Daily Meditations on the Bible / We stand with Israel
… and do not move from the hope held out in the gospel.
Summary: There are many ways to understand words, but the more words we have, the better we can understand the meaning. God’s Word, the Bible, contains hundreds of thousands of words. The picture they paint is very clear.
Continue reading “Colossians 1:23d – The Place of Safety”… and of the love you have for all God’s people—
Summary: Love changes us. The love God has for us opens our eyes to how God wants us to love others.
Continue reading “Colossians 1:4b – Something to Think About”… an apostle of Christ Jesus …
Summary: Paul begins by telling us who he is and, more importantly, who he represents.
Continue reading “Colossians 1:1b – The Right Path”Paul …
Summary: Sometimes it seems like we are going over the same ground again and again. The Bible tends to repeat itself. Perhaps the reason for repetition is that we need to hear the message over and over.
Continue reading “Colossians 1:1a – Repetition”Peace and mercy to all who follow this rule …
Summary: Following Paul’s logic always keeps us on our toes. Today’s challenge is discerning which rule Paul is referring to.
Continue reading “Galatians 6:16a – The Judge’s Son”Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything;
Summary: As Paul wraps up his letter to the Galatians, he summarizes his arguments about circumcision rather neatly.
Continue reading “Galatians 6:15a – The Meaning of No Meaning”… circumcised.
Summary: Circumcision is a theme that runs throughout the Bible. In the beginning, it was a symbol of a covenant. In the end, circumcision was a point of contention. Instead of a symbol of something good, it had become a legalistic requirement for something bad.
Continue reading “Galatians 6:12b – Circumcision of the Heart”… whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.
Summary: What pleases God? The answer, in short, is love. In practical terms, love leads us to a host of things that honor God and benefit those around us.
Continue reading “Galatians 6:8b – Seed Time”… for each one should carry their own load.
Summary: Just a few verses ago Paul told us to “carry each other’s burdens.” Now he says “each one should carry their own load.” We need to untangle his words to understand their meanings.
Continue reading “Galatians 6:5 – Jackson’s Burden”But the fruit of the Spirit is … gentleness …
Summary: Gentleness is the ability to carry an egg without dropping it.
Continue reading “Galatians 5:23a – The Touch of Love”