“for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ” Ephesians 4:12 Service – Why does Christ give different roles and different gifts to His followers? Wouldn’t it be so much easier if each one of us could just do the whole job by ourselves? …
“Consider it all joy, my brothers, when you encounter various trials” James 1:2 Joy – If Jesus is our example, then he is our example in all aspects of life. None is more important than this one: in the midst of struggles. Charan (from which we derive “charity”) comes from a root that means a…
“Consider it all joy, my brothers, when you encounter various trials” James 1:2 Consider – James would not make a good salesman. He doesn’t understand the technique of upgrades. He starts out with the top of the line product and doesn’t even mention a next best option. He says, “Lead with this, hold it in…
“And then I will declare to them, “I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS”” Matthew 7:23 Lawlessness – Jesus quotes Psalm 6:8. If we want to know what he means, we need to look into the Hebrew word ‘awen. The reason that we have “lawlessness” in this verse comes from the…
“And then I will declare to them, “I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS”” Matthew 7:23 Never – It’s hard to imagine a stronger announcement. Matthew uses a Greek word that combines the idea of “not even once” with “any time” (oude and pote). It’s an explosive statement, one that knocks…
“He rebuked Peter, and said “Get behind Me, Satan; for you are not setting your mind on God’s interests, but man’s”” Mark 8:33 God’s interests – A free translation of the exact phrase ta tou Theou, literally “the the(s) of God”. It’s simply the definite article (the) used twice in two different forms. But that’s…
“He rebuked Peter, and said “Get behind Me, Satan; for you are not setting your mind on God’s interests, but man’s”” Mark 8:33 Setting your mind – Jesus was a Jew. He thought like a Jew. His life-world patterns were Jewish. And if we are going to understand what he meant when he spoke, we…
“He rebuked Peter, and said “Get behind Me, Satan; for you are not setting your mind on God’s interests, but man’s”” Mark 8:33 Get behind – You’re dismissed! That’s the sense of the Greek verb hupago. Jesus is commanding Satan to depart from Him. This is not a statement of self-protection. Jesus is not saying,…
“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures upon earth” Matthew 6:19 Lay up – What is Jesus’ financial management strategy? He has one. Perhaps the reason that we don’t consider it in our retirement planning is that it is too radical for us, too counter-intuitive. Perhaps the reason we don’t consider it is that it…
“The king’s heart is like channels of water in the hand of the Lord; He turns it wherever He wishes.” Proverbs 21:1 Turns – Stretch out your hand. Turn your wrist from side to side. Move your arm up and down. Did you notice how easily it is done? No real effort. No deliberate concentration. …
