See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ. Colossians 2:8 NASB Tradition – About half a century ago this verse was one of the standards I used to evangelize those poor souls…
And He took him outside and said, “Now look toward the heavens, and count the stars, if you are able to count them.” And He said to him, “So shall your descendants be.” Genesis 15:5 NASB If– Avivah Zornberg frames our persistent question: “How can an individual count? The children of Abraham are to be like the sand on…
Therefore He killed him and turned the kingdom to David the son of Jesse. 1 Chronicles 10:14b NASB Killed – Saul died at his own hand, but YHVH killed him. Does this bother you? Are you ready to serve and worship a God who kills disobedient people? Does that sound more like Allah than the…
and I have observed all that God brings to pass. Indeed, man cannot guess the events that occur under the sun, For man tries strenuously, but fails to guess them; and even if a sage should think to discover them he would not be able to guess them. Ecclesiastes 8:17 JPS To guess – Michael…
There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every event under heaven – Ecclesiastes 3:1 Appointed Time – Do you believe that God has an appointed plan for your life? Do you think that everything is already mapped out for you and you are just waiting for it to happen? …
“Why is light given to a man whose way is hidden and whom God has hedged in?” Job 3:23 NASB Why is light given to – If you check the Hebrew text, you will find something quite unusual. None of these “translated” words have any Hebrew counterpart. The Hebrew text simply begins, “To the man.” …
“even these prophets of the deception of their own heart, who intend to make My people forget My name by their dreams which they relate to one another,. . .” Jeremiah 23:26-27 Intend – The Hebrew verb hashav covers a lot more than intentions. It means “to devise, to invent, to consider and to reckon.” …
During family holidays we do jigsaw puzzles. I like the easy ones, the ones that have pictures that don’t take forever to figure out. But the trend is toward the complex. Have you ever tired to do one of those three-dimensional puzzles? Or a puzzle that is a picture of a big blob of coffee…
“that they may have My joy fulfilled in them.” John 17:13 Fulfilled – Jesus does not plan a “cheerless barren existence” for His followers. He anticipates and provides for a life of joy! I wonder if we truly believe that – and if we are experiencing this “full of grace and beauty” living. I suspect…
