The Crush

“In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.” John 16:33 Tribulation – If we learned anything about the weight of glory, it’s this:  followers of Jesus know about the crush.  Thlipsis, to crush, squeeze, press, to break.  The ones who travel with the Master know what it’s like to…

The Weight of Glory (7) Finally, It’s Just Above and Beyond

“For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison”  2 Corinthians 4:17 Far beyond all comparison – Well, it actually doesn’t say this.  Here we have a Greek idiom.  So, the translators have given us the thought behind the words, not the words themselves.  Literally, it says,…

Weight of Glory (6) Now the Heavy Stuff

“For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison” 2 Corinthians 4:17 Weight of Glory – Matthew 20:12.  Acts 15:28.  Galatians 6:2.  Heavy loads.  Heavy guilt.  Heavy consequences.  This word (baros) paints of picture of things too burdensome to bear.  But in this verse it is combined…

The Weight of Glory (5) Times Three

“For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison” 2 Corinthians 4:17 Eternal – Greek has three different words for temporal durations.  One is chronos.  Time lapse in measured intervals.  A clock is a chronometer – a time measuring device.  The second is kairos.  Eventful time.  The…

The Weight of Glory (3) Consequences not Calamities

“For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison” 2 Corinthians 4:17 Affliction – What are afflictions?  Loss of job?  Illness?  Disability?  Accidents?  Natural disasters?  War?  Famine?  Neglect?  Abuse?  What things are on your “affliction” list?  My guess is that your list doesn’t include a single one…

The Weight of Glory (1) Clock-Time

“For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison” 2 Corinthians 4:17 Momentary – The invisible reality of it all.  That’s the real problem, isn’t it?  Our present experience just seems so permanent.  We see heartache, persecution, disaster, despair and death and it just seems so permanent. …

Concrete Readiness

“And a second is like it, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself”” Matthew 22:39 As – More psychological garbage has been perpetrated on the Christian community with this verse than just about any other.  How many times have you heard someone claim that you can’t love another until you love yourself?  How often have…

The Five Servants

“But whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant.” Matthew 20:26 Servant – What’s your conception of “servant”?  Are you a waiter, a volunteer, an employee, an assistant, a butler or maid, a public official or a slave?  Did you think all “servants” were the same?  English is sloppy where Greek…