“For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world—to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.” John 18:37b ESV This purpose – “When a person can’t find a deep sense of meaning, they distract themselves with pleasure.” – Victor E. Frankl. With Frankl’s citation…
You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. Deuteronomy 6:5 NASB You shall love – Love God—or else! Is that what it sounds like? Is that how it makes you feel? How can you be forced to love someone? You can’t! Impossible! So, if that’s what…
“Please say that you are my sister so that it may go well for me because of you, and that I may live on account of you.” Genesis 12:13 NASB You are my sister – Justifying a paradigm usually means adjusting evidence to fit the assumptions. Scriptural defense of the doctrine of the Trinity is an…
For the sorrow that is according to the will of God produces a repentance without regret, leading to salvation, but the sorrow of the world produces death. 2 Corinthians 7:10 NASB Sorrow – A few days ago we investigated a Greek word in Luke 18:23. That word was perílypos . It comes from the root lýpē. We noticed that Greek…
But when he had heard these things, he became very sad, for he was extremely wealthy. Luke 18:23 NASB Very sad – Let’s talk about sad. Not the most comfortable topic, but I’m sure it’s one we have experienced. Grief might be a disease that cannot be seen, but sadness has a face. Unfortunately, those…
Sarah laughed to herself, saying, “After I have become old, shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also?” Genesis 18:12 NASB Pleasure – What did Sarah expect? Or maybe we should ask, “What didn’t she expect?” The translation suggests that she didn’t think “pleasure” was possible at her age. But what did she mean? Orgasm?…
We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. Romans 12:6 Berean Study Bible Gifts– The Greeks recognized a connection between chairo (joy) and edone (pleasure). In later Greek thinking the two terms are barely distinguishable. Alignment with the deepest expression of joy is the truest sense of pleasure. Eric Liddell made the connection when he…
But Abram said to Sarai, “Behold, your maid is in your power; do to her what is good in your sight.” So Sarai treated her harshly, and she fled from her presence.Genesis 16:6 NASB In your power – Abram is a man caught in the middle. Not standing up for God’s promise in the first place has…
as sorrowful yet always rejoicing, as poor yet making many rich, as having nothing yet possessing all things. 2 Corinthians 6:10 NASB Sorrowful/rejoicing – Has your life become a reflection of the life of Paul? Do you know both sides of the coin of committed contradictions? In the last few weeks, God has been pressing…
There is nothing better for a man than to eat and drink and tell himself that his labor is good. This also I have seen that it is from the hand of God. For who can eat and who can have enjoyment without Him? Ecclesiastes 2:24-25 NASB Enjoyment – There’s something odd about the Hebrew…
