Passport Control

Let us therefore draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and may find grace to help in time of need   Hebrews 4:16 Therefore – The author of Hebrews knows just what we need.  We need mercy and help in difficult times.  Not a single one of us would…

Grammatical Failures

and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible  1 Peter 1:8 Inexpressible – “I just don’t have the words to tell you.”  But we try, don’t we?  In fact, if you believe the lyrics of…

Life in the Clouds

and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible  1 Peter 1:8 Greatly Rejoice – “Life is difficult,” says M. Scott Peck.  “It’s not about you,” says Rick Warren.  And then there’s the quip about not…

Manipulative Techniques

Better is a poor man who walks in his integrity than one who twists his lips, for he is a fool.  Proverbs 19:1 (translated by Bruce Waltke) Twists – It’s unlikely that your English Bible translates this verse the way that Professor Waltke does.  But his translation gives you the proper metaphor, one that reveals…

Spiritual Pride

And because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, for this reason, to keep me from exalting myself, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to buffet me – to keep me from exalting myself!   2 Corinthians 12:7 Exalting Myself – Once we realize that Paul’s thorn in…

Unexpected Rewards

And because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, for this reason, to keep me from exalting myself, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to buffet me – to keep me from exalting myself!   2 Corinthians 12:7 For This Reason – Do you have a thorn in…

Pointing Perspective

“Do not fear, Abram, I am a shield to you.  Your reward shall be very great.”  Genesis 15:1 Shield – What difference does a dot make?  Who cares about a small little point of ink on the page?  If you were Hebrew, the smallest ink mark makes all the difference when it comes to reading…

Sex Sins In Disguise

You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God?  James 4:4 Adulteresses – We live in a culture of “normal” unfaithfulness.  From prime-time sit-com to the soaps, from music to movies, from pop icons to presidents, adultery is acceptable.  As far as the culture is concerned, the message is:…

A Vow Before the Lord

May God do so to me, and more also, if   2 Samuel 3:35 In This Way (missing) – “Lord, I promise.”  Have you heard these word come from your lips?  Did you really understand the seriousness of these words?  Or were they much the same as the dozens of other promises we make, fully intending…

The Law of the Land

you shall not walk in their statutes  Leviticus 18:3 (compare Exodus 23:24)   Statutes – The law of the land.  That’s what God has in mind with this commandment.  He instructed the Israelites as they were leaving Egypt to never again use Egypt’s legal code as the basis for their actions.  The same thing applied…