fixing our eyes on Yeshua the author and finisher of the faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:2 Joy – This is behavior directed by delayed gratification. Oh, how difficult this is! Especially…
“And now I have told you before it occurs that when it shall occur, you may believe.” John 14:29 Told – Adjust the audio. Pay close attention to what is said. It doesn’t matter how things appear. What matters is who said what is heard. In this case, Yeshua offers verbal confirmation of an as-yet…
“Let this Christ, the King of Israel, now come down from the cross, so that we may see and believe!” Mark 15:32 See – Where do you suppose that cultural aphorism (“seeing is believing”) came from? I’m guessing that you never thought about it. In popular Christian circles “seeing is believing” is often opposed to…
The land mourns and pines away, Lebanon is shamed and withers; Sharon is like a desert plain, And Bashan and Carmel lose their foliage. Isaiah 33:9 Pines Away – The essence of sin is chaos and destruction. Sin is not simply the violation of moral requirements. Sin destroys order in the world. That means sin…
They feared YHWH and served their own gods according to the custom of the nations from among who they had been carried away into exile. To this day they do according to the earlier customs: they do not fear YHWH, . . . 2 Kings 17:33-34 Feared – This just doesn’t make any sense. Verse…
So one of the priests whom they had carried away into exile from Samaria came and lived at Bethel, and taught them how they should fear YHWH. 2 Kings 17:28 Taught – Lions were eating people. Not a very pleasant thought. But in Near Eastern thinking, this isn’t about lions. It’s about offense. The question…
Now flee from youthful lusts, and pursue after righteousness, faith, love and peace, with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart. 2 Timothy 2:22 Flee – In most poverty-stricken areas of the world, “numbers” is a game of irrational hope. The only ones who profit from this form of gambling are the…
I am in Seattle now to be with my youngest, my daughter Rachel. She turned 18 on Friday, was baptized on Sunday and graduates from high school today. Saturday we hiked a trail in the Cascades, talked about life, visited with a wonderful group organized by Christina, and spent some really great time together. Rachel…
Now flee from youthful lusts, and pursue after righteousness, faith, love and peace, with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart. 2 Timothy 2:22 Youthful Lusts – A look at the Greek text provides a better picture of Paul’s warning. First, the Greek text says, “And the youthful lusts.” The inclusion of…
