Open the gates, that the righteous nation may enter, the one that remains faithful. Isaiah 26:2 NASB Remains faithful – What is the character of a people (a nation) that remains faithful? Isaiah’s word choice here (employing the verb šāmar and the derived adjective from ʾāman) tells us that this people, this gôy (nation), is a people…
to slander no one, not to be contentious, to be gentle, showing every consideration for all people. Titus 3:2 NASB Consideration – You know, sometimes trying to get Paul’s ideas into English is just such a mess. Here we have a translation that first says “gentle” (epieikḗs) which really should be something like “upright” (doing what is the right…
When you are in distress and all these things have come upon you, in the latter days you will return to the Lord your God and listen to His voice. Deuteronomy 4:30 NASB All these things – The myth of eternal return is upon us. In the Western world, we start again. We finish the past cycle and hope for…
But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Matthew 6:33 NASB Seek first – We live in a world that relies on a magnificent lie. That lie is fundamental to our way of life. It gives us the illusion of control, the expectation of a better future, the hope…
Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, and spend a year there and engage in business and make a profit.” Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away. Instead, you ought to…
“but only a few things are necessary, really only one; for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her.” Luke 10:42 NASB 1977 Only one – Martha will forever be remembered as the one who missed the point. Mary chose to hear the teaching of Jesus. Martha concerned herself…
“and sends rain on the just and on the unjust” Matthew 5:45 ESV Rain – I have a hard time understanding God’s battle plan. If I were running the cosmic war, I would make it as difficult as possible on my enemies and as wonderful as I could for my allies. I’d be sure that…
Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 2 Timothy 2:15 KJV Study – “It is easier to study than to pray. It is harder to become a God-fearing person than a scholar. The evil spirit permits learning.”[1] Heschel’s comment sends shock…
For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death. Romans 8:2 NASB Law – Paul is a complex writer. He uses Greek vocabulary to its maximum. In fact, sometimes he just makes up words. So to imagine that Paul always means…
And on the seventh day God ended His work which He had made; and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He has made. And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it; because that in it He had rested from all his work which God created and made. Genesis 2:2-3 …
