One of the distinct features of John’s writing style was his habit of noting both sides of a conflict. He wrote to show the difference between real Christianity and anything else. Here are some of his favorite contrasts. Light and darkness (1 John 1:5) The new command and the old command (1 John 2:7-8) Loving […] ↓ Read the rest of this entry…
The story of the Good Samaritan is pretty well known, but we might be able to boil it down to a collection of attitudes. Note these different attitudes toward the wounded man. To the expert in the law, the wounded man was a subject to discuss. To the robbers, the wounded man was someone to […] ↓ Read the rest of this entry…
Beginning with a brief summary of Jesus’ last days on earth with his disciples, his ascension, and the selection of a replacement for Judas Iscariot, Luke moves quickly to his subject – the spread of the gospel and the growth of the church. Pentecost, highlighted by the filling of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:1-13) and […] ↓ Read the rest of this entry…
In chapter one, John relates the circumstances that led to the writing of this book (Revelation 1:1-20). In chapters two and three, Jesus gives special messages to the seven churches of Asia Minor (Revelation 2:1-3:22). Suddenly John is caught up into heaven, where he sees a vision of God Almighty on his throne. All of […] ↓ Read the rest of this entry…
Abraham was an ancestor of Jesus Christ: (Matthew 1:1, 2,17; Luke 3:23, 34) Jesus Christ was human; he was born into the line of Abraham, whom God had chosen to be the father of a great nation through which the whole world would be blessed. We are blessed because of what Jesus Christ, Abraham’s descendant, […] ↓ Read the rest of this entry…
In the Book of Job, among a lot of cyclical reading about Job’s pain and suffering, he get a lot of advice from his so-called friends. They were brutally honest, and although we don’t know their hearts, the words of Proverbs 27:6 ring very loudly with these guys. Eliphaz the Temanite (Job 4; 5; 15; […] ↓ Read the rest of this entry…
In the Book of Job, among a lot of cyclical reading about Job’s pain and suffering, he get a lot of advice from his so-called friends. They were brutally honest, and although we don’t know their hearts, the words of Proverbs 27:6 ring very loudly with these guys. Eliphaz the Temanite (Job 4; 5; 15; […] ↓ Read the rest of this entry…
Isaiah warned Judah not to ally with Egypt (Isaiah 20:5; 30:1-2; 31:1). He knew that trust in any nation or any military might was futile. Their only hope was to trust in God. Although we don’t consciously put our hope for deliverance in political alliances in quite the same way, we often put our hope […] ↓ Read the rest of this entry…
The Bible is full of what is called, word pictures. These are word descriptions that bring up a vivid image of something greater than the mere words. The saying is true, a picture is worth a thousand words. Look at this comparison between good and bad shepherds of God’s people: Bad Shepherds Take care of […] ↓ Read the rest of this entry…
Several psalms shock those familiar with New Testament teachings. The psalmists didn’t hesitate to demand God’s justice and make vivid suggestions on how he might carry it out. Apparently, no subject was unsuitable for discussion with God, but our tendency is to avoid the subjects of anger and vengeance in the psalms. To understand the […] ↓ Read the rest of this entry…
"However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace." (Acts 20:24)
"The biggest deterrent to growth in most churches is lack of confidence in God's supernatural power to grow His church. We are obsessed with our own responsibility to find resources for growth. When our natural resources seem limited, our vision shrinks and we accept mediocrity. We can't grow the church, but God can! We don't have the resources, but He does! "
(Ken Hemphill, Revitalizing the Sunday Morning Dinosaur)
Worldliness is not the trap that most endangers us as Christian workers; nor is it sin. The trap we fall into is extravagantly desiring spiritual success; that is, success measured by, and patterned after, the form set by this religious age in which we now live (Luke 10:20). Never seek after anything other than the approval of God, and always be willing to go “outside the camp, bearing His disgrace.” (Hebrews 13:12-14)
Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for April 24
You will seek me and find me when you search for me with all your heart (Jeremiah 29:13)
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