It happened that while Jesus was praying in a certain place, after He had finished, one of His disciples said to Him, “Lord, teach us to pray just as John also taught his disciples.” Luke 11:1 NASB Teach us to pray – Before we read the refracted brilliance of Heschel’s remarks about prayer, we should…
For He Himself knows our frame; He is mindful that we are but dust. Psalm 103:14 NASB He Himself – Does God know you? All about you? Everything? “Of course, He does,” you answer. “He’s omniscient. He knows everything.” If that’s true, then why does the Psalmist use a construction that effectively underlines the point? Why doesn’t he write,…
The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God stands forever. Isaiah 40:8 NASB Stands forever – If Isaiah is right, then one of the really important questions is, “What does God’s word say?” What are these words that will stand forever? For the answer we turn to the Bible. Well, actually, we…
There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love. 1 John 4:18 NASB Perfect love – “Perfect” is a terrifying word. It’s not so ominous when it comes to things like true and false exams or Lego constructions, but try…
Remembering Freedom Won
Then the Lord said, “Because this people draw near with their words and honor Me with their lip service, but they remove their hearts far from Me, and their reverence for Me consists of tradition learned by rote, Isaiah 29:13 NASB Tradition – When you read this verse, what do you think it means? Yes, we see God’s…
Then you are to say to them, ‘It is because your forefathers have forsaken Me,’ declares the Lord, ‘and have followed other gods and served them and bowed down to them; but Me they have forsaken and have not kept My law. Jeremiah 16:11 NASB Law – There are two unbridgeable chasms between Christianity and Judaism. The first,…
Are you sure you want to go inside? Palazzo Sanvitale, Parma
For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. Ephesians 2:8-9 NASB Grace/works – I used to think I knew what Paul was writing about. Decades ago, I had the right theological perspective on Paul. He was…
And the man and his wife were both naked and were not ashamed. Genesis 2:25 NASB Not ashamed – When you read this verse, what mental picture comes to mind? Something like this: (Rubens and Brueghel)?[1] We grew up with the 17th century version of Eden, complete with Nordic men and women. Naked, of course,…
