“In repentance and rest you will be saved, in quietness and trust is your strength.” But you were not willing. Isaiah 30:15 Repentance and Rest – “But I gotta’ do something!” That’s the approach we naturally take when it comes to crisis. We want action! Something’s got to happen. After all, if we just…
Jesus answered them and said, “My teaching is not Mine, but His who sent Me.” John 7:16 Sent – “You gotta’ serve somebody,” sang Bob Dylan. He might have written that song for Jesus. We are quick to assert that Jesus is His own authority, but that’s not what He says of Himself. He serves…
The Jews therefore were marveling, saying, “How has this man become learned, having never been educated?” John 7:15 Become Learned – Remember what the home town boys said about Jesus. “Isn’t he just the carpenter’s son?” Well, something similar happened at the Feast of the Tabernacles too. But notice, if you will, exactly what the…
“The world is not able to hate you; but it hates Me because I witness about it, that its works are evil.” John 7:7 Is Not Able – Did you really read these words? If you go too fast, you might think that Jesus says, “The world does not hate you.” But that isn’t His…
“Is this not the carpenter’s son?” Matthew 13:55 Carpenter’s Son – Why were the people offended by the teaching of Jesus? They certainly recognized His power and they were astonished at His authority. But they were still upset. Why? In order to grasp the answer to this question, we have to know a little about…
Beloved, I am not writing a new commandment to you, but an old commandment which you have had from the beginning; 1 John 2:7 Old – Just how old is John’s “old commandment”? Does John start counting with the teaching of Jesus, or does his reckoning begin earlier than that? Does John think that Jesus’…
The one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked. 1 John 2:6 In The Same Manner – Here’s an interesting phrase: kathos ekeinos. Literally, it means “according to the same.” It comes before the verb “walk” in the Greek text. This places the emphasis on…
Therefore, be imitators of God, as beloved children; and walk in love Ephesians 5:1-2 Imitators – You would recognize this Greek word immediately. It is mimetes, from which we get “mimic.” What you probably wouldn’t recognize is how utterly different this word is from our Greek-based worldview. Mimic is not what it appears to be….
“therefore all that they tell you, do and observe, but do not do according to their deeds; for they say things, and do not do them. “ Matthew 23:3 All – Jesus endorsed the scribes and Pharisees. Yes, that’s right, He instructed His disciples to follow all that they taught – but not to follow…
“If a man makes an unusual vow to the Lord involving the valuation of persons,” Leviticus 27:2 (translation Wenham) Valuation – “Lord, if you only do this, then I will dedicate myself to you.” Have you ever said something like this, maybe in a moment of desperation? Have you ever made a promise to God…
