Sep 8

  • beeaston
    beeaston added a text contribution Today
    The passage before this verse gives us a glimpse of what is to come, but verse 58 explains what you and I can do now. Let's keep our hearts on heaven where we will see God in His glory, but let's keep our hands diligently working on earth today and our ears listening to the Holy Spirit's prompting for what to do next. Read more »

Feb 6

Jan 13

  • beeaston
    beeaston added a text contribution The Veil
    Perhaps it was the custom for a modest, upright woman to remain veiled in the presence of her future husband. In any case, this use of a veil might be a picture of the church's condition of the intended bride of Christ. As Rebekah knew Isaac from the faithful servant's accounts, we know Jesus through the Bible and through the testimony of the Holy Spirit, but the day is coming when the veil will be removed, and our view of Him will be unobstructed. We love him now, but how much deeper… Read more »

Jan 5

  • beeaston
    beeaston added a text contribution Dirt or Silver?
    These five verses contrast ungodly speech with God's words. Which category have your words fallen into today--godly or ungodly? Here are the characteristics of ungodly speech: lies (even little "white" ones), flattery, deception, boasting, pride, independence from God, and talking badly about those weaker and needier (less intelligent, athletic, good-looking, well-off financially, or socially adept?) than we are. Godly speech, however, is flawless, refined, and pure. Read more »

Jan 1

  • beeaston
    beeaston added a text contribution RE: Which way to go?- by justindean
    I have never been visited by an angel, but I think that God is still directing us today. It's just that sometimes, we overlook his guidance because of disobedience. Joseph was willing to obey God, even though he risked his reputation, his social position, and maybe even the business clientele. I know in my own Christian walk, the more I am willing to obey God, even against my own will and "common sense," the more I hear God's voice. Read more »

Dec 31

Dec 12

  • beeaston
    beeaston added a text contribution Forsaken, but not for long
    This verse can be troubling. If Jesus is God's Son, then why would God forsake him at the moment of his greatest need? Some have said that this is the point at which your sin and mine were laid upon him, and God, being holy, could no longer commune with Jesus at this point. An additional thought is that Jesus, in his agony, was reciting the first line of Psalm 22. Between gasps for air, he may have only been able to utter the first line, knowing that those witnesses who were familiar with… Read more »

Aug 5

  • beeaston
    beeaston added a text contribution Rectangular shields
    Paul was in prison when he wrote the letter to the Ephesians (see verse 20), and he may have been guarded by Roman soldiers, so he knew all about how these soldiers were equipped. Their shields were about four feet tall and rectangular, made of wood. The wood was covered with leather, which could be soaked in water so that the shield would become impervious to the flaming arrows shot by the enemy. Why were the shields rectangular instead of round? When the Roman army marched against its enemy,… Read more »

Jul 17

Jun 27

  • beeaston
    beeaston added a text contribution Who's battering down the gate?
    Before hearing my pastor speak on this verse, I had always taken comfort in this verse, thinking that no matter how hard life got, no matter how many attacks I felt from the enemy, God would protect me from hell. My pastor, however, pointed out that the church in this verse is not cowering behind the gates in comfort and protection. Instead, the gates belong to hell, not to heaven. The church is not whimpering defensively behind the wall; the church is pounding down the gates of hell, and these… Read more »

Jan 18

  • beeaston
    beeaston added a text contribution Food
    Unless people are ill, they don't forget to eat. We don't exist if we don't eat. Likewise, the more we become like Jesus, the more we won't forget to accomplish God's work in our own arena of influence. Read more »

Jan 10

  • beeaston
    beeaston added a text contribution Hard Foreheads
    God didn't give Ezekiel the magic potion to soften the Israelites' hearts and to make evangelism easy, but he did give Ezekiel the strength to say what needed to be said. Read more »

Jan 6

Jan 2

Jan 1