“but we have renounced the hidden things because of shame” 2 Corinthians 4:2 Shame – When Paul penned this verse, he did not use the word entrepo for “shame” (see July 18). He used another common Greek word (aischunes). Both words are translated “shame” in English, but they are not quite the same. And this…
“I do not write these things to shame you, but to admonish you as my beloved children.” 1 Corinthians 4:14 Admonish – The Christian life is not about going to heaven. It’s not about a higher morality. It’s not about being a better person. It’s about agreeing with God that I am hopelessly lost without…
“I do not write these things to shame you, but to admonish you as my beloved children.” 1 Corinthians 4:14 Shame – Language is not simply descriptive. Language creates culture. In a very important way, what you speak determines how you view the world. That’s why the same event can be called a miracle by…
“He who loves his life loses it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it to life eternal.” John 12:25 Hates – Are you ready for the rest of the paradox? Have you settled the issue of what you really love? Jesus says that if we make this life, the one…
“He who loves his life loses it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it to life eternal.” John 12:25 Loves – Jesus reveals the paradox of life on earth. But we won’t understand it unless we know the words he uses for “love” and “hate”. It’s all about relationships. The…
“Cry aloud and shout for joy, O inhabitant of Zion, for great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel.” Isaiah 12:6 Shout – You have to hear it to understand. You have to feel it to know. This word, ranan, is absolutely unique to Hebrew. Its root is not found in any other…
“Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old?”” John 3:4 How – Nicodemus asked the wrong question. Oh, he asked the question that all of us would have asked. But it was the wrong one. Nicodemus heard Jesus say that a man must be born from above if he…
“that you may prove what God’s will is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.” Romans 12:2 Prove – The New International Version translates this word with “you may be able to prove”. What a shame! By introducing the extra words “be able to”, the NIV removes the guarantee. You may be able implies…
“Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away.” Mark 13:31 Will not pass away – What will pass away? According to Jesus, heaven and earth. What does that man? Quite simply, all that we know, experience, imagine and hope for. Not just this beat-up, sin drenched earth, but also heaven,…
“that you may prove what God’s will is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.” Romans 12:2 That – Prayer is communion with the Father. Prayer is soul breathing, silent longing, human being before my God. Prayer is not so much checklists and requests as it is surrender to His purposes. This is how…
