Daily Meditations on the Bible / We stand with Israel
… who is self-controlled …
Summary: Remote-control is a great thing when it comes to toys. It is not so great when it comes to people. God offers us freedom from Evil’s remote-control over our lives. All we need is Jesus.
Continue reading “Titus 1:8 (c) — Little Robots”
Since an overseer …
Summary: Paul introduces us to a second level of leadership in this passage. This leader meets the requirements of the elder, but also must meet additional requirements.
Continue reading “Titus 1:7 (a) — Shifting Gears”
… in every town, as I directed you.
Summary: Paul directs Titus to appoint elders in every town they had been to together. The work that Titus is doing is similar to the work done by Apollos as described in 1 Corinthians 3: 5-8.
Continue reading “Titus 1:5 (d) — Water Carrier”
… in the hope of eternal life …
Summary: How we think about when eternal life begins affects the decisions we make. Choosing to see it as Paul does helps to keep us on the road home.
Continue reading “Titus 1:2 (a) — The Road Home”
Stand fast in it.
Summary: Context is very important as we strive to understand God’s Word. Peter writes, “Stand fast in it.” The “it” is the grace of God.
Continue reading “1 Peter 5:12 (c) — Stand Fast”
With the help of Silas, whom I regard as a faithful brother, I have written to you briefly…
Summary: There are many famous names in the Bible. There are also names like Silas, who are not well known but did very important work.
Continue reading “1 Peter 5:12 (a) — Unsung Hero”
Resist him, standing firm in the faith…
Summary: The devil has ways of messing with our minds and the minds of others. We can be attacked from both directions. Our only hope in standing up to the devil is to put on the armor of God.
Continue reading “1 Peter 5:9 (a) — How the Devil Roars”
Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.
Summary: The devil is always seeking to separate God’s chosen from the flock. He does this by distracting us from the Word and from prayer. Our safety is found only in God.
Continue reading “1 Peter 5:8 (b) — Lyin’ Lion”
Cast all your anxiety on him…
Summary: Life offers us an unlimited supply of anxieties. God offers us an unlimited supply of peace. All we have to do is trust him with our worries and anxiety, and let him do the rest.
Continue reading “1 Peter 5:7 (a) — The Anxious Onion”
To the elders among you…
Summary: When Peter addresses part of his letter to “the elders,” he inadvertently highlights a sad and serious shift in cultural norms.
Continue reading “1 Peter 5:1 — Elders”