“Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker; for he is our God and we are the people of his pasture, the flock under his care. Today, if only you would hear his voice…” Psalm 95:6-7 The word “bow” is synonymous with worship toward God or respect…
“Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.”” John 6:29 The crowd had just asked Jesus about righteous “works” in the previous verse, and Jesus answered by singling out one necessary work … to have faith in Him. The people were wanting to do work for God,…
“For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.” Romans 12:4-5 The Greek word we interpret as “member” can also be interpreted as limb or…
“When I said, “My foot is slipping,” your unfailing love, Lord, supported me. When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought me joy.” Psalm 94:18-19 “My foot is slipping” meant imminent death, indicating the serious nature of the threats to the psalmist. “Your unfailing love” or steadfast love is a loyalty to one’s community,…
“By day the Lord directs his love, at night his song is with me— a prayer to the God of my life.” Psalm 42:8 “Directs His love” is a phrase meaning “loyalty” to one’s community, which is the most common term for God’s grace in the Psalms (125 times). Luther described this Hebrew phrase as…
“I keep my eyes always on the Lord. With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken.” Psalm 16:8 King David writes as though the Lord stands beside him and holds his hand, like a father caring for his son. The Lord is the focus of David’s service and his ally. In Israelite…
“For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.” Philippians 1:21 “For to me” is similar to the common expression “As far as I’m concerned.” The phrase “to live is Christ and to die is gain” means Paul would experience gain in his own death because he would be with Christ….
“But, “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.” For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends.” 2 Corinthians 10:17-118 Paul began this section by saying he was not going to place himself among the group that commended themselves. The reason he would…
“Therefore, since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.” 2 Corinthians 7:1 Based on the promises that God would receive them with favor (6:17) and provide for and protect them as a father does his children (6:18), Paul…
“To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation. Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and…