“Do not forsake me, O LORD; O my God, do not be far from me!” Psalm 38:21 Forsake – Psalm 38 is a powerful emotional outburst of despair followed by a plea for rescue. One word dominates the two sides of this psalm. That word is azav. First we see it in verse 10. David’s…
“Are you the Coming One, or shall we look for someone else?” Matthew 11:3 Are you – I need glasses in order to see clearly. They correct a genetic defeat. The Bible says that every human being suffers from a similar spiritual genetic defect. In this world, we are all just a little blind. Because…
“Lord, remember me when You come into your kingdom.” Luke 23:42 Remember – What does remember mean to you? If you’re a product of the Western Greek culture, you will think of “remember” as a mental action. When we remember, we bring something to mind. The process happens in our heads. If this is what…
“and thus, having waited patiently, he obtained the promise” Hebrews 6:15 Waited patiently – My estimation of Abraham’s patience doesn’t seem to square with the view of the author of Hebrews. When I think of Abraham, I think of the man who protected himself at the expense of his wife (twice), who agreed to human…
“If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.” 1 John 1:6 Truth – “Someone who always tells the truth doesn’t need a good memory.” My friend David left me with this thought a few weeks ago. In the first century, John…
“Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.” 2 Corinthians 3:17 NIV Freedom – My friend Steve hit the nail on the head. “There is a direct correlation between your willingness to face the darkness of your own pain and your ability to live freely and…
“Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.” 2 Corinthians 3:17 Liberty – The Bible is an emotionally engaging book. It’s romantic non-fiction. It’s the greatest love story ever told. And if you don’t feel it gripping your heart, tugging at your soul and shattering your…
“Therefore, take up the full armor of God, that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm” Ephesians 6:13 Stand Firm – Paul was fond of military metaphors. This passage about the armor of God certainly is one of his best. When he concludes the thought,…
“then I called upon the name of the LORD: “O LORD, I beseech You, save my life!”” Psalm 116:4 Save – How was the memory trip to “hell on earth” (yesterday)? A close encounter with hell turns life into an unbearable sickness. That’s when David cries out, “Lord, save me!” David gives us the only…
“The chords of death encompassed me and the terrors of Sheol came upon me” Psalm 116:3 Sheol – I’ve already been to hell. I didn’t have to travel far and I didn’t have to lay down six feet under. All I had to do was live my life in total rebellion and separation from God. …
