“Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” Matthew 19:14 Children must trust and receive the care of others, and only in that same way does the kingdom of God come to us. Jesus welcomes children and makes it…
“I have chosen the way of faithfulness; I have set my heart on Your laws.” Psalm 119:30 “I have chosen” indicates that the Psalmist chooses God’s way because God shows Himself to be trustworthy and gracious. “Faithfulness” means “to be steady, faithful, true,” from which our term “Amen” comes. This is an attribute of God…
“But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.” 1 John 1:7 The word “walk” is a common term that can describe one’s life or way of life. “Walk in the light” is…
“I will praise you with an upright heart as I learn your righteous laws.” Psalm 119:7 It is difficult to date this Psalm as no author is given. However, the Law’s central role in the author’s life and the opposition he faced fit well with the sixth or fifth century BC, so King David could…
“For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile.” Romans 1:16 “Not ashamed of the gospel” implies that the Gospel is foolishness to the world, which may ridicule or persecute Christians, but Paul (and…
“For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and in Christ you have been brought to fullness. He is the head over every power and authority.” Colossians 2:9-10 In this verse Paul clearly proclaims the Incarnation, the fact that God became a man bodily. The description “bodily form” means Jesus…
“Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Philippians 2:9-11…
“Ah, Sovereign Lord, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you.” Jeremiah 32:17 “Arm” in Israelite culture was an image of strength. God would begin His answer to Jeremiah’s prayer by restating his words in the form of a rhetorical question later…
“…being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” Philippians 1:6 “Being confident” indicates that Paul had become convinced some time in the past that God would complete His good work among the Philippians. The description “in you” is…
“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.” Ephesians 3:20-21 These two verses form a doxology (or praise)…