-
The Command and Provision of Peace
I have read this verse many times before, but somehow I never seemed to fully catch that Jesus wasn't making a suggestion, telling us something impossible, or offering a "nice warm feely"; He was saying…
Created 5 days ago
-
Untitled Note
Everyone who had this hope DOES PURIFY HIMSELF - not "works at it"/ "tries to"/ "hopes to." Logically spreading, this means that if you AREN'T purifying yourself, it follows that you aren't truly believing…
Created 2 months ago
-
The cause of the death of John the Baptist
It is interesting to me to examine the bundle of traits, particularly character weaknesses, that eventually ended in the death of Jim the Baptist. First of all, it was covetousness and disregard for God's…
Created 3 months ago
Matthew 14:3 (NIV), Matthew 14:4 (NIV), Matthew 14:5 (NIV), Matthew 14:6 (NIV), Matthew 14:7 (NIV), Matthew 14:8 (NIV), Matthew 14:9 (NIV), Matthew 14:10 (NIV), Matthew 14:11 (NIV)
-
How often do we think we have a better plan than God's?
I found this interesting. When the angels came to take Lot and his family out of Sodom, they instructed him to flee to the mountains. He didn't want to do that though, thinking that the smaller town of…
Created 4 months ago
Genesis 19:17 (NKJV), Genesis 19:18 (NKJV), Genesis 19:19 (NKJV), Genesis 19:20 (NKJV), Genesis 19:21 (NKJV), Genesis 19:30 (NKJV)
-
Is God good only when things are going well for us?
While Job did not fall for this trap, it seems to me that the only reason satan could make this charge or prediction was because most people do, in fact, fall for this trap. It is not surprising that…
Created 4 months ago
-
The Law and Prophets Prophecied until John the Baptist
It is notable that the verses Jesus refers to here, Malachi 4:5-6, are the last verses in the Old Testament as we have it.
Created 4 months ago
-
What Satan Can Do
While the ability of satan to influence the actions of people is no surprise, two of the plagues brought upon Job are notable to me: one is the mighty wind that came and blew down the houses; the other,…
Created 4 months ago
Job 1:16 (NIV), Job 1:17 (NIV), Job 1:18 (NIV), Job 1:19 (NIV)
-
What Manner of Man Is This?
Matthew 8:27 "The men were amazed, and said, 'What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey Him?'" What manner indeed! While we know that the answer is that He was the Christ, the…
Created 5 months ago
-
Don't ignore the pain of others
Hebrews 13:3 NLT "Remember those in prison, as if you were there yourself. Remember also those being mistreated, as if you felt their pain in your own bodies. " I'll be honest here. I don't understand…
Created 5 months ago
Matthew 12:24 (NKJV), Matthew 12:25 (NKJV), Hebrews 13:3 (NKJV)
-
"Always believes"
The NKJV (which I usually use) translates part of the passage here as "always believes." I looked up the NIV, and it says "always trusts." I don't know if there are any nuances in the original Greek that…
Created 5 months ago
-
Good to remember
How often do we, do I, think of somebody (or myself), as "spiritual" when they have prophecy or knowledge or special gifts, rather than having love.
Created 5 months ago
-
Washing with the Word
I am still learning what this verse means, but reading it today something struck me: the way Jesus loved us is this: "While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." (Rom.5:8). He gave of Himself and…
Created 6 months ago
-
Marriage
I have written about this many times before, but it is notable to mention that this passage speaks to the individual responsibility of the husband and wife. There is a phenomenon that has a very strong…
Created 6 months ago
-
The Devil is God's Devil
There is a common myth that God and Satan are locked in an epic, ongoing battle against each other. In fact, I believe satan very much enjoys this way of thinking, because it elevates him to God's level.…
Created 8 months ago
-
A God-Sized Vision
If a vision doesn't bring you out of your comfort zone -- if it isn't far bigger than we are -- if it "makes total sense" to us -- then it probably isn't from God! If it is obvious to ourselves and…
Created 8 months ago
-
Repentance Doesn't Fix Everything
This verse is a good example of action and consequence, sowing and reaping. "Do not be deceived... Whatever a man sows, that also shall he reap". It seems like a lot of people - I have been among them…
Created 9 months ago
-
We Are Not Insignificant
This is remarkable. The God of the Universe heard their cries to Him, He remembered His promises, He looked upon them, and perhaps most amazing of all, he acknowledges (or "took notice of") them (Heb.…
Created 9 months ago
-
An Amazing Example of Faith and Positive Expectation
I must have read this passage a hundred times before it struck me just how amazing it is. Consider yourself in Miriam's shoes, recalling that the context of this passage is that Pharaoh is having all…
Created 9 months ago
-
Reaping the consequences
This is a verse that has always struck me -- God saying NOT to pray for people. But on reflection, I think there is more to this verse than meets the casual observation (as is the
Created about 1 year ago
-
Epicureanism
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epicureanism (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epicureanism) Wikipedia's description of Epicurianism.
Created about 2 years ago
-
Guidance
Different versions translate this passage differently. I like how the New King James version translates it: "I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with My eye."…
Created about 2 years ago
-
Love vs. Apathy
I used to think that the opposite of love was hate. In some ways, I suppose it is. But I am beginning to see more clearly now that, in fact, apathy can be a greater enemy of love even than hate. Why?…
Created over 2 years ago
-
The Sin of Sodom and the Church today
"Look, this was the iniquity of your sister Sodom..." Notably absent from this list is what most people (I assume) think of when they hear the name "Sodom": homosexuality. Instead, this passage talks…
Created over 3 years ago
-
The Reality of God
It is often stated or insunuated that it is required to remove or distance yourself or your thinking from reality at some level in order to believe in God. However, nothing could be further from the truth…
Created over 3 years ago
-
A believer's authority over condemnation
On what basis shall we have the authority to condemn the tongue which rises against us in judgment? Our own righteousness? Our own spirituality? Our own good works and religion? No! On the very basis…
Created over 3 years ago