“What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?” Romans 8:36 God’s people (in Rome and throughout the early church) were troubled, almost to despair, by the suffering they endured – a temptation familiar to us today to a much lesser degree of severity. When following Christ brings distress,…
“Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word…” Ephesians 5:25-26 In contrast to the culture of the time, the husband is told not to rule his wife, but to love her self-sacrificially. Husbands…
“Sing to God, sing in praise of his name, extol him who rides on the clouds; rejoice before him – his name is the Lord. A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling.” Psalm 68:4-5 The Psalm seems to be an “order of service” for a procession at…
“The father of a righteous child has great joy; a man who fathers a wise son rejoices in him.” Proverbs 23:24 Good parents rejoice when they see their children growing wisely. This brings them more joy than if their children become rich or successful in school or work. But when those parents have faith in…
“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge.” Psalm 19:1-2 All of creation including the heavens reveals God’s glory and majesty. The vast expanse we see is testimony to the craftsmanship of God. From the…
“He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” Psalm 46:10 This section of the Psalm provides a picture of final judgment. “Be still” is a call for stillness to a restless, raging world that must obey, just as wind…
“Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.” Colossians 3:13 “Bearing with each other” means that as we each struggle with our own temptations, we understand the struggles of others. “Forgive one another” echoes the Fifth Petition of the Lord’s…
“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.” Matthew 7:13-14 “Wide … broad” indicates the vast majority of people in…
“The Sovereign Lord is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to tread on the heights. For the director of music. On my stringed instruments.” Habakkuk 3:19 “The Sovereign Lord” … here the divine name Yahweh is tied to the term Adonai, which means “Lord.” “Strength” is…
“Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.” 1 Thessalonians 5:11 “Therefore” transitions the reader to this summary verse of Paul’s teaching concerning the future glory of those who have died in Christ. Paul then proceeds to tell the Thessalonians about the coming Day of Judgment (Jesus…