Put on the full armor of God …
Summary: We live in dangerous times, both physically and spiritually. Only one of these realms is eternal, and that is where the greatest danger lies.
Continue reading “Ephesians 6:11a – Fear Can Be Deadly”Ephesians 4:17a – A Kind of Test
So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do …
Summary: Paul’s problem is that people who believe in God act differently than people who don’t. Being the “Apostle to the Gentiles” carried with it the added burden of educating Gentile believers about this difference.
Continue reading “Ephesians 4:17a – A Kind of Test”Ephesians 3:19a – A Surpassing Love
… and to know this love that surpasses knowledge …
Summary: To question what we know is to question the foundation of our ability to reason. When we discover that we are both flesh and spirit, we find that knowing the love of God is a spiritual experience far beyond what the flesh and understand.
Continue reading “Ephesians 3:19a – A Surpassing Love”Ephesians 3:17b – Spiritual Potting Soil
And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love …
Summary: Paul writes, presuming his readers are “rooted and established in love.” But what does that mean, and why would Paul think it important?
Continue reading “Ephesians 3:17b – Spiritual Potting Soil”Ephesians 3:14 – The Reason We Kneel
For this reason I kneel before the Father,
Summary: This verse describes Paul in prayer and provides a challenge for us to consider in our daily prayer life.
Continue reading “Ephesians 3:14 – The Reason We Kneel”Matthew 4:2 – The Mouth of God
After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry.
Summary: We turn now to the ultimate temptation and the ultimate test. God himself is tested.
Continue reading “Matthew 4:2 – The Mouth of God”Genesis 3:13 – Who’s in the Driver’s Seat?
The serpent deceived me, and I ate.
Summary: The greatest deception was a simple one, and it continues to deceive millions as we wonder what is all the excitement about.
Continue reading “Genesis 3:13 – Who’s in the Driver’s Seat?”Matthew 4:4 – Food for the Soul
Man shall not live on bread alone …
Summary: There are two kinds of “bread” in the story about Jesus being tempted in the wilderness. One is bread for the body, the other is bread for the soul.
Continue reading “Matthew 4:4 – Food for the Soul”John 6:27 – Spiritual Food
Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you.
Summary: Our “daily bread” is something we need both physically and spiritually. Jesus provides us with both.
Continue reading “John 6:27 – Spiritual Food”Matthew 6:33 – Hide and Seek
But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
Summary: Sometimes finding the answers to questions about the Bible is a matter of not worrying about it.
Continue reading “Matthew 6:33 – Hide and Seek”