O LORD, the God of my master Abraham, please grant me success today, and show lovingkindness to my master Abraham. Genesis 24:12 Grant – While the literal meaning is much rougher, it helps us see something that is lost in the smoothened translation. The phrase literally says, “let it cause to occur before me today.” …
Isaac loved Esau, for he was fond of game, but Rebekah loved Jacob. Genesis 25:28 Loved – The Bible is rich when we know how to mine the ore. But sometimes our English shovels just can’t get at the gold between the lines. That is the case in this simple verse. Both verbs come from…
The LORD is good to all, and His mercies are over all His works Psalm 145:9 Good – What’s your attitude toward the rule of God? Is there just a hint of irritation at the fact that you can’t do exactly as you wish? Do you chaff at the bit of the Law? Or have…
and His name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace Isaiah 9:6 Prince of Peace –What does Isaiah’s incredible phrase sar-shalom (Prince of Peace) have to do with Paul’s statement about the man as the head of the woman (1 Corinthians 11:3)? The answer lies in what Isaiah does not…
What have you to do with the LORD, the God of Israel? Joshua 22:24 What Have You To Do With – God understands education. Therefore, He supplies the perfect context for learning life’s most important lessons. That context is asking a question. Life-transforming education takes place only when the learner wants to know the answer. …
that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in Me and I in you. May they also may be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. John 17:21 (NIV) May Be One – In my city, there are 700 churches. That fact alone must break…
If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth 1 John 1:6 With – What’s so important about a preposition? Who cares about those little words like in, over, before, or about? If you’re reading John’s New Testament contributions, there’s at least…
no longer as a slave, but more than a slave, a beloved brother, especially to me, but how much more to you, both in the flesh and to the Lord. Philemon 16 Flesh – Only once. This verse, in this shortest of Paul’s letters, holds the distinction of being the only place in the entire…
I tell you that He will bring about justice for them speedily. Luke 18:8 Speedily – If it weren’t for this word, we would have no argument with Jesus. If it weren’t for this word, we would stand beside Martha at the tomb of her brother and acknowledge the last judgment. If it weren’t for…
Those who make them will become like them, everyone who trusts in them. Psalm 115:8 Like Them – There is an inexorable law of God’s universe found in every creative act. It applies to everyone. There are no exceptions. Put simply, it is “You are what you make.” The Psalmist summarizes a long description of…
