and what things you learned and received and heard and saw in me, practice these things, Philippians 4:9 In Me – The truth is that the combination of these two tiny words (en emoi – “in me”) scares me to death. I simply can’t imagine telling someone to look at me, listen to me, study…
Do all things without murmurings and disputings, Philippians 2:14 Murmurings and Disputings – If any verse has been taken out of context, this is the one! Were you instructed by your parents that this verse was the reason you should comply with the household rules? Has anyone ever used this verse to shame you into…
For it is written, “Rejoice, barren woman who does not bear; break forth and shout, you who are not in labor; for more are the children of the desolate than the one who has a husband” Galatians 4:27 Desolate – Yesterday we looked at the word, eremos, translated 32 times as “desert” or “wilderness.” But…
But He Himself would often slip away to the wilderness and pray. Luke 5:16 Wilderness – It’s likely that you have a marginal note in your Bible about this word. You see, it literally means, “lonely places.” The Greek is tais eremois. It’s plural – more than one place. And the verb literally means “withdrawing.” …
You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures. James 4:3 Spend – James would never survive in this world of politically correct speech. You see, he doesn’t try to soften the vocabulary at all. He uses the Greek verb dapanao. While it…
You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures. James 4:3 Wrong Motives – Since James is so pragmatically focused, he doesn’t mince words. What he really says is a jab to the solar plexus of our selfish desires. Maybe that’s why we…
What is the source of quarrels and conflicts among you? Is not the source your pleasures that wage war in your members? James 4:1 Quarrels and Conflicts – “I want it and I don’t care how I get it!” “I deserve better.” “You can’t treat me like that.” Have you ever found yourself speaking (or…
The father of the righteous will greatly rejoice, and he who sires a wise son will be glad in him. Proverbs 23:24 Wise Son – Today is my youngest son’s eighteenth birthday. You will excuse me if I glow just a little. I am proud of this young man. He is a wise son. What…
Sometimes the teacher is more in need than the pupils. For quite awhile, I have been disturbed by the experience of worship. My wife and I have gone to many different church buildings (I deliberately use this expression to make the distinction between the church as an assembly of God believers and the place where…
Solomon also made a house for Pharaoh’s daughter whom he had taken. 1 Kings 7:8 Taken – In the middle of several chapters that describe the opulence of Solomon’s building project comes this one sentence comment. We might be tempted to skim over it. After all, it’s not as appealing as the vivid imagery of…
