Day 2

As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance, 1 Peter 1:14 Lusts – OK, so let’s tone this down a bit. The Greek word is epithymia. Yes, it can mean “lust” but if we read it like this, we are likely to dismiss Peter’s comment as…

Insatiably Unsatisfied

And this is the condemnation: that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. John 3:19 KJV Evil – Jewish psychology revolves around the power to choose. In spite of the fact that Freud was a Jew, the Jewish theology of the self is not…

Impossible Prayer

“If one goes to defile himself, openings are made for him; and he who goes to purify himself, help is afforded him.” Tractate Shabbat 104a Openings – Recently a man in China asked me to pray for him. He was having violent dreams and he was afraid that those dreams would cause him to act violently….

Ups and Downs

Now flee youthful lusts, and pursue after righteousness, faith, love and peace, with those who call on the Lord with a pure heart. 2 Timothy 2:22 NASB Pursue after – Something makes you do it. You don’t want to, but at the moment when you should say, “No,” something just overtakes you and you end…

Eternal Frustration

My little children, I am writing these things to you that you may not sin.  And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous;  1 John 2:1  NASB May not sin – Seriously now, can John actually mean this?  Does John really think it is possible to not sin? …

The Cure (2)

Wash yourselves; make yourselves clean; remove the evil of your deeds from before my eyes; cease to do evil,  Isaiah 1:16  ESV Clean – God instructs His people to “wash” themselves.  He demands ritual purity and the submission that accompanies humility before Him.  We might think this is sufficient.  If we just worship the Lord…

Exercises for the Left Arm

“As for you, my son Solomon, know the God of your father, and serve Him with a whole heart and a willing mind; for the LORD searches all hearts, and understands every intent of the thoughts.  If you seek Him, He will let you find Him; but if you forsake Him, He will reject you…

At the End of the Day

and lovingkindness is Yours, O Lord, for You recompense a man according to his work.  Psalm 62:12  NASB Recompense – At what hour of the day were you hired?  Ah, you’re immediately transported to that parable about the graciousness of God.  You know; the one where the master hires workers at all hours of the…

Now More Than Ever

Do not hide your face from me in the day of my distress!  Incline your ear to me; Answer me speedily in the day when I call!  Psalm 102:2  ESV My distress – How often have you cried out to YHWH in this way?  You and I speak the same words that David spoke.  Life…

Once Too Often

July 29  Then she conceived again and gave birth to a daughter. And the Lord said to him, “Name her Lo-ruhamah, for I will no longer have compassion on the house of Israel, that I would ever forgive them.  Hosea 1:6  NASB Compassion – There is no doubt that Israel deserved God’s anger.  Israel sinned…