Daily Meditations on the Bible / We stand with Israel
The acts of the flesh are obvious: … dissensions, factions …
Summary: Dissension and factions are not only “acts of the flesh,” they are also an indicator of the absence of our Lord when they infect the church.
Continue reading “Galatians 5:20e – The Acts of the Flesh Part VI: The Mark of Jesus”Those people are zealous to win you over, but for no good. What they want is to alienate you from us, so that you may have zeal for them.
Summary: The situation in the Galatian churches was new at the time. Paul was horrified at what had happened. His letter to the Galatians is a testimony to his zeal for winning them back to the truth.
Continue reading “Galatians 4:17 – Satan’s Sights”I did not go up to Jerusalem to see those who were apostles before I was, but I went into Arabia. Later I returned to Damascus.
Summary: God’s plan for his new church did not include leaving detailed instructions for people to follow. Instead, God chose people who would listen and obey.
Continue reading “Galatians 1:17 – God is Amazing!”“For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.”
Summary: Following the bread crumbs in Paul’s thinking leads us to a meditation on how cancer affects the body. How does the metaphor of cancer provide guidance for the modern family and church?
Continue reading “Ephesians 5:31 – Uncontrolled Growth”… but they feed and care for their body, just as Christ does the church—
Summary: What does it mean to care for your body? A second look at this question reveals that Paul is right. Everyone does care for their body.
Continue reading “Ephesians 5:29b – Caring for the Church”… cleansing her by the washing with water through the word,
Summary: Paul’s use of words always keeps us on our toes. In this passage he gives us something interesting to think about.
Continue reading “Ephesians 5:26b – Power Wash”Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything.
Summary: Paul uses the church as an example of unity, but in today’s world, that example leaves something to be desired.
Continue reading “Ephesians 5:24 – Invitation to Love”Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.
Summary: “Me first” is a concept that goes back to the beginning of human history. It is the essence of our sinful nature rolled up into two words. Putting Christ first in our lives radically changes this concept, turning it upside down and inside out.
Continue reading “Ephesians 5:21 – The Answer to Everything”Therefore do not be partners with them.
Summary: Paul’s words in this passage are not popular in today’s world. Yet they are in the Bible, and they are consistent with the rest of God’s teachings. We are wise if we take Paul seriously on this point.
Continue reading “Ephesians 5:7 – Godly and Ungodly”[But among you there must not be even a hint of] … or of any kind of impurity
Summary: Paul’s admonition to expel any kind of impurity leads us to ponder what an impurity is and how we get rid of it.
Continue reading “Ephesians 5:3b – More Jesus”