But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the surpassing greatness of the power may be of God and not from ourselves 2 Corinthians 4:7 Treasure – Six months ago (June 21 and 22), we looked at the Greek words for “earthen vessels.” You may recall the metaphor of Tupperware. God made us as…
He made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His kind intention which He purposed in Him Ephesians 1:9 Made Known – Celebrate the secret revealed! God has been born a man! On this day, Christendom honors the unveiling of the greatest mystery imaginable – how God brought about redemption for a…
He pursues them, passing on in safety, by a way he had not been traversing with his feet. Isaiah 41:3 With His Feet – Isaiah speaks about the coming of Cyrus, king of the Persian Empire. He proclaims that Cyrus will pursue all his enemies, victoriously passing through the land. Then Isaiah adds this very…
“Who is this King of glory?” Psalm 24:8 King of Glory – The Hebrew word for “glory” is kavod. It’s worth reflecting on the umbrella of meanings that fall under this word. Each one helps us understand what kind of King we serve. In its basic form, kavod means “what is weighty, heavy,” and, by…
“Who is this King of glory?” Psalm 24:8 King of Glory – The contemporary endorsement of democratic republics has an unsettling corollary. It alters our appreciation of the hierarchy of authority and our perspective on dependence as an essential element of living. As a result, we are hard pressed to see the world through the…
“Behold, I have found only this, that God made men upright, but they have sought out many devices.” Ecclesiastes 7:29 Devices – Pink Floyd gave us the right lyrics for this verse. “Welcome – to the machine.” The implications of this verse, hidden away in a lament about the futility of life, should hit us…
“Behold, I have found only this, that God made men upright, but they have sought out many devices.” Ecclesiastes 7:29 Sought Out – Solomon, the wise, discovers something absolutely hideous. God made men upright (yashar – straight, right). God designed men to have a perfect relationship with Him. He created men in His image, completely…
When You said, “Seek My face,” my heart said to You, “Your face, O LORD, I shall seek.” Psalm 27:8 Seek – You will never find God by accident. Jacob learned that lesson when he spent the night in the wasteland. God found him! “Accidental” encounters with God are only human descriptions of our insensitivity…
Truly, truly, I say to you, you seek Me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate of the loaves, and were filled. John 6:26 Seek – Have you ever misplaced your keys? You know they’re around somewhere, so you go hunting. Pretty soon, you find them just where you left them, inside the…
Now I Paul myself urge you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ 2 Corinthians 10:1 Gentleness – Don’t be fooled! Epieikos (Greek for “gentleness”) is a far cry from quiet calm and tranquility. It’s not about soft tones and balmy breezes. This word is about power; the power to do what is right even…
