–3 Because the works of God are superbly valuable in this world.

What if “adult” meant stories of simple goodness that adolescents would be bored by instead of nudity which adolescents are more interested in than adults?

Passing the test. “Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under testing, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.” James 1:12