Daily Meditations on the Bible / We stand with Israel
… For you have heard of my previous way of life in Judaism,
Summary: Paul’s words in this passage give us pause for thought. If you could take a “before” and “after” picture of yourself before and after meeting Jesus, what would be different?
Continue reading “Galatians 1:13a – Knowing Jesus”I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it;
Summary: Where we get our information matters. If we learn from people who teach opinions instead of fact, we live under the burden of their ignorance. When we see the light of Truth, everything changes.
Continue reading “Galatians 1:12a – When Everything Changes”
… that the gospel I preached is not of human origin.
Summary: Back in the ’60’s, if someone told you something unusual or surprising, you might respond with, “Far out, man!” “Far out” was a reference to the expression “out of this world,” which meant something was very unusual. The gospel Paul preaches is “not of human origin.” It is both literally and figuratively “Far out, man.”
Continue reading “Galatians 1:11b – Far Out, Man”… according to the will of our God and Father,
Summary: When we look at something extremely large and complicated, it is difficult to grasp the full measure of what it is. God’s will is like that. Take, for example, the universe. We know a lot about the night sky, but compared to what there is to know, we are about as knowledgeable as a two-year-old in a modern car factory.
Continue reading “Galatians 1:4c – It’s Complicated”Grace to all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with an undying love.
Summary: God wants more than recognition and obedience. He wants our love, too. In this closing passage from Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, we find ourselves looking into the heart of our Lord Jesus.
Continue reading “Ephesians 6:24 – Undying Love”… the flaming arrows of the evil one.
Summary: Today, we look at the devil’s attempts to put a flaming arrow in our Lord’s back. Spoiler Alert: It doesn’t go well for Satan.
Continue reading “Ephesians 6:16c – Potshots”… so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.
Summary: Understanding who the devil is helps us understand his schemes and why we need to take a stand.
Continue reading “Ephesians 6:11b – Soul Wars”… because you know that the Lord will reward each one for whatever good they do, whether they are slave or free.
Summary: Recasting life in terms of a prison sentence offers us the chance to see anew what Jesus did for us and what we can do for him.
Continue reading “Ephesians 6:8 – And Then He Smiled”Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.
Summary: Being a father is a tall order. As humans, we are beset with many hurdles and distractions. Meanwhile, God is our spiritual Father. He is never too busy for you or me.
Continue reading “Ephesians 6:4 – The Curse of Free Will”In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies.
Summary: Paul gives us husbands a lesson in caring for our wives.
Continue reading “Ephesians 5:28a – Knowing Jesus”