“But I have this against you, that you have left your first love.” Revelation 2:4 Left – How many times have we left behind something that we thought was a stepping-stone along the way only to discover that it was the essential foundation of everything else? If this weren’t so true, we would never have…
“You foolish Galatians, who has bewitched you,” Galatians 3:1 Bewitched – The evil eye! If you are Italian or Spanish, you know the superstition about casting an evil spell with a malevolent gaze. Well, the Greeks were no different. In very ancient history, the idea that you could be harmed by an evil look scared…
“for I will show him how much he must suffer for My name’s sake.” Acts 9:16 Will show – The man or woman of God is often one most acutely aware of personal inner failings and struggles. Holiness is not a state that we will ever achieve. The closer we draw toward Him, the more…
“Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of a heavenly calling, consider Jesus” Hebrews 3:1 Heavenly – “Oh, what a heavenly scene!” “Why this place is just heavenly!” Is that the sense of this verse: that we experienced a “really nice” calling? Get serious! God has something more in mind than an advertising description. So, maybe it means,…
“Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of a heavenly calling, consider Jesus” Hebrews 3:1 Partakers – What does it mean to have a passport? Most of us think of passports in association with travel. But a passport is not a ticket. It is a statement of national identity. A passport is an official documentation that says you…
“For who resists His will?” Romans 9:19 Will – Sometimes the fact that an unusual Greek word is used in a place where it is not expected is worth investigating. In this verse, Paul chooses the “wrong” word for “will”. He uses the word boulema instead of thelema. We don’t even see it in English. …
“I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ” Galatians 1:6 Called – Who was the active agent in your salvation? Was it the preacher who uttered the invitation? Was it the evangelist you heard at the meeting? Was it your friend who explained God’s plan…
“For the Lord your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God” Deuteronomy 4:24 Consuming – If you’re invited to God’s kitchen, don’t ever expect to see left-overs. It might not seem like much, but the fact that God specifically requires the Passover to be completely consumed is important. God’s message in the Passover meal…
“The words of the wise heard in quietness are better than the shouting of a ruler among fools.” Ecclesiastes 9:17 Quietness – When life just gets to be too much raucous confusion, do you just want to get away to a quite place? Imagine sitting by a gentle mountain stream, or at the seashore on…
“Now He was telling them a parable to show that at all times they ought to pray and not to lose heart.” Luke 18:1 Ought – By now you should have guessed what we find in the Greek? God’s divine requirement. The little word dei. Jesus knew what it meant to carry out God’s necessary…
