Daily Meditations on the Bible / We stand with Israel
The acts of the flesh are … sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery;
Summary: Diving into Paul’s list of “acts of the flesh” is intimidating. It is tempting to fall into judgment; either judging others or judging ourselves. But this is not why he is making the list. Paul wants us to understand the difference between Good and Evil.
Continue reading “Galatians 5:19b – Acts of the Flesh, Part 1”I am confident in the Lord that you will take no other view. The one who is throwing you into confusion, whoever that may be, will have to pay the penalty.
Summary: Paul takes a breath and expresses his confidence that all is not lost for the Galatians.
Continue reading “Galatians 5:10 – An Encouraging Word”For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value.
Summary: Paul continues to prompt interesting questions about Christian life. “What has value for God?” is a question that opens the door to understanding God’s will better.
Continue reading “Galatians 5:6a – Blind Spot”… because he stood condemned.
Summary: Today’s passage uses the word “condemned.” Because the word can mean that we have passed judgment on someone, we look at other possible meanings for the original Greek text.
Continue reading “Galatians 2:11b – Standing Firm”[Follow God’s example,] therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love,
Summary: Understanding what love is requires a knowledge of the different kinds of love. When we understand that, we can better understand the way of love that Paul wants us to follow.
Continue reading “Ephesians 5:1b-2a – The Way of Love”But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you…
Summary: Loving others as God loves us is a complicated business.
Continue reading “Matthew 5:44 – God-Like Love”You judge by human standards …
Summary: How we define “good” and “evil,” says a lot about our relationship with God. Using God’s definitions is a way of honoring our Creator.
Continue reading “John 8:15 – The Judge of All Things”
If anyone hears my words but does not keep them, I do not judge that person. For I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world.
Sometimes it feels like the pace of this blog could be picked up a bit. After all, how much detail can you expect from one verse? Well, quite a bit as it turns out.
Today’s verse turns the picture of God as JUDGE OF THE UNIVERSE upside down. Instead of threatening plagues or floods, Jesus says he is not here to judge. What?
Is this the same God we read about in the Old Testament?
Well, yes.
It turns out that God had a plan to save the world from the very beginning. (Genesis 3: 15) Jesus could have come in chapter 4 of Genesis, but who would have crucified him and why? There needed to be an understanding established. God needed to explain what righteousness is, and what the cost of sin is. The animal sacrifices conducted by the early Jews demonstrated the messy, bloody, deadly price required for sin. The priesthood established by God acted as an intercessor between God and man. Both sacrifice and intercessor are needed.
Finally, the time was right, and Jesus entered the world. His job: Not to judge the world, but to save it.
Continue reading “Judged? – John 12: 47”