Bear fruit

“For while we were in the flesh, the sinful passions which were aroused by the Law, were at work in the members of our body to bear fruit for death.” Romans 7:5 Bear fruit – Florida is famous for citrus. But these days Florida is in trouble.  A disease is spreading through the groves and…

Glares

“His anger has torn me and hunted me down, He has gnashed at me with His teeth; My adversary glares at me.” Job 16:9 Glares – Job’s story is my story.  In some respects, it is probably your story too.  Job cries out.  “God has sharpened His eyes toward me!”  The translation here is a…

Good

“And Peter answered and said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here; if you wish, I will make three tabernacles here, one for You, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”” Matthew 17:4 Good – Poor Peter.  He had lots of emotion but not too much understanding.  The Greek word…

Never

“And Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, “God forbid it.  This shall never happen to you.”” Matthew 16:22 Never – The next temptation of Christ.  So many times we think that the temptations in the wilderness settled the issue for Jesus.  But that is not the case.  Satan comes back over…

Look

“Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns” Matthew 6:26 Look – How well do you see things?  Sometimes what is most important is so obvious we do not see it at all.  In this verse, Jesus tells his followers to “really see”…

Dread

“The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the defense of my life; whom shall I dread? Psalm 27:1 Dread – Concrete cracking.  Windows fluttering.  Furniture dancing.  Lights swinging.  If you have ever been in an earthquake, you know exactly what I am talking about.  Everything trembles. That…

Defense

“The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the defense of my life; whom shall I dread? Psalm 27:1 Defense – “We’re off to see the Wizard, the wonderful Wizard of Oz.”  The Hebrew word ma ‘oz means, “a place of refuge”.  And just like Dorothy’s hope, ma…

Fear

“The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the defense of my life; whom shall I dread? Psalm 27:1 Fear – Yesterday yasha.  Today yare.  Languages are the umbrellas of thought.  A single word can cover a lot of ground.  Picture the yare umbrella in your mind.  Under…

Salvation

“The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the defense of my life; whom shall I dread? Psalm 27:1 Salvation – The empty desert.  The endless plains.  The expanse of the sea.  What do those images have to do with “salvation”?  Read on. Hebrew is a language of…

Light

“The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the defense of my life; whom shall I dread? Psalm 27:1 Light – Everything living depends on light.  It’s a biological fact.  In this universe, light is the fundamental ingredient of existence.  This Hebrew word (or) is linked directly to…