MONDAY, MONDAY

The “back to work day” sets the tone for the whole week.  Will we let the routine of Monday distract us from the opportunity of doing God’s work along with ours? Why not begin Monday with a prayer that recognizes Who we really serve? “Father in heaven, I want to serve You in whatever I…

Source Criticism

Now to Him being able to keep you without stumbling, and to set you before His glory without blemish .   Jude 24 Without Stumbling – Zodhiates poses a question about this verse: “Is Jude promising we shall live our lives without ever stumbling?” If we answer, “yes,” then Jude seems to stand in contradiction…

Community Requirements

“And now, O Israel, what does the LORD your God demand of you?  Only this:  . . .” Deuteronomy 10:12 Demand – We don’t like the sound of this, do we?  What God demands doesn’t sound much like the gentle, compassionate God we hear about in church.  We would rather have this Hebrew word translated…

Meditate

Not reading Not reading and thinking Not reading, thinking and contemplating Rather meditation is offering It is offering back to God the Scripture He has given us As our part of the divine conversation This is God’s love story When we give back to Him the gift He has given We say, “Yes, Lord, I…

Fallout

“say not to yourselves, ‘The LORD has enabled us to possess this land because of our virtues’, . . .” Deuteronomy 9:4 Virtues – Why does God bless? Do you think His blessings are the result of your goodness? Do you think He provides for you because you have been more obedient than others? I…

Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit

There are 3 passages that we have to consider. We will briefly look at the first two and then concentrate on the passage in Mark. Matthew 12:31-32 Reference to the strong man’s house (Isaiah 49). The issue is about authority. Jesus comes with a sign that can only be interpreted as God acting among the…

Pattern Recognition

and do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect. Romans 12:2 Conformed – Let’s go to visit the blacksmith. Of course, today you might have to travel a long…

Emotional Security

The truth is that I’m afraid.  I don’t mean that I’m afraid of the possibilities of life.  I don’t cower under the prospect of hurricanes, earthquakes or tornados.  I’m really not fretfully anxious about economic loss or political unrest.  I absolutely believe that God engineers my life for His purposes.  That gives me a kind…

Connected

and do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect. Romans 12:2 And – How many times have you heard this verse? Dozens, I’ll bet, but we often miss the…

Wasted Lives

“Cut it down! Why does it even use up the ground?” Luke 13:7 Use Up – Parables make one point. That point is often a function of the event context of the parable. So, after Yeshua rejects the religious ranking of sins, He tells this parable about a fig tree that doesn’t produce. The parable…