Stretched to Fit

But beyond this, my son, be warned: the writing of many books is endless, and excessive study is wearying to the body.  Ecclesiastes 12:12 NASB Excessive study – One of my readers wrote, “I will be honest and say that from time to time – particularly when you get into ‘philosophical mode’ and use terms…

Doing God a Favor

Thus you are to be holy to Me, for I the Lord am holy; and I have set you apart from the peoples to be Mine.  Leviticus 20:26 NASB Holy to Me – We’re familiar with the citation of this Levitical command in the gospel of Matthew (5:48) where the Greek text translation changes the meaning from “holy”…

Rest Easy

Also I gave them My sabbaths to be a sign between Me and them, that they might know that I am the Lord who sanctifies them.  Ezekiel 20:12 NASB My sabbaths – What is the purpose of the Sabbath?  Is it simply to cease working for a day, to rest up, to renew yourself?  Or maybe its purpose…

On the Way

 “Speak to all the congregation of the sons of Israel and say to them, ‘You shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy.’”   Leviticus 19:2  NASB You shall be holy – How we have abused this verse!  It is cited in Matthew (5:48 in the Greek version, not exactly what it says in Hebrew). …

The Messiah’s Shema

My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; John 10:27 NASB Hear – How do you know if you hear the voice of the Messiah? The answer is simple, but the implications are profound. If you hear the voice of the Messiah, you follow him. Of course, speaking Hebrew, Yeshua would have…

The Prayer Imperative

Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving. Colossians 4:2 NASB Devote – Yes, it’s fine for Paul to say this. After all, he is a saint. But for you and me? No, devotion to prayer is just too much, especially when it includes “keeping alert.” I don’t know about…

Double Unemployment

“I found Israel like grapes in the wilderness; I saw your forefathers as the earliest fruit of the fig tree in its season.  But they came to Baal-peor and devoted themselves to shame, and they became as detestable as that which they loved.” Hosea 9:10  NASB Devoted – The tragedy of unemployment is not financial…