“Consider it all joy, my brothers, when you encounter various trials” James 1:2 Consider – James would not make a good salesman. He doesn’t understand the technique of upgrades. He starts out with the top of the line product and doesn’t even mention a next best option. He says, “Lead with this, hold it in…
“And then I will declare to them, “I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS”” Matthew 7:23 Lawlessness – Jesus quotes Psalm 6:8. If we want to know what he means, we need to look into the Hebrew word ‘awen. The reason that we have “lawlessness” in this verse comes from the…
“And then I will declare to them, “I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS”” Matthew 7:23 Never – It’s hard to imagine a stronger announcement. Matthew uses a Greek word that combines the idea of “not even once” with “any time” (oude and pote). It’s an explosive statement, one that knocks…
“He rebuked Peter, and said “Get behind Me, Satan; for you are not setting your mind on God’s interests, but man’s”” Mark 8:33 God’s interests – A free translation of the exact phrase ta tou Theou, literally “the the(s) of God”. It’s simply the definite article (the) used twice in two different forms. But that’s…
“He rebuked Peter, and said “Get behind Me, Satan; for you are not setting your mind on God’s interests, but man’s”” Mark 8:33 Setting your mind – Jesus was a Jew. He thought like a Jew. His life-world patterns were Jewish. And if we are going to understand what he meant when he spoke, we…
“He rebuked Peter, and said “Get behind Me, Satan; for you are not setting your mind on God’s interests, but man’s”” Mark 8:33 Get behind – You’re dismissed! That’s the sense of the Greek verb hupago. Jesus is commanding Satan to depart from Him. This is not a statement of self-protection. Jesus is not saying,…
“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures upon earth” Matthew 6:19 Lay up – What is Jesus’ financial management strategy? He has one. Perhaps the reason that we don’t consider it in our retirement planning is that it is too radical for us, too counter-intuitive. Perhaps the reason we don’t consider it is that it…
“The king’s heart is like channels of water in the hand of the Lord; He turns it wherever He wishes.” Proverbs 21:1 Turns – Stretch out your hand. Turn your wrist from side to side. Move your arm up and down. Did you notice how easily it is done? No real effort. No deliberate concentration. …
“Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy” Exodus 20:8 Remember – Paul Meyer teaches that remembering involves spaced repetition. If you want to remember something, you need to have it repeated at least six times over a specified period. That’s why you can hear a great sermon or attend a fabulous lecture and a…
“You shall not make for yourself an idol, or any likeness” Exodus 20:4 Likeness – The point is not statues or symbols. The point is service. God says that we are not to make any representation of His essential character that assumes His position in our lives. He comes first. And He will not share…
