I assure you before God that what I am writing you is no lie.
Summary: Paul’s affirmation of truth is a statement that triggers a lot of questions. How do we know Paul is telling the truth?
Continue reading “Galatians 1:20 – The Line”Galatians 1:6b-7a – In Search of Truth
… and are turning to a different gospel— which is really no gospel at all.
Summary: Searching for truth doesn’t have to be a long journey. In fact, the destination is probably close at hand. At worst, it is as far as the nearest bookstore or computer. Simply open the Bible and begin to read.
Continue reading “Galatians 1:6b-7a – In Search of Truth”John 8:44 — Bad Dad
… he is a liar and the father of lies.
Summary: They say the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. Fortunately for humanity, our God is able to take bad apples and make them good again.
Continue reading “John 8:44 — Bad Dad”1 Peter 2:12 — Smeared
Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.
This is another challenging text. Peter is starting a section of his letter that describes how to live among unbelievers. As I think about what he is teaching us, it feels like we are sitting in on a master’s class for Christian living.
In today’s passage, we are talking about neighbors or coworkers who accuse us of doing wrong. (Peter assumes we are innocent!) Has this ever happened to you? It has for me. It can be a terrifying experience. In an instant, everything you thought was solid ground can be swept away.
Continue reading “1 Peter 2:12 — Smeared”Gutsy
I don’t know if you have ever thought of Jesus as gutsy before, but really, if Jesus had been a cowboy instead of a Jewish carpenter, it is hard to imagine a more tense situation even if he had been surrounded by armed bad guys all holding loaded guns pointed at him. Staring down this crowd of angry Jews was really gutsy. And he didn’t back down from his message one bit:
As it is, you are looking for a way to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. Abraham did not do such things. You are doing the works of your own father.”
“We are not illegitimate children,” they protested. “The only Father we have is God himself.”
Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I have come here from God. I have not come on my own; God sent me. Why is my language not clear to you? Because you are unable to hear what I say. You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.”