… and there is no favoritism with him.
Summary: What kind of God do we serve, anyway? Does he ever show favoritism? As it turns out, the answer is, “No.”
Continue reading “Ephesians 6:9c – I’ll Take the Same”Ephesians 4:32b – Avoiding Hell
… forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
Summary: Today’s passage is for many the heart of the Gospel message: In Christ, we are forgiven for the things we have done to hurt others, offend God, and that ultimately wound our own souls.
Continue reading “Ephesians 4:32b – Avoiding Hell”Ephesians 4:13a – Forgive Like Jesus
… until we all reach unity in the faith …
Summary: Looking at the question of unity causes us to ask, “What causes disunity?” The answer could include a million things, but today we look at the need to forgive.
Continue reading “Ephesians 4:13a – Forgive Like Jesus”Ephesians 1:7c – The Pardon
… in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us.
Summary: Paul has a detailed way of conveying his thoughts. Sometimes his meanings can be lost in the words. It is worth stopping to ponder what Paul is saying and think about the story behind the words.
Continue reading “Ephesians 1:7c – The Pardon”Ephesians 1:7b – The Big Death
… through his blood, the forgiveness of sins …
Summary: Blood holds a unique place in Scripture and life. We cannot live without it. In the salvation narrative, blood is both the price of salvation and the symbol of salvation.
Continue reading “Ephesians 1:7b – The Big Death”Matthew 6:12 – A Sack of Bricks
And forgive us our debts …
Summary: As we begin our discussion of forgiveness, it is helpful to consult the dictionary for a definition of the word “forgive.”
Continue reading “Matthew 6:12 – A Sack of Bricks”Matthew 6:12 – The Way to Heaven
And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
Summary: At first glance, this passage in the Lord’s Prayer looks simple and unassuming. Looking closer, we find that it masks a dark reality.
Continue reading “Matthew 6:12 – The Way to Heaven”1 Peter 2:23 (b) — Things in Common
Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly.
Who is the “him” who judges justly? And what does it mean to “judge justly?”
I gotta be honest about the “him” part of this. The Bible does not talk about God “judging” a lot. It is mentioned a few times, but the references are oblique for the most part. So if you don’t mind, I am going to fudge a bit on this one.
Continue reading “1 Peter 2:23 (b) — Things in Common”