Morning Awe
Time for some “reflection” before you trundle off to work. Camps Bay, South Africa Actually, rough-cut is still pretty spectacular.
Rough-Cut
“In the end God created the heavens and the earth.” Genesis 1:1 modified End – Well, of course, it doesn’t read this way. Everyone knows that Genesis 1:1 is about the beginning, not the end. But maybe we need to think of it differently. God always starts what He finishes, and in this case, He…
Redacted
(On the fifth of the month in the fifth year of King Jehoiachin’s exile, the word of the Lord came expressly to Ezekiel the priest, son of Buzi, in the land of the Chaldeans by the river Chebar; and there the hand of the Lord came upon him.) Ezekiel 1:2-3 NASB Came expressly – Don’t overlook the fact that these two verses are not…
See-Saw
Now it came about in the thirtieth year, on the fifth day of the fourth month, while I was by the river Chebar among the exiles, the heavens were opened and I saw visions of God. Ezekiel 1:1 NASB Visons – We might have a deeper appreciation for Ezekiel’s experience of God if we realized that the verb rāʾâ…
Paul’s Redemption
The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him. Romans 8:16-17 NASB If – We critically examined the first part of Paul’s declaration, concluding that his loose language about spiritual confirmation…
How Do We Know?
The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him. Romans 8:16-17 NASB Testifies – Sometimes Paul is just obtuse. Peter thought so. I agree. Why can’t he just be plain and…
Any Blade Won’t Do
And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Ephesians 6:17 NASB Sword of the Spirit – When Paul explains that the sword of the Spirit is the word of God, do you think he meant the Bible? No, of course not. First because the Bible as we have…
Second Skin
Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. Ephesians 6:11 NIV Full armor – In my dream I’m covered with some kind of black plastic tarry substance. It tries to hold me down to the ground. I try to fight it off, but no matter what…
Common Humanity
They have all turned aside, together they have become corrupt; there is no one who does good, not even one. Psalm 14:3 NASB Not even one – Psalm 14:3. The corruption of men. If you thought that things changed after the Messiah, well, you’d be wrong. In Paul’s last letter he cites the same Davidic idea. “as it…
Biblical Politics?
Thus says the Lord, “Do not learn the way of the nations, and do not be terrified by the signs of the heavens although the nations are terrified by them;” Jeremiah 10:2 NASB Nations – Have you considered “the way of the nations”? I’m sure we’ve all assumed we know what Jeremiah meant. He must have…
