But as for me, the nearness of God is my good; Psalm 73:28 Nearness – Asaph wrote this psalm. He was a choir leader and musician in David’s court (see 1 Chronicles 6:39). In 1841, Sarah Adams put the thought to the music we know. “Nearer my God to Thee” recalls Asaph’s great Hebrew hymn….
But the vessel that he was making of clay was spoiled in the hand of the potter; so he remade it into another vessel, as it pleased the potter to make. Jeremiah 18:4 As It Pleased – Did you wake up this morning? Of course you did. And the first thing that should have crossed…
For I think that God set us out last, the apostles, as appointed to death, because we became a spectacle to the world, even to angels and men. 1 Corinthians 4:9 Spectacle – “All the world’s a stage,” said Shakespeare. Paul agreed. But Paul’s version of the play of life is a bit different than…
being destitute, afflicted, ill-treated (men of whom the world was not worthy), wandering in deserts Hebrews 11:38 Was Not Worthy – What are your measurements of success? Don’t brush this aside as though they are obvious. Remember that we often say what we believe but we do what we value. And when it comes to…
Behold, I will throw her on a bed of sickness, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of her deeds. Revelation 2:22 Commit Adultery – God is speaking. Listen up! To the church in Thyatira, God says, “You are lying in bed with the great whore Babylon. You are…
We know that we are of God, and that the whole world lies in the power of the evil one. 1 John 5:19 Whole World – Read the verse again. John knows that the whole world is evil, but do we? Do we really see that the world (kosmos) is completely under the power of…
being destitute, afflicted, ill-treated (men of whom the world was not worthy), wandering in deserts Hebrews 11:37-38 Destitute – The real difference between the Christian perspective on life and the world’s perspective can be seen in one simple thing: rank. The world believes in the gospel of first-position. First, best, most, top of the ladder,…
being destitute, afflicted, ill-treated (men of whom the world was not worthy), wandering in deserts Hebrews 11:37-38 Afflicted – Affliction is the appointed destiny of the Christian. As of yesterday, we know why. Affliction is God’s endorsement of my involvement in the life of His Son. If I am living like Jesus, I should anticipate…
being destitute, afflicted, ill-treated (men of whom the world was not worthy), wandering in deserts Hebrews 11:37-38 Afflicted – How little we understand the real gospel! We imagine that the good news of salvation is an announcement of God’s eternal care and restoring power here and now. We think that once God is on our…
Neither is He served with men’s hands, as if He needed anything Acts 17:25 Served – Now it hits us! Paul uses a word (therapeuetai) that means “to attend to, to minister to, to wait upon or to render voluntary service to”. Wait a minute! That sounds just like all of our activities in the…
