Month: November 2008

  • Works and Words

    But if any one does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith, and is worse than an unbeliever. 1 Timothy 5:8 Denied – Do you really want to know just how much Greek philosophy has infected our view of following the Lord?  Well, then consider…

  • God’s Entitlement Program

    In all labor there is profit, but the talk of the lips leads only to poverty. Proverbs 14:23 Profit – Actions, not words.  That’s the essence of Solomon’s wisdom on the subject of profit.  But it isn’t just Solomon who advises those who will listen.  Behind Solomon’s insight is a Scriptural principle that is evident…

  • Upside Down Justice (3)

    Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. Matthew 5:7 For – When mercy becomes personal, it is not about sympathetic affiliation.  It is not about emotional compassion and identification.  It is about giving up my right to justice.  Only those who deserve justice can show mercy because mercy means that the rightful consequence…

  • Upside Down Justice (2)

    Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. Matthew 5:7 Merciful – Jesus says, “Happy the merciful”.  If we think about this for more than one spiritualized moment, we will see that this thought is already backwards.  The first thing we need to notice is that Jesus is not addressing the ones who need…

  • Upside Down Justice (1)

    Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. Matthew 5:7 Merciful – [Note: The next few Today’s Word editions are going to be a bit longer because the topic is so important.] “You get what you give.”  “Do unto others as .  . .”  Doesn’t this Beatitude seem to tell us what is obvious? …

  • God’s Closet

    And so, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience Colossians 3:12 Put On – The Greek verb enduo (put on) describes the picture of getting dressed.  You go to the closet where the clothes hang.  You pick out what you’re going…

  • Equal Consequences

    And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it. 1 Corinthians 12:26 One / All – Liberty, equality, fraternity.  The French national motto probably won’t trace its heritage back to the apostle Paul, but it should.  In fact, this motto is the…

  • Silent Treatment

    Let the women keep silent in the churches; for they are not permitted to speak, but let them subject themselves, just as the Law also says.  1 Corinthians 14:34 Are Not Permitted – It’s hard to imagine Paul making such a statement.  After all, just a few lines before (1 Cor. 11:5), he specifically speaks…

  • The Sky Is Crying

    “And the pastures of the shepherds shall mourn” Amos 1:2   Mourn – We’re connected.  The Hebrew perspective on Man is that we stand on the ground and are directly related to it.  We came from the earth, but we are animated from heaven.  We stand between the two, the only creatures that combine both. …

  • Visual Audio

    The words of Amos, who was among the sheepherders from Tekoa, which he envisioned in visions concerning Israel in the days of Uzziah Amos 1:1 Envisioned in Visions – Think of it like this:  the Old Testament is audio, Yeshua is visual, the Spirit returns us to audio.  God reveals Himself in words, but of…